Giants men's basketball rolls past rival Fresno City
By Nick Giannandrea
COS ATHLETICS
College of the Sequoias' men's basketball team remained within striking distance of first place in the Central Valley Conference with another stellar defensive performance.
The state No. 15-ranked Giants held rival Fresno City nearly 18 points below its season average while rolling to a 79-62 victory Jan. 27 at Porter Field House.
Two-time reigning CVC champion Sequoias improved to 16-4 overall and 4-2 in the conference, one game behind co-leading No. 13 Columbia (17-3, 5-1) and No. 17 Merced (17-3, 5-1), while knocking the No. 30 Rams (11-9, 4-2) from a share of first place. No. 21 West Hills-Lemoore (14-5, 4-2) also is tied for second place following a 71-59 loss to Columbia on Jan. 27.
"We try to control pace and tempo pretty much every game we play," said Sequoias coach Dallas Jensen, whose team allows the fifth fewest points per game in the state at 63.8. "We've had a big emphasis on defense over the course of the last few weeks. I feel like our guys are buying in and playing for one another, which makes a big difference on that end."
The Giants have won four straight since opening CVC action with road losses to Columbia (83-80 in overtime Jan. 10) and Merced (69-67 on Jan. 13).
Sequoias closes the first half of CVC play by hosting Reedley (4-14, 0-6) at 5 p.m. Jan. 31. The Giants get second cracks against Columbia (3 p.m. Feb. 3) and Merced (5 p.m. Feb. 5) to start the second half, both games at home.
"That first week of conference, losing at Columbia and at Merced was tough for us," Jensen said. "I didn't think we were playing particularly well that week, but at the end of the day we had opportunities to win and the other teams just flat out beat us, so kudos to them.
"I think our guys have really bought in on trying to win one game at a time, trying to win the day, going 1-0 and seeing how it all shakes out. We know there is a lot of basketball to be played. Obviously we have one more game in the first half of conference before we see everybody again. We are at a point right now where we're just trying to go 1-0 each time we step on the floor and see what happens."
Against Fresno City, which entered averaging a state 27th-best 79.8 points per game, the lead changed hands seven times through the first 10 minutes and 34 seconds.
A 3-pointer by Jose Cuello (Harlem, N.Y.) off an assist from Alex Argandar (Modesto) with 9:26 to play in the first half put Sequoias ahead to stay at 19-17.
The Giants' lead expanded to 10 points (34-24) at halftime, and grew to as many as 23 points on four occasions in the second half, the last at 74-51 on a Cuello jumper with 4:32 remaining, before the Rams closed the game on an 11-5 run.
"There were a couple short segments in the second half, especially late, where I thought we got a little lackadaisical on the defensive end and with the ball," Jensen said. "But all in all, in a big game like this, obviously a huge rivalry with Fresno and COS, I just thought we played really well.
"Our team is really, really well connected. Everyone is buying into their roles. They are playing for one another, which makes a huge difference. Our focus level has been a lot sharper at practice, too, which I think has translated to the games. I'm just really proud of them. I love the way we're playing. I think we're getting a little bit better every time we step on the floor."
For the second straight game and the third time overall this season, Cuello scored at least 30 points, finishing with 33 on 10 of 23 shooting. The sophomore guard converted 5 of 11 from 3-point range while also contributing six rebounds, five steals and two assists while playing all 40 minutes.
"Jose has been brilliant. He is, no if ands or buts about it, a Division I guard," Jensen said. "Whoever gets him at this point is getting an absolute steal. He is a floor general. He can score it. He can facilitate it. He guards it, and he's tough. He's taken on a big leadership role with this team, and he's just someone we can lean on when we need big plays in big moments."
Sequoias received 15 points, 12 rebounds and three assists from Jaden Haire (Hanford West).
Cameron Clark (Gwinnett, Ga.) delivered 10 points, six rebounds and a block for the Giants, who also got nine points, seven assists, two rebounds, two steals and a block from Argandar; seven points, three rebounds, an assist and a steal from Omari Nesbit (Sacramento); three points, five rebounds, an assist and a block from David White (Santa Clarita); two points, six rebounds, two blocks and an assist from Jaylon Lee (Las Vegas); and five rebounds, three assists and a steal from Mikey Ficher (Tulare Western).
