No. 6 Giants clinch fifth consecutive CVC men's basketball championship
By Nick Giannandrea
COS ATHLETICS
For the fifth straight season, College of the Sequoias men's basketball team are Central Valley Conference champions.
The California Community College Men's Basketball Coaches Association state No. 6-ranked Giants clinched no worse than a tie for the conference title with an 81-73 victory over host Porterville on Feb. 8.
Sequoias (22-3 overall, 11-0 CVC) leads No. 17 Fresno City (18-5, 8-3) and No. 15 Columbia (20-5, 8-3) by three games in the conference standings with three games remaining.
The Giants can secure the CVC title outright with a win at West Hills-Coalinga (6-19, 0-11) at 6 p.m. Feb. 11.
Terri Miller (Clovis North High) powered Sequoias' 17th straight win -- tied with Yuba for the second-longest streak in the state behind the 18 straight won by Fullerton -- with 29 points, 13 rebounds, three assists, a steal and a block.
Miller scored 16 points -- hitting three 3-pointers along the way -- during a 35-11 Giants' run that allowed them to turn a 9-7 deficit into a 42-20 lead with 1 minute and 28 seconds left in the first half.
Porterville outscored Sequoias 47-39 in the second half, but never got closer than nine points.
Javohn Garcia (Columbus, Ohio) delivered 24 points, four rebounds, three assists, a steal and a block for the Giants, while Jose Cuello (Harlem, N.Y.) added 14 points, a rebound and a steal.
Also contributing for Sequoias were Omari Nesbit (Sacramento) with five points, two steals and an assist; Cameron Clark (Snellville, Ga.) with four points, two rebounds and a block; Alex Argandar (Modesto) with three points and a rebound; Tyree Gill (Sacramento) with two points, two rebounds, two assists and a steal; Tre'von Martin (Las Vegas) with two rebounds; and Takari Fields Champaign, Ill.) with a rebound.
The Giants close the regular season by hosting Fresno City at 7 p.m. Feb. 15, and hosting Reedley (9-16, 3-8) at 7 p.m. Feb. 17. Admission into Porter Field House is $8 general and $5 for seniors and students.
Sequoias won the past two CVC championships outright, and was awarded titles in 2020 and 2019 because of Fresno City forfeits. The Giants have won 21 conference titles in program history.
Sequoias is seeking a fourth straight appearance in the state Final Eight during a championship season.
The Giants reached the semifinals last season before losing 71-65 to eventual champion San Francisco.
Sequoias has won two state championships in program history, in 1953 and 1982.
