Giants close regular season with home games vs. Porterville, West Hills-Lemoore
College of the Sequoias' men's basketball team now shares second place in the Central Valley Conference with Columbia following a 87-72 road loss to the Claim Jumpers on Feb. 15.
State No. 13-ranked Columbia (23-3, 9-3) outscored the No. 9 Giants (20-6, 9-3) 41-30 in the second half to break open a four-point game.
The loss could hurt COS' chances of landing a top-four seed -- and guaranteed home games up until the state elite eight tournament -- for the Northern California Regional playoffs. The Giants were ranked fourth and Columbia sixth among teams from NorCal in the last California Community College Men's Basketball Coaches' Association rankings, released Feb. 10. The CCCMBCA hadn't updated its rankings as of 5 p.m. Feb. 17.
Tiveon Stroud (Selma High) did his part to keep COS in it, scoring 22 points to go along with 21 rebounds, two assists and two blocks.
Ryan Johnson (Hanford) had 12 points and 11 rebounds; Elihu Cobb (Santa Maria) had 12 points and seven rebounds; and Tiyon Martin (Pasadena) added 15 points and four assists for the Giants.
COS closes the regular season this week with home games Feb. 19 against Porterville (14-12, 7-5) and Feb. 21 against West Hills-Lemoore (4-22, 2-10). Both games are scheduled to tip-off at 7 p.m. from Porter Field House. Admission is $5.
The NorCal Regionals begin Feb. 26. The Giants are looking to make their third straight trip to the NorCal Regionals.
