Giants top defending champ Fullerton in OT to reach state men's basketball final

By Nick Giannandrea

COS ATHLETICS

WALNUT – College of the Sequoias dethroned the reigning California Community College Athletic Association men's basketball champions -- in their backyard, no less.

Up next for the Giants is a date with the state's only undefeated team, and an opportunity to end a four decade title drought.

Jose Cuello (Harlem, N.Y.) hit a buzzer-beating shot to force overtime, and Cameron Clark (Gwinnett, Ga.) delivered nine points, two rebounds and two blocks in overtime to help lead Northern California No. 2-seeded Sequoias to a 71-60 victory over Southern California No. 1 Fullerton in the state semifinals March 16 at Mt. San Antonio College. 

The Giants (27-5) advanced to an all-NorCal final against regional top-seeded and state No. 1 ranked West Valley (32-0). Tip off is scheduled for 3:30 p.m. March 17 from the Mt. SAC gym.

Sequoias seeks its first state championship since 1982, when it beat Compton 67-51. The college's only other state title came in 1953, an 80-78 defeat of Fullerton.

"This is a super special group with how connected they are," Giants coach Dallas Jensen said. "I'm so proud of them. I love them and I'm so excited to get this opportunity."

Fullerton, which has won two of the past three state titles and was playing before a largely partisan crowd 16 miles from its campus, appeared to be headed to another final when Anderson Amound converted one of two free throws to go ahead 51-47 with 1 minute and 1 second remaining in regulation.

But Omari Nesbit (Sacramento) kept the Giants close with a 3-pointer off an assist from Alex Argandar (Modesto) to close that gap to 51-50 with 48 seconds to play.

Sequoias got the ball back with 21 seconds left when a 3-point attempt by the Hornets' Jeremiah Davis bounced off the rim and over the backboard.

Jensen called for a timeout to set up a potential final play, but a close-range shot by Jaden Haire (Hanford West) for the lead didn't fall. Fullerton's RJ Banks grabbed the rebound and drew an immediate foul.

Banks made the first free throw for a 52-50 lead then missed the second. Clark secured the rebound and passed to Cuello, who sprinted to Sequoias' end of the court anticipating another Jensen timeout.

Instead, the Giants' fifth-year coach gave Cuello, the team's leading scorer and co-Most Valuable Player of the Central Valley Conference, the green light to take the final shot.

"I looked at Dallie and Dallie said, 'Jose, go,'" Cuello said. "He put all his trust in me, and that's what happens when you trust. You always dream to hit those big shots on the big stage."

Cuello drove the sideline right in front of the Giants bench and got off a floater that swished through as time expired. There initially was confusion as Sequoias' fans gathered in that corner believed Cuello hit a 3-pointer for the win. Then there was further confusion as the scoreboard operator initially gave the points to Fullerton.

But the officials ruled the shot beat the buzzer and was only a two, sending the game to overtime.

"We were originally going to call a timeout," Jensen said. "I saw it get in (Cuello's) hands and I saw the sideline open, and obviously he's been our best player all year. So he came over about ready to stop to call timeout and I told him, 'just go. Just go.' He had a little in and out and attacked the right wing and hit a floater he probably makes one out of 20 times."

Heading into overtime, the Giants were without standout sophomore post Jaylon Lee (Las Vegas), who fouled out with 1:01 left in regulation after contributing eight points, eight rebounds, two blocks and an assist.

Clark -- who had struggled during his first two appearances into the game in relief of Lee, drawing Jensen's ire -- came up big in overtime when Sequoias needed it. 

"First half and second half, I wasn't really performing," Clark said. "I needed to pick it up. That overtime was my second chance. I'm blessed." 

The 6-foot, 9-inch sophomore scored a layup for a 54-52 Giants' lead on the first possession of overtime.

Then he denied Fullerton points by blocking a shot, leading to a score by Haire on the other end as Sequoias' lead grew to 56-52. 

Clark's biggest play came with the Giants clinging to a 60-58 lead, when he soared high into the air to slam home a miss by Cuello with 1:37 left.

He came up with another offensive rebound that led to a three-point play with 53 seconds remaining to expand the lead to 65-58.

The Cal State Bakersfield commit made two more free throws with 46 seconds to play that put the Giants up 65-60 and kickstarted a game-closing 6-0 run. He finished with 13 points, five rebounds and two blocks off the bench.

"It's funny cause Cam got his butt ripped pretty good at halftime in front of the team," Jensen said. "My guys know I don't hold grudges. I'll call you out and then you turn the page. I love them dearly, we're on to the next. I thought even his initial stint in the second half he struggled a little bit. But his last few minutes of the (regulation) and overtime, he was as impactful as anyone on the floor on both ends. He defended. He blocked shots. He was able to guard the ball on the perimeter. And he buried free throws and had some buckets around the rim. He was huge. I'm really, really proud of him."

Nesbit led Sequoias with 18 points to go along with seven rebounds and two assists.

Haire -- who battled leg cramps all game, twice having to come out for treatment -- added 16 points, 13 rebounds and a steal. He polished off a banana during one timeout and sucked down packets of mustard while briefly on the bench in an attempt to rehydrate.

"Anything to help the team win," Haire said. "I was really just trying to get this win. This team means so much to me."

The Giants also received 14 points, eight rebounds, five assists and a steal from Cuello; two points, five rebounds, three assists and a steal from Argandar; and two rebounds from Davis White (Santa Clarita).

"This feels amazing," Haire said. "But the job is still not done though. We're happy but we're not satisfied. We've got one more."

That last game for Sequoias comes against a West Valley squad that has been ranked No. 1 in the state all season. The Vikings, who are coached by Danny Yoshikawa, beat Yuba 55-48 in the other semifinal.

West Valley is in the final for the second time in the past three seasons, having lost to San Francisco 91-66 in 2022.

Sequoias is making its first trip to the final since 2000, when it lost to conference rival Porterville 79-66.

"Yosh is one of the best coaches in the state," Jensen said. "They are immensely talented. They compete at a high level. They have all the pieces to be successful. Super sound defensively. They are really, really good. They have been the best team in the state the entire year. We've just got to come out and play the best brand of COS Giants basketball that we can play and hopefully some bounces go our way."

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, the games will be streamed via BAOSN.tv on pay-per-view for $12.