Short-handed Giants win big, increase lead in CVC men's basketball title chase

By Nick Giannandrea

COS ATHLETICS

On a night it played short-handed, College of the Sequoias men's basketball team expanded its lead in the Central Valley Conference championship chase.

Despite suiting up only eight players, the state No. 6-ranked Giants rolled to a 110-51 thumping of Coalinga on Feb. 1 at Porter Field House.

Sequoias (19-3 overall, 8-0 in the CVC) took the lead for good 58 seconds into the game against the Falcons (1-21, 0-8) on a running bank shot by Jaden Haire (Hanford West High), and never looked back while playing without starting point guard Raydon Thorson (Queen Creek, Ariz.) because of illness and reserve shooting guard Carter Glick (Mt. Whitney) because of an Achilles injury.

"This year we've had so many instances where guys have been sick or hurt, with only 10 on the active roster anyways," coach Dallas Jensen said. "I think the guys are almost accustomed to having limited numbers, so there just was no hiccups tonight with that at all."

The Giants now lead No. 14 Columbia (16-6, 6-2) and unranked Fresno City (13-9, 6-2) by two games with six CVC games remaining after the host Rams upset the Claim Jumpers 76-68 on Feb. 1.

Sequoias is seeking the program's 23rd official conference championship and at least a share of its sixth CVC title in a row, including Fresno City forfeits in 2019 and 2020.

"I'm really excited about it," Jensen said. "Our four goals every year as a team don't really change. It's to win a conference championship, get a top-four seed, get to the Elite Eight, and give ourselves a chance to win a state title. That first one, winning a conference title, we just want to continue to hammer one game at a time and put ourselves in position to do that."

The Giants broke open a close game midway through the first half with a 9-0 run capped by a thunderous dunk by Tyree Gill (Sacramento) off an assist from Leyton McGovern (Anderson, Ind.) that turned a 10-8 edge into a 19-8 cushion with 12:42 to play before halftime.

While shooting above 50 percent from the field for the second straight game, the Giants surged to a 59-31 halftime lead. They shot 52.1 percent (37 of 71) from the field against Coalinga (1-21, 0-8) after converting at a 60.9 percent clip (42 of 69) during a 104-73 home victory over Columbia on Jan. 29.

"It's always nice to get up early. It relieves pressure and allows us to have fun the rest of the game," said Davis White, who led the Giants with 26 points. "We love to get out in transition and play great defense. The quicker we can do that, the easier it makes it the rest of the game."

Sequoias surrendered only 20 points in the second half and saw its lead grow to as many as 59 points with 3 minutes and 11 seconds left in the game.

White (Santa Clarita) made 9 of 14 shots from the field overall and 6 of 11 3-pointers. He also had seven assists, five rebounds, four steals and a block while helping the Giants win their 11th straight game, tied with Modesto for the longest active streak among teams in Northern California. Sequoias hasn't lost since a 79-72 setback at Feather River on Dec. 13.

"It's been so fun and exciting seeing this team grow from where we started off," White said. "Everything is starting to come together at the right time. We always want to start peaking around this time and just keep going up. By the time we're in the playoffs, we want to be playing our best basketball. We're really excited about how we look right now."

Gill also had a big night for Sequoias, finishing with 25 points on 9 of 15 shooting – including several highlight reel-worthy dunks – along with four rebounds, an assist and a steal.

Haire delivered 19 points, eight rebounds, three blocks, two assists and two steals.

The Giants' starting five also received six points, 10 rebounds, four blocks and three assists from Cameron Kelly (Decatur. Ga.); and six points, four assists, two rebounds and a steal from Jayson Mathews (Sacramento).

Off the bench, Kevin Anderson (Atlanta) contributed 14 points, nine assists, seven rebounds and four steals; Leyton McGovern (Anderson, Ind.) had eight points, three rebounds, three steals and two assists; while Ahmad Clark (Atlanta) added six points, seven rebounds, one assist and one block.

"Ray is a stud. He's one of the best facilitators in the state," White said of Thorson, who averages 6.4 assists per game, the sixth-best total in the state. "I'm really proud of our guys. We had eight today and every single one of us contributed." 

Sequoias puts what is tied with Modesto for the longest winning streak among Northern California teams on the line when it resumes pursuit of the CVC title at Reedley (8-14, 4-4) at 7 p.m. Feb. 5.

The Giants travel to Lemoore (6-16, 2-6) at 5 p.m. Feb. 8, before their final two regular season home games: 7 p.m. Feb. 12 against Fresno City and 5 p.m. Feb. 15 against Merced (11-11, 4-4).

Sequoias closes the CVC season on the road at Porterville (6-16, 2-6) at 7 p.m. Feb. 19 and at Columbia at 6 p.m. Feb. 21.

The Giants are shooting for a top-four seed in the Northern California Regionals, which would guarantee home court advantage as long as they remain alive up until the Elite Eight Tournament, which is scheduled for March 13-16 at Mt. San Antonio College in Walnut.

Sequoias was the state runner-up last season, losing 59-51 to West Valley in the final. It was the program's fifth straight trip to the Elite Eight in a championship season. 

The Giants have won the state title twice in program history, in 1953 and 1982.

"We're trending in the right direction," Jensen said. "We're valuing every rep we get in practice and we're trying to implement those things in games. And it translated again tonight."