COS women's basketball secures CVC title
College of the Sequoias' women's basketball team set out to send a message to state pollsters when it hosted rival Fresno City.
And to capture another Central Valley Conference championship.
The California Community College Sports Information Association state No. 6-ranked Giants accomplished both with an 83-60 thumping of the Rams on Feb. 15 at Porter Field House for their 11th straight win.
With one game remaining, Sequoias (25-2 overall, 11-0 CVC) sits two games ahead of Fresno City (23-4, 9-2) in the conference standings, securing its second straight title and the program's sixth in the past eight championship seasons.
Despite Sequoias' 76-72 victory at Fresno City during the first round of CVC play on Jan. 21, the Rams leapfrogged the Giants in the latest CCCSIA state rankings released Feb. 6. Sequoias dropped from No. 4, while Fresno City climbed from No. 6.
"We were looking at the rankings and saw they were above us," said Sequoias sophomore Alana Roberts, a product of Sierra Pacific High in Hanford. "And we knew we were the better team. We've worked hard, and it's good to see all the work we've put in pay off."
With Roberts scoring four points, grabbing two rebounds, and handing out two assists, the Giants jumped to a 22-12 lead in the first quarter. Fresno City held a one-point lead (59-58) with 5 minutes and 2 seconds remaining and was within two points (74-72) with 23 seconds left in the first game.
"We were hyped up in the locker room," Roberts said. "We've been talking a lot about this game."
Roberts delivered 11 more points and nine more rebounds in the second quarter as Sequoias expanded its lead to 25 points (50-25) by halftime.
Roberts finished with 24 points, 22 rebounds, three assists, and three blocks in arguably her finest performance of a stellar season that has her in contention for conference Player of the Year and All-State honors.
"Alana took over the game," Giants coach Ray Alvarado said. "I think she took it personally."
Fresno City made a run in the third quarter, outscoring Sequoias 17-8.
The Rams got as close as 12 points (67-55) on Jasmine Heu's 3-pointer with 3:30 left, but the Giants responded with a 13-2 run capped by a Roberts basket and free throw to expand the lead back beyond 20 points.
"They were ready for the challenge," Alvarado said. "I think they felt disrespected because of the whole rankings situation."
Geizzle Jones (Bullard-Fresno) also had a big night for Sequoias, finishing with 20 points − including 4-of-10 shooting from 3-point range − five rebounds, four assists, and four steals.
The Giants also received 12 points, four rebounds, and two assists from Maria Dias (Lisbon, Portugal); 11 points, six assists, five rebounds, and five steals from Camila Barreno (Ambato, Ecuador); seven points, three rebounds, three assists and a steal from Taylor Roth (Sanger); five points and a block from Noura Aboutaleb (Charlotte, N.C.); two points, five assists, a rebound and a steal from Tiana Holland (Washington Union-Easton); two points and a rebound from Maci Chavez (Kingsburg) and a rebound from Hannah Kearnan (Redwood).
"They are playing very unselfish," Alvarado said. "It's a very committed group."
Sequoias will close the regular season by hosting Reedley (5-21, 2-8) at 5 p.m. Feb. 17 at Porter Field House in the opener of a doubleheader with the men's team. Admission is $8 for general and $5 for seniors and students.
The Northern California Regional playoffs are scheduled to begin on Feb. 22. Alvarado said he expects the Giants to receive a top-four seed, guaranteeing home games through the first two rounds if they survive that long. Santa Rosa and Butte, the only teams to beat Sequoias this season, are ahead of the Giants in the current state rankings at Nos. 2 and 4, respectively.
The state's Final Eight tournament is scheduled for March 10-12 at West Hills College-Lemoore’s Golden Eagle Arena.
"It's all about the pairings," Alvarado said. "(A top-four seed) doesn't mean anything other than you are playing at home. We played at the three-seed last year when we were the sixth and beat them. So you can't take anything for granted."
