Giants men's basketball season ends in state quarterfinals

By Nick Giannandrea

COS ATHLETICS

LEMOORE -- With College of the Sequoias men's basketball team down three points during the closing seconds of the state quarterfinals, most everyone inside West Hills-Lemoore College's Golden Eagle Arena knew the ball was going to Javohn Garcia.

With good reason.

The 6-foot-3 sophomore transfer from NCAA Division I Massachusetts was, afterall, the co-Most Valuable Player of the Central Valley Conference and the Giants' leading 3-point shooter, connecting at a state eighth-best 46.3 percent clip this season.

And, miraculously, Garcia got off an off-balance shot from the top of the key with a defender all over him that banked off the glass for what appeared to be an overtime-forcing basket with 1.2 seconds remaining in the game.

However, the referee with the best view of the shot, positioned along the left sideline, immediately indicated a 2-pointer. The three-man crew huddled following the play and confirmed Garcia's foot was on the 3-point line, essentially sealing the outcome of what became a 67-65 victory for Southern California No. 2-seeded Citrus over Northern California No. 3-seeded Sequoias on March 9 at the California Community College Athletic Association state Final Eight tournament.

Citrus' Jamal Briscoe was fouled with 0.1 seconds left, and he made one of two free throw attempts for the final margin. There wasn't enough time left for the Giants to get off a desperation final shot as their 22-game winning streak came to an end.

"I have not seen it, but I've had several people who said that they already pulled it up on film and that it was a three, which would have forced overtime," Sequoias coach Dallas Jensen said after talking to his team following the game. "But at the end of the day, it's one of those things. We've preached all year 'control what you can control' and we can't control that. Just kudos to Citrus for winning that one and making some big shots down the stretch. Now we're on to better days."

Sequoias (27-4) got off to a quick start, racing out to a 19-7 lead with 11 minutes and 44 seconds to play in the first half behind three 3-pointers and 11 points overall from Tyjean Burrell (Sacramento).

But co-CVC MVP Terri Miller (Clovis North High) and Garcia (Columbus, Ohio) both picked up their second fouls shortly thereafter and went to the bench until halftime. 

In their absence, Citrus (28-3) outscored the Giants 25-7 the rest of the first half to take a 32-26 lead.

"It was an 18-point turnaround with those two off the floor. I thought we struggled a little bit offensively to find some rhythm," Jensen said. "I thought we took way too many jump shots during that stretch rather than attacking the cup and putting some pressure on their defense. But at the end of the day, Citrus did a phenomenal job of fighting back and putting themselves in position to win. So hats off to (Citrus) coach Brett Lauer and their players. They deserved to win. They were better for 40 minutes."

With Garcia and Miller back on the floor to open the second half, Sequoias started working the ball inside to Miller while chipping away at Citrus' lead. Garcia's layup with 12:25 left in the game put Sequoias back in front 45-44.

Unfortunately for the Giants, Miller was battling a stomach bug that required a couple trips to the bench. And not having Miller's inside presence for small stretches in part kept Sequoias from pulling away from Citrus.

The lead would change hands three times and there were two ties before the Owls went ahead for good at 64-61 on a 3-pointer by Jayden Johnston with 1:52 to play.

Sequoias had a chance to go back in front with 42 seconds remaining, but missed the front end of a 1-and-1 free throw situation, then committed a foul on Citrus' Anthony Tello with 17 seconds left. Tello made both free throws for a 66-63 Owls' lead.

"Every time I felt we got it rolling, that poor young man needed a little breather," Jensen said of Miller. "But when he's on the floor, it's fun to watch his ability to score around the rim. And his passing ability at his size is so special, it makes it easy for our guards to play offense. I thought he was great. I thought Tyjean was awesome early on, and I thought Javohn Garcia did some great things down the stretch. We had some players do some good things, but we just lost, unfortunately, to a team that got us tonight."

Garcia led the Giants with 19 points, four assists, three rebounds and a block.

Burrell delivered 17 points, three rebounds, an assist and a steal, while Miller contributed 13 points, eight rebounds, four assists, a steal and a block.

Sequoias also received 11 points, seven rebounds, two assists and a block from Jose Cuello (Harlem, N.Y.); 11 rebounds, two steals, an assist and a block from Cameron Clark (Snellville, Ga.); four points and a rebound from Alex Argandar (Modesto); a point and six rebounds from Tyree Gill (Sacramento); a rebound from Takari Fields (Champaign, Ill.) and a steal from George Carter (Stockton).

Sequoias finished the season with an .871 winning percentage, the second-best mark in the history of a program that dates to 1926-27. It trails only the .903 achieved by the team that went 28-3 in 2003-04. 

The Giants' season accomplishments also included their first undefeated run (14-0) through conference play since going 10-0 in 1949-50, and the program's fourth straight appearance in the state Final Eight.

"It was a heck of a game. A great basketball game," Jensen said. "Citrus is a fantastic team, and there is a reason they were 27-3 coming in and are a perennial powerhouse down in the south. As a basketball purist, it was fun to watch that second half with both teams battling and going back and forth. I thought we could have done some things better. In the first half we lost a little bit of rhythm. We were up 12 when Javohn and Terri picked up two (fouls) and had to sit the rest of the first half. But I was proud of our guys battling back. I thought they competed at a really high level. Unfortunately some things may have not gone our way down the stretch, but it doesn't take away from what was an incredible season. The guys did a lot of good things. They progressed as players and as young men, and I'm just proud of them." 

Jensen said at least three of his five sophomores -- Burrell, Garci and Miller -- are expected to play at the four-year level next season. All three hold multiple scholarship offers. The Giants' other two sophomores -- Carter and Fields -- have a chance to continue their careers with strong performances during the Sophomore Showcase game and by closing the semester by taking care of business in the classroom. Jensen added that he would also help any of his eight freshmen get to a four-year university.

"If they have the opportunity to move on and get their education paid for, I'm all about it," Jensen said. "I have no issues with that whatsoever."

Sequoias NorCal No. 3-seeded women's team (28-2) will open play in the Final Eight by facing SoCal No. 2 Palomar (30-0) at 7 p.m. March 10 at West Hills-Lemoore.

The Giants ride a 14-game winning streak into the state quarterfinal matchup.

Tickets are $12 for general admission and $8 for students, faculty and staff with ID, seniors 60 and older and children 12 and younger. Tickets may be purchased online at https://cccaa.hometownticketing.com/embed/all. Cash will not be accepted at the door.