Giants men's basketball on state-best Elite Eight streak
By Nick Giannandrea
COS ATHLETICS
For the fifth straight championship season, College of the Sequoias is among the state's Elite Eight men's basketball teams.
No other California community college has advanced as far as consistently as the Giants during that stretch.
Sequoias' streak began in 2019 during the final season of former coach Rusty Smith, and has continued – interrupted only by the canceled 2021 season because of the Covid-19 pandemic – under Dallas Jensen.
"There are a lot of storied programs up and down the state of California," Jensen said. "The fact we've been able to sustain some success over the last several years is really a reflection of the players and the talent we're getting, the young men we're getting. And the buy-in we're getting. I feel like we've been really fortunate to have quality young men come into this program that are talented, that want to be coached and continue to develop, and really buyin to the things we ask on and off the floor."
The Northern California No. 2-seeded Giants (25-5) are set to face Southern California No. 3 West Los Angeles (26-4) at 5 p.m. May 15 in the third of four quarterfinal games at Mt. San Antonio College in Walnut.
If Sequoias wins, it advances to a 7 p.m. March 16 semifinal against the winner between North No. 4 Cabrillo (25-5) and South No. 1 Fullerton (26-4), who play at 7 p.m. March 15. The other quarterfinals feature North No. 3 Yuba (28-2) against South No. 2 San Diego City (26-4) at 1 p.m. and South No. 4 Cerro Coso (25-6) against North No. 1 West Valley (30-0) at 3 p.m.
The other semifinal is scheduled for 5 p.m. March 16, and the championship game tips off at 3:30 p.m. March 17.
The state's second longest streak of reaching the Elite Eight belongs to West Valley at three in a row.
In addition to having talented players, Jensen said the support of Sequoias' administration, support from the community and the help of current assistant coaches Tommy Luu and Brandon McDermott as well as former assistants Tie Sims and Tye McCord have been crucial to the Giants' success.
"I feel extremely grateful and blessed to have the opportunity to be here and coach here and lead this group of young men on a yearly basis," Jensen said. "I'm just very pleased with all the success."
Reaching the Elite Eight provides Sequoias' six sophomores -- Alex Argandar (Modesto), Omari Nesbit (Sacramento), Jose Cuello (Harlem, N.Y.), Samuel Bazunga (Paris, France), Cameron Clark (Gwinnett, Ga.) and Jaylon Lee (Las Vegas) -- another opportunity for exposure as they attempt to move on to four-year universities.
Jensen said he hopes to help place all six at the next level, with Clark already committed to NCAA Division I Cal State Bakersfield.
Cuello is being heavily recruited by 25-30 D-I programs. Lee is described by Jensen as a D-I talent who may have to go to a NAIA university because of clock issues. Argandar, Nesbit and Bazunga are drawing interest from NCAA Division II and NAIA programs.
Freshman Jaden Haire (Hanford West) could potentially move on as well. He has a standing offer from Louisiana Tech and is talking to several other D-I programs across the country.
"The opportunity for extra exposure down there is always exciting for these guys," Jensen said.
The Mt. SAC main gym -- Building 720 -- is located at 1100 N. Grand Ave., Walnut.
Tickets are priced at $12 adult general admission and $8 for seniors 60 and older, students with proper ID and children older than 6. Children 6 and younger are free.
For those who can't make the trip, all games will be streamed via BAOSN.tv on a pay-per-view basis. Price is $12 (plus fees) each day. Archived views are available the days following each round for $15 per day.
Sequoias will be competing to win the third state championship in program history, to go along with titles won in 1982 and 1953.
