Giants lock in from long distance while rolling to fourth straight men's basketball win
By Nick Giannandrea
COS ATHLETICS
The sharpshooters were on point for College of the Sequoias men's basketball team.
Kion Hayes and QShawn On'gele combined to connect on nine 3-point baskets to fuel the Giants' 87-53 Central Valley Conference victory over Fresno City College on Jan. 17 at Porter Field House.
Hayes (Savannah, Ga.) made 4 of 9 shots from beyond the arc, while On'gele (Portland, Ore.) sank 5 of 9 3-pointers to help California Community College Men's Basketball Coaches Association state No. 20-ranked Sequoias win its fourth straight game.
The Giants (13-5 overall, 4-0 in the CVC) are tied with Columbia (14-4, 4-0) atop the conference standings.
"We shot it well. Our two best shooters Kion Hayes and QShawn On'gele really shot it well tonight," coach Dallas Jensen said. "That just opens up the game for us a little bit on the offensive end. They did a really good job."
Sequoias never trailed and led by 26 (47-21) at halftime. The lead grew to as many as 36 points with 3 minutes and 1 second left in the game.
The Giants outscored the Rams in nearly every statistical metric: 36-20 in points in the paint, 17-4 in second chance points, 18-2 in fastbreak points and 37-13 in points off the bench.
About the only blemish on the night was Sequoias had more turnovers than Fresno City, 18-11.
The Giants made up for that by shooting 53.7 percent (36-67) from the field overall, and 40.7 percent (11 of 27) on 3-pointers.
"It was terrible tonight. They were almost elementary turnovers again," Jensen said. "We're holding the ball above our head. We're getting frazzled versus pressure in one on ones. We're careless. We don't secure defensive rebounds and be tough with the ball. These guys recognize it. It's stuff we talk about all the time. We have moments of being great with it and moments where we just haven't figured out how to clean it up."
On'gele finished 6 of 10 from the field overall while scoring 17 points. He also added four rebounds and an assist.
Hayes had 12 points, three assists and two rebounds.
Cameron Kelly (Atlanta) led Sequoias in scoring with 24 points, while adding eight rebounds and an assist.
The Giants also received 10 points, five rebounds and four steals from Kareem Barnett (Miami); eight points, eight rebounds, two blocks and a steal from Zaquien Whitehead (Columbus, Ga.); six points, 11 rebounds, 10 assists, three blocks and a steal from Mason Dorsey (Los Angeles); six points, seven rebounds, two blocks and an assist from Javon Bragg (Corcoran High); four points, two rebounds, an assist, a steal and a block from Jayden Abuyen (Centennial High-Bakersfield); and three rebounds and three blocks from Jamaal Phatty (Frankfurt, Germany).
"I thought we came out with great energy and jumped on them early. I really, really liked our activity on the defensive end. Getting up and down the floor and playing in transition," Jensen said. "I thought we got a little stagnant early in the second half, but the group that ended the game ended it the right way.
"Kareem Barnett's energy tonight really was a game-changer for us."
Up next for Sequoias is a home game against Merced (6-12, 3-1), scheduled for 5 p.m. Jan. 21.
The Giants' first showdown against CVC co-leading Columbia will be on the road at 6 p.m. Jan. 28. Sequoias edged the Claim Jumpers by one game for the conference championship last season, the Giants' sixth straight CVC title.
"I think we're making strides. I definitely don't think we're playing our best basketball by any means," Jensen said. "But the group is super fun to coach. They really like each other and celebrate one another. All week we talk about winning the day, going 1-0 every single day and trying to progressively get better as the season goes, and we're getting there.
"We're hoping to potentially win another conference championship. But that's a long way down the road. Honestly we're just focused on one day at a time and being the best version of ourselves."
