'17th Man' provides boost in Giants' pursuit of CVC men's basketball championship

By Nick Giannandrea

COS ATHLETICS

When College of the Sequoias' state sixth-ranked men's basketball team steps onto the Porter Field House court at 7 p.m. Feb. 12 to take on rival Fresno City -- with an opportunity to move a step closer to a sixth consecutive Central Valley Conference championship -- it will have a secret weapon.

And that secret weapon will be seated right behind the Rams' bench.

They are the self dubbed "17th Man," a boisterous group of Sequoias' student athletes who provide the Giants' men's basketball team a decided home court advantage, especially in big games.

"We're the extra player and we do create a lot of havoc," said sophomore baseball player Evan Gonzalez (Redwood High), a member of the "17th Man" boosters. "(Opponents) have to deal with us and keep their emotions in check. It's really fun for us. Nothing personal. Just fun and games."

The Giants (21-3, 10-0) will need any edge they can get against Fresno City (15-9, 8-2), one of two teams with a mathematical shot at catching or surpassing them for the CVC title. A Sequoias' victory would give it a three-game lead on the Rams and at least a two-game lead on Columbia (18-6, 8-2) with three CVC games remaining.

"It's huge. It's a very big deal," Giants men's basketball coach Dallas Jensen said of the support from the "17th Man." "At the end of the day, you still have to come out and do the right things on the court. But that said, sports in general can be games of runs. And having the '17th Man' provides extra energy right out of the gate. Our boys feed off it. The boys are really excited for this game and having the support of their fellow student athletes."

The genesis of Sequoias' "17th Man" started with the baseball team as a way of the players developing camaraderie away from the diamond, and with other student athletes throughout the athletic department.

Sequoias baseball assistant Scott Laird helped organize his players into a student booster group. And they decided they needed a name, something similar to the Seattle Seahawks' "12th Man," the nickname given to the NFL team's passionate and loyal fan base known for creating a significant home-field advantage due to their loud support during games.

After researching the names of several booster groups, the baseball players, Laird and Giants Athletics Director Brent Davis decided on the purposefully vague "17th Man," even though it has nothing to do with common basketball vernacular.

"We wanted people to go 'what the heck is the 17th Man,'" Laird said. "When other teams come into the gym, they can expect to see us there. (The '17th Man') creates such a lively atmosphere at the games. It's been fun to be a part of."

The "17th Man" -- which has grown from the baseball program to include student athletes from other Sequoias' teams -- made a definite impact on the Giants' biggest home game of the season to date, a 104-73 shellacking of No. 14-ranked Columbia on Jan. 29. It gave Sequoias sole possession of first place in the CVC.

Decked out in navy blue t-shirts with orange "17th Man" lettering, the boosters created good natured chaos from the opening tip, getting particularly loud any time the Claim Jumpers had the ball or went to the free throw line.

And any Columbia shot that didn't hit the rim drew group chats of "air ball!" that reverberated throughout the gym.

"That's one of the best chants we can do," Gonzalez said. "We're always waiting for that one guy to air ball. It's such an easy chant. Then we know for the rest of the game, we're giving it to him. As a player, that's got to be in your head a little bit."

The support helped create an environment that fed into the Giants shooting a season-best 60 percent from the field while the Claim Jumpers converted 39.4 percent of their shots, and only 18.2 percent on 3-pointers.

"It's such a unique environment and experience," Jensen said. "Not a lot of schools have the type of support from student athletes that the "17th Man" provides. I feel lucky we have it. I know the boys feel lucky we have it."

The Rams gave Sequoias its toughest game in CVC play so far this season, as the Giants pulled out a 77-72 win in Fresno on Jan. 18. Fresno City has won six straight since then.

The game is particularly meaningful for Sequoias. 

In addition to the CVC title implications, the Giants are looking to extend a 13-game winning streak -- tied with Modesto for the longest among the 47 teams in Northern California -- and bolster their resume in hopes of landing a top-four seed in the NorCal Regional playoffs. Top four seeds are guaranteed home games up until the state's Elite Eight Tournament, which is scheduled for March 13 and 15-16 at Mt. San Antonio College in Walnut.

Sequoias has reached the Elite Eight in the five straight championship seasons and is looking to add a third state title to its trophy case, in addition to championships won in 1953 and 1982. 

The Giants will need the "17th Man" at their collective best. And Gonzalez said they plan to deliver another raucous night of support.

"We're all talking about it and looking forward to it," Gonzalez said. "We're making it a point to be there, getting our homework done early so we can be there."

On the women's side, state top-ranked Sequoias (25-0, 9-0) can clinch at least a tie for the CVC championship with a win over Fresno City (16-8, 7-1). Tipoff is scheduled for 5 p.m. from Porter Field House

The Giants would have a 2.5-game lead on the Rams with two to play if they win. They are aiming for their seventh CVC title since 2015, and the program's first under new coach Tyler Newton.

Sequoias is the frontrunner for the No. 1 seed in the NorCal Regional playoffs and out to qualify for the state's Elite Eight Tournament -- scheduled for March 14-16 in Walnut -- for the 14th time in program history. 

The Giants lone state title came in 1987.