Giants rally for overtime win over Lemoore to remain in contention for CVC men's basketball title

By Nick Giannandrea

COS ATHLETICS

Mason Dorsey has been one of the state's top facilitators this season for College of the Sequoias men's basketball team.

The sophomore guard showed he can score when it matters, too, in a game the Giants absolutely had to have.

Dorsey delivered an overtime-forcing basket, then provided his team's final four points in the extra period as state No. 21-ranked Sequoias overcame Lemoore 64-62 on Feb. 7 at Porter Field House to keep hope alive of winning at least a share of a seventh straight Central Valley Conference championship.

"He was our vocal guy, our catalyst and was the guy we really leaned on in big moments down the stretch to make the right plays," Giants coach Dallas Jensen said after the Los Angeles native, who ranks among the state's top five in assists with an average of 7.4 per game, scored a season-high 23 points.

Sequoias (18-6 overall, 9-1 CVC) trailed by as many as seven points in the first half, and led for only a 1 minute, 40 second stretch midway through the second half.

The Giants were in a perilous position after Dorsey failed to draw a foul call on an unsuccessful drive to the basket with 41 seconds left in regulation, down 57-55.

Dorsey responded, however, by coming up with a steal and converting a layup with 26 seconds left to tie the score.

Sequoias would force another turnover by Lemoore (13-11, 6-4), but gave the ball right back on an offensive foul with 6 seconds remaining.

A potential game-winning shot by the Golden Eagles' Davion Jackson was off the mark, with Dorsey securing the rebound to send the game to overtime.

In the extra period, the teams traded leads twice before a Javon Bragg (Corcoran High) layup put the Giants ahead to stay at 60-59 with 3:54 to play.

Dorsey scored consecutive baskets that allowed Sequoias to stretch its lead to 64-59.

Lemoore, however, got within two points with 7 seconds left on a free throw by Eleven Williams and regained possession on a Sequoias turnover with 2.7 seconds to go, but Jaden Abuyen (Centennial High-Bakersfield) tipped an inbounds pass that Dorsey secured as time expired.

The Giants had lost their two previous games that went into overtime, and five of their six losses on the season were by four points or less.

"It's about time. We've been on the other end of those things a few times this season," said Dorsey, who also contributed 11 rebounds, nine assists and two steals. "So it was good that we came together and got it done, especially coming back from behind.

"I just do what the team needs from me most of the time. If it's scoring, passing, rebounding, whatever. Today, I was able to get buckets and it worked."

The come-from-behind win allowed the Giants to remain one game behind No. 12-ranked Columbia (20-4, 10-0) for first place in the CVC. Sequoias lost at Columbia 76-73 during the first round of CVC play Jan. 28.

The rematch is set for 6 p.m. Feb. 20 at Porter Field House in the regular season finale.

"If we were two back, it would be over," Jensen said. "Columbia is playing that well. We're excited to still be in the race."

Sequoias won despite its leading scorer, sophomore Cameron Kelly (Atlanta, Ga.), fouling out with 8:46 remaining in regulation. The Giants trailed 51-47 when Kelly -- who is averaging 16.9 points per game overall and 20.1 in conference play -- went to the bench. He finished with 12 points, six rebounds, an assist and a block.

Bragg came off the bench to score eight of his 10 points after Kelly's departure. Bragg also had seven rebounds and two blocks.

On a night that saw Sequoias convert only 35.6 percent from the field (26 of 73), Kareem Barnett (Miami) made 7 of his 14 shots while delivering 17 points, five rebounds and a steal.

The Giants also received two points, six rebounds, four steals and two assists from Abuyen; six rebounds and a block from Zaquien Whitehead (Columbus, Ga.); two rebounds, a steal and a block from Kion Hayes (Savannah, Ga.); and a rebound and an assist from QShawn On'gele (Portland, Ore.).

"I am so proud of our effort tonight," Jensen said. "We gutted out a win especially when we didn't shoot the ball well at all. And our best player this year fouled out really early. We only shot 35 percent from the floor. The difference was the defensive end, and I think we outrebounded them by like 15 plus in the second half. I thought we finally matched and exceeded their physicality in the second half and that helped us out a ton."

Sequoias is on the road for its next two games, starting with rival Fresno City (8-16, 3-7) at 5 p.m. Feb. 11. The Giants beat Fresno City 87-53 at home on Jan. 28.

Sequoias also plays at Merced (10-14, 7-3) at 3 p.m. Feb. 14, before returning home to face Porterville (6-18, 3-7) at 5 p.m. Feb. 17.

"We're trying to stay in the race and to keep this streak alive," Jensen said. "Columbia is just phenomenal this year. That was obviously a heartbreak loss up at their place. We are definitely not in a place to look ahead right now. We are just worried about one game at a time. But we feel like at the end of the day, we still hold the cards to be able to win a conference championship. But for the time being, we're going to turn our focus to Fresno."