State No. 10 Giants expand CVC lead with win over Reedley
By Nick Giannandrea
COS ATHLETICS
College of the Sequoias' chances of winning a fifth consecutive Central Valley Conference men's basketball championship just got a little better.
The Giants saw their conference lead grow to two games with seven remaining following results of Jan. 25, which included their 93-52 dismantling of host Reedley, and Columbia's 87-81 home victory over Fresno City.
California Community College Men's Basketball Coaches' Association state No. 10-ranked Sequoias improved to 18-3 overall and 7-0 in the CVC. No. 13 Columbia pulled into a second-place conference tie with No. 15 Fresno City at 5-2.
Reedley (8-13, 2-5) led 10-9 with 14 minutes and 2 seconds to play in the first half on a Josiah James jumper.
The Giants responded with 3-pointers on three consecutive possessions -- one by Javohn Garcia (Columbus, Ohio) and two by Tre'von Martin (Las Vegas) -- to ignite a 23-2 run that sent them to a 32-12 lead.
The Tigers would get no closer than eight points against as the Giants pulled away for their 13th straight win.
Sequoias' lead swelled to as large as 43 points (93-50) came on two free throws by Jose Cuello (Harlem, N.Y.) with 1:21 left in the game.
Garcia led six Giants in double-figure scoring with 21 points on 8 of 13 shooting from the field, including a 3-for-3 performance from 3-point range. Garcia also had seven rebounds, four steals, two assists and a block.
Cameron Clark (Snellville, Ga.) and Tyree Gill (Sacramento) both scored 14 points, with Clark also contributing 12 rebounds, a steal and a block, and Gill adding four rebounds, three steals, two assists and a block.
Cuello, Tyjean Burrell (Sacramento) and Omari Nesbit (Sacramento) all scored 10 points. Cuello also had seven assists, six rebounds and two steals; Burrell had four rebounds, two steals and an assist; and Nesbit had two rebounds and a block.
Sequoias also received six points and two rebounds from Martin; four points, five rebounds, an assist and a block from Lucas Wilrich (Yuba City); two points and two rebounds from George Carter (Stockton); two points and two rebounds from Samuel Bazunga (Paris, France); two rebounds, an assist and a steal from Alex Argandar (Modesto) and a rebound from Takari Fields (Sacramento).
The Giants can expand their lead on the Claim Jumpers (17-4 overall) when they resume CVC play at Columbia at 6 p.m. Jan. 28.
Sequoias will play one more road game at 7 p.m. Feb. 1 at Merced (6-15, 3-4), before returning home to host West Hills-Lemoore (9-12, 2-5) at 5 p.m. Feb. 4. Admission into Porter Field House is $8 general, and $5 for seniors and students.
The Giants final two regular season home games are set for 7 p.m. Feb. 15 against Fresno City (15-4) and 7 p.m. Feb. 17 against Reedley.
Sequoias won outright CVC championships the past two seasons, and were awarded titles in 2019 and 2020 because of Fresno City forfeits.
