Giants play for second straight trip to state's Elite Eight at Yuba on March 7
By Nick Giannandrea
COS Athletics
Dallas Jensen is well aware that the degree of difficulty rises significantly this weekend for his College of the Sequoias men's basketball team.
After opening the Northern California Regional playoffs Feb. 28 at Porter Field House in front of a predominantly partisan, orange-clad crowd, the fifth-seeded Giants (23-6) are headed to a third round match-up at No. 4 Yuba (24-5) on March 7.
And they won't find a friendly crowd, or much orange in it after making the 250-mile, four-hour drive to Marysville, where a berth in the state's Elite Eight will go to the winner. Tip-off is scheduled for 7 p.m.
"Yuba is tough. The crowd up there is probably as tough as any in Northern California," said Jensen, in his first season as Giants' coach. "They will be loud and bring lots of energy. But I look forward to the challenge, and our guys are looking forward to getting up there and competing at a high level."
Bay Valley Conference champion Yuba has gone 9-2 on its home court this season, including an 98-78 victory over No. 13 Las Positas (20-9) on Feb. 29 in the second round of the NorCal Regionals.
The 49'ers' only home losses have been to state top-ranked San Francisco (98-67 on Nov. 3) and Mendocino (66-62 on Feb. 12). COS lost to Mendocino 90-89 in overtime on a neutral court during the Modesto Tournament on Dec. 13.
Yuba has received a contribution from every player on its 15-man roster, led by sophomore guard Brandon Recek (13.3 points per game), sophomore guard Cornell Greenwood (12.4 ppg., 6.1 rebounds per game, 3.8 assists per game), freshman guard Jacob Henry (11.3 ppg., 4.9 apg.), sophomore center Joseph De La Cruz (9.4 ppg., 3.9 rpg.), and freshman forward Patrick Cambey (8.2 ppg.).
Recek (Clovis West High), De La Cruz (Clovis West) and freshman forward Justice Cole (Central) all played in the Central Section while in high school.
"We've been watching film and Yuba is one of the most talented teams we've seen," Jensen said. "They've got shot-makers all over the floor 1-5, and guys who come off the bench who shoot really well, too. They feed off the energy of that shot making. We have to stay true to what we are and limit them in transition."
Jensen said avoiding a slow start will be a key to winning on the road. The Giants never trailed by more than four points in the early going of an eventual 87-64 home victory over No. 12 Butte during the second round of the NorCal Regionals.
Ryan Johnson (Hanford), Tiyon Martin (Pasadena), Amil Fields (Hayward), Tiveon Stroud (Selma), Elihu Cobb (Santa Maria) and Dewayne Holmes (Riverside) all scored nine or more points for COS, which led by 10 points at halftime and never looked back.
"Our emphasis over the last month or two for anyone in our locker room has been focusing on us and doing what we do at a high level," Jensen said. "That fits particularly for Saturday in front of a raucous crowd. We have to be focused on what we do at both ends of the floor. We have to have a good start.
"If we can jump out and get a lead early, great. But we've got to make sure we are doing things well early on and make sure we don't run into a freight train in Yuba."
COS will be without the services of sophomore forward Savion Johnson for the second straight game because of a leg injury. Freshman guard Milton Burnett (Bullard), who had missed two straight games with an injury before returning against Butte, is expected to play.
The injuries haven't slowed the Giants, who have won their past three games by an average margin of 31 points.
"I think we are playing really well right now," Jensen said. "I feel the last two weeks we've been playing our best basketball of the season. It's taken a while to get our style of play, our camaraderie and our culture established, but all of a sudden it's starting to click."
COS is no stranger to having to win big games on the road.
Last season, the then fifth-seeded Giants defeated No. 4 San Joaquin Delta 85-77 in Stockton during round three to earn the program's second trip to the Elite Eight in four seasons.
COS ended up losing in the quarterfinals 70-59 to Citrus.
This season's Elite Eight tournament is set for March 13-15 at West Hills-Lemoore. And it could potentially feature three teams from the Central Valley Conference.
CVC champion Fresno City and Columbia, which finished tied for second with COS, play home court games in the third round of the NorCal Regionals on March 7.
The No. 2 Rams (26-3) host No. 7 Mendocino (21-8), while the No. 3 Claim Jumpers (26-3) entertain No. 6 Santa Rosa (22-7).
"I don't know too many conferences where three of the five teams (in the NorCal Regional seedings) were from one conference," Jensen said. "It shows there's a lot of talented players and some really good coaches. It speaks volumes to who we are and the nature of play in the CVC. I'm anxious to see if (Fresno and Columbia) can get to Lemoore as well."
