No. 9 Giants down Merced, travel to Reedley next

College of the Sequoias rebounded from a heartbreaking loss to keep its hopes of a top-four seed -- and home-court advantage -- in the Northern California Regional men's basketball playoffs firmly in place.

Behind 18 points from Milton Burnett (Bullard), the Giants topped Merced 83-75 in a Central Valley Conference game Feb. 8 while bouncing back from an 81-80 loss to Fresno City on Feb. 5.

The win allowed COS (19-5, 8-2) to maintain its No. 9 ranking in the Feb. 10-released California Community College Men's Basketball Coaches Association poll. Only No. 1 San Francisco (24-0), No. 4 Fresno City (21-3) and No. 7 Yuba (21-4) are ranked ahead of the Giants among college's from Northern California.

The top four seeds in the NorCal Regionals, which begin Feb. 26, are guaranteed home games as long as they are alive until the state's Elite Eight tournament, scheduled for March 13-15 at West Hills-Lemoore.

COS is seeking its third straight trip to the NorCal Regionals.

Six Giants scored in double-figures against Merced (8-14, 2-8), including Carlos Allen (Atlanta), who finished with 14 points, seven rebounds and three assists.

Amil Fields (Hayward) had 10 points, 13 rebounds and two blocks, while Tiveon Stroud (Selma) added 10 points, 10 rebounds and two blocks for the Giants.

COS also received 10 points and eight rebounds from Savion Johnson (Hanford West); 11 points, six assists and four rebounds from Tiyon Martin (Pasadena)' and eight points, nine rebounds and three assists from Ryan Johnson (Hanford).

Two tough road games await the Giants this week: 7 p.m. Feb. 12 at Reedley (14-10, 5-5) and 6 p.m. Feb. 15 at No. 13 Columbia (21-3, 7-3). COS won close home games against both (77-75 over Reedley on Jan. 18 and 82-76 over Columbia on Jan. 22) during the first round of CVC play.

The Giants close the regular season by playing home games at 7 p.m. Feb. 19 against Porterville (13-11, 6-4) and 7 p.m. Feb. 21 against West Hills-Lemoore (4-20, 2-8).