The Giants have reached the state Final Eight five times in the last seven championship seasons. The program's only state championship came in 1987.
Men's Basketball
As College of the Sequoias' sophomore, Terri Miller waited to take his snip off the net to celebrate a second consecutive Central Valley Conference men's basketball championship. He couldn't help but be in awe of the Giants' success.
"This team is crazy," said Miller, the only returner from a team that went 27-4 while reaching the state Final Four last season. "Last year's team was crazy, too, but this year, it feels different. We play as a family. Everyone is close to each other off and on the court.
"I honestly believe if we play the way we play, nobody can beat us. It's all on us."
Miller delivered 13 points, 13 rebounds, six assists, and two blocks to help power California Community College Men's Basketball Coaches Association state 4-ranked Sequoias to an 86-68 victory over No. 16 Fresno City on Feb. 15 at Porter Field House.
It was the Giants' 19 straight victory, tied with No. 5 Yuba for the second-longest active streak in the state behind the 20 consecutive games won by No. 1 Fullerton.
The streak, and playoff seeding, was about all Sequoias (24-3, 13-0) had left to tangibly play for against Fresno City after clinching the CVC title outright with a 110-62 win at West Hills-Coalinga on Feb. 11.
The Giants lead the second-place Rams (19-6, 9-4) by four games in the conference standings with one remaining, set for 7 p.m. Feb. 17 at home against Reedley (9-18, 3-10) in the second game of a doubleheader with the women's team. Admission into Porter Field House is $8 for general and $5 for seniors and students.
"I've talked about how many new faces we had this year and that it was going to be a process with this group," Giants coach Dallas Jensen said. "They've done an incredible job coming together and valuing winning above individual projection and picking each other up on a nightly basis. So, honestly, I'm really proud of this group and what they've done and how far they've come over the year."
One of Sequoias' new faces, Javohn Garcia, a transfer from NCAA Division I Massachusetts, led the way against Fresno City with 29 points, five rebounds, five assists, three blocks, and a steal. Garcia made 5 of 9 shots from 3-point range and 8 of 16 overall.
Cameron Clark (Snellville, Ga.) and Alex Argandar (Modesto) also contributed double-figure scoring, with Clark finishing with 12 points, seven rebounds, two blocks, two steals, and an assist. In comparison, Argandar had 11 points, five rebounds, three assists, and a block.
The Giants also received nine points, two assists, and a steal from Tyjean Burrell (Sacramento); seven points, two rebounds, and two assists from Jose Cuello (Harlem, N.Y.); three points, two rebounds, and a steal from Tyree Gill (Sacramento); two points, two steals, one rebound and one steal from Omari Nesbit (Sacramento); two rebounds and an assist from Tre'von Martin (Las Vegas); and one rebound and one value from George Carter (Stockton).
"They are playing well," Jensen said. "Again, our goal every game is to go 1-0. Regardless of who the opponent is, we never look ahead. And the hope is that every time we step on the practice floor or in a game, we get just a little bit better.
"Every game is not going to be pretty, but I think over the course of the last six to eight weeks, they have just progressively gotten better. It's been great to watch as a coach."
Sequoias is ranked behind only No. 2 San Francisco among teams from Northern California. Should playoff seeding shake out similar to the CCCMBCA rankings, the Giants should either have a bye or a home game when the NorCal Regionals begin on Feb. 22.
Sequoias has reached the state's Final Eight in the past three championship seasons. The Giants are out to capture a third state title in program history, adding to championships won in 1953 and 1982.
"For us, we weren't worried about getting a one seed or a two seed," Jensen said. "One of our big goals was to get a top-four seed. That way, we could potentially stay at home until the Elite Eight. I think after tonight, I feel pretty confident we'll end up with a top-four seed, and hope we get a first-round bye and get to host someone here at Porter Field House."
This article originally appeared on Visalia Times-Delta: COS women's basketball secures CVC title
