Giants men's basketball opens season with two wins

By Nick Giannandrea

COS ATHLETICS

College of the Sequoias men's basketball team opened the season by displaying the firepower and depth that coach Dallas Jensen said could lead to something "special" for a program that was the state runner-up following a fifth consecutive trip to the Elite Eight in 2023-2024.

The Giants, who were ranked No. 3 in the North in the California Community College Men's Basketball Coaches Association preseason poll, received contributions from all 10 players who suited up during an 81-56 victory over Feather River on Nov. 1 at Porter Field House.

"I'm super proud that we won tonight and had a good win, but I think our whole focus right now just every time we step in the gym is we need to get incrementally better," Jensen said. "And if we do that, I think by the time conference and postseason rolls around, we can be pretty special."

Sequoias jumped out to a 17-3 lead through the game's first 5 minutes behind nine points from Tyree Gill, a sophomore from Sacramento who sat out last season with an injury.

The Giants' lead grew to as many as 15 points (29-14) in the first half on a 3-pointer by Cameron Kelly (Decatur, Ga.) with 10:20 remaining before Feather River -- coached by Jensen's younger brother, Derek -- began clawing back into the game. The Golden Eagles trailed by eight (40-32) at halftime.

Midway through the second half, Leyon McGovern (Anderson, Ind.) scored five points during a 10-0 Sequoias run that pushed its lead to 20 points (68-48) with 8:02 left to play.

The Giants' lead swelled as large as 28 points (81-53) with 1:55 remaining on an offensive rebound and putback by Ahmad Clark (Atlanta, Ga.). Clark is the younger brother of former Sequoias standout Cameron Clark, who has now transferred to NCAA Division I Cal State Bakersfield.

"This team plays very different than the brand of basketball we've played over the last few years," Jensen said. "We're a lot faster. It's probably the most athletic group I've ever had. Very deep. We just need more time and reps together. Clean some things up. Fine tune some things."

Jensen came away from game No. 1 impressed with his team in some areas, and with a clearer understanding of what needs to be improved in others.

He said the Giants gave Feather River too many second chances defensively.

"We were not good enough on the defensive glass tonight. I thought they kicked our butt in terms of offensive rebounding," Jensen said. "And the issue is not that we're not capable. I think that we're playing so fast this year that guys are excited to get out and run. What we're trying to explain to this group is we are so fast and athletic, that once we can secure it with all five guys crashing the glass, we can still run. I thought sometimes tonight we left two or three guys to rebound on their own, and that's just not going to work at this level."

Conversely, Jensen was pleased with the Giants' effort and their team-first attitude.

"I was really happy with their commitment to our full-court press. I was happy with their physicality and their engagement," Jensen said. "Emotionally we were very, very solid and we embodied the team over anything else. I was really excited to see them commit to the process. And all of a sudden that run hit in the second half, and I thought the game was over at that point."

Gill, who played for Sequoias in 2022-2023 before sitting out last season with an injury, led the way with 16 points on 6 of 11 shooting from the field. He also contributed six rebounds, two assists and a steal.

The Giants also received double figure scoring from McGovern (15 points) and Kelly (13 points). McGovern also had eight rebounds and a steal, while Kelly added six rebounds, six blocks, two steals and an assist.

Sequoias' most decorated returning player, Jaden Haire (Hanford West), delivered eight points, five rebounds, two blocks, two assists and a steal. Haire was a first-team all-Central Valley Conference selection last season who has committed to D-I Texas A&M Corpus Christi.

"We got a lot of stuff to work on, but I seen a lot of great things," Haire said. "As you can see, we are a very fast team compared to last year. So that's really the main emphasis of this whole year, just playing fast."

The Giants also received six points, four assists, a rebound and a steal from Jayson Mathews (Sacramento); six points, five rebounds, three steals and two assists from Davis White (Santa Clarita); six points and three rebounds from Clark; six points, two rebounds and a steal from Kevin Anderson (Atlanta); five points, six assists and three rebounds from Raydon Thorson (Queen Creek, Ariz.); and three steals, two rebounds and a block from Jamaal Phatty (Frankfurt, Germany).

"All the guys are really connected," Haire said. "I think we're going to be really good down the stretch. But I think the most important thing is just getting better every game, every practice."

Sequoias' season-opening weekend also saw it defeat Compton 81-79 on Nov. 2 at Porterville College behind 14 points, 14 rebounds, an assist and a block from Haire.

After trailing 38-36 at halftime, the Giants outscored Compton 45-41 in the second half, also getting a team-leading 15 points along with five rebounds, two assists and two blocks from Kelly.

Anderson had 12 points, two rebounds and an assist, while Mathews added 11 points, a rebound and an assist for Sequoias.

Thorson contributed seven points, 12 assists, four rebounds and three steals; White had seven points, three rebounds and an assist, while Gill added six points, three rebounds and a steal.

Sequoias also received four points and a steal from McGovern; three points and three rebounds from Clark; and two points, a rebound and a block from Phatty.

The Giants return to action next on the central coast, facing South preseason No. 17 Allan Hancock (0-0) at 3 p.m. Nov. 9 and Cuesta (0-0) at 2 p.m. Nov. 10 during the Hinson's Tire Pros Winter Classic in San Luis Obispo.

Sequoias returns home the following weekend, playing host to North No. 18 Contra Costa (0-0) at 6 p.m. Nov. 16 and South No. 15 Los Angeles Southwest (1-1) at 3 p.m. Nov. 17 during the Giant Classic.