Giants set to play in Modesto Tournament
By Nick Giannandrea
COS Athletics
A potential early season sneak peak at how College of the Sequoias matches up with its biggest men's basketball rival looms at the Modesto Tournament.
The state No. 9-ranked Giants (7-1) and No. 13 Fresno City College (5-2) are on opposite ends of the bracket for the eight-team tournament that runs Dec. 12-14 at Modesto Junior College.
The Central Valley Conference members are the only state-ranked teams in the tournament.
COS is set to open against Lassen (3-7) at 2 p.m. Dec. 12, while the Rams will face Marin (4-4) at 6 p.m.
With a victory, the Giants would play the winner between Mendocino (6-2) and Ohlone (0-7) on Dec. 13. Host Modesto (3-6) and the NAIA Simpson JV (0-1) are lined up opposite Fresno City.
The Giants dropped from No. 4 in the latest California Community College Men's Basketball Coaches Association rankings following a 87-77 loss to No. 15 Santa Rosa on Dec. 8 at the Golden Gate Classic in San Francisco.
It snapped COS' seven-game, season-opening winning streak under new coach Dallas Jensen.
Elihu Cobb (Santa Maria) has lead a deep and balanced Giants' lineup so far, averaging 12.9 points and 9.8 rebounds per game.
Amil Fields (Hayward) averages 12.0 points per game, one of five COS players averaging at least 8.6 points. The others are Ryan Johnson (Hanford) at 9.6, Savion Johnson (Hanford) at 9.0, and Tiyon Martin (Pasadena) at 8.6.
The Giants offense has been facilitated by Martin and Dewayne Holmes (Riverside), who are averaging 5.6 and 5.1 assists, respectively.
COS returns home Dec. 20-21 for the Wyndham\Mannon Classic, a two-day crossover tournament.
The Giants play No. 21 Ventura (7-4) at 7 p.m. Dec. 20 and Cerritos (5-5) at 4 p.m. Dec. 21.
COS will open conference play Jan. 8 against West Hills-Coalinga (0-12). Tip-off is scheduled for 7 p.m. at Porter Field House.
