Giants blast No. 11 Columbia to earn share of seventh straight CVC men's basketball championship

By Nick Giannandrea

COS ATHLETICS

For College of the Sequoias men's basketball team, "The Streak" continues.

With authority.

The state No. 19-ranked Giants played their most complete game of the season against a ranked opponent while rolling to a 95-66 victory over No. 11 Columbia on Feb. 20 at Porter Field House to earn a share of the program's seventh consecutive Central Valley Conference championship.

"I thought the boys were really focused over the last couple of days," Sequoias coach Dallas Jensen said. "They took this one personal. They didn't want this streak to end. They knew what was on the line in winning our seventh straight conference championship. Honestly, I thought across the board, everyone competed and played really well."

Sequoias (22-6 overall) and Columbia (23-5) each finish 13-1 in CVC play, four games ahead of second-place Merced.

The Giants snapped the Claim Jumpers' 14-game winning streak and avenged a heartbreaking 76-73 loss to Columbia on Jan. 28 in Sonora during the first round of CVC play when Derron White drained the game-winning, 30-foot, 3-point shot at the buzzer. Sequoias held a 73-71 lead with 27 seconds remaining in the game.

"We thought about Columbia and how they beat us on that game winner," said Giants' sophomore Cameron Kelly (Atlanta), who scored a team-leading 24 points along with four rebounds, an assist, a steal and a block. "And we were also thinking, we've got six in a row. We can't be the team that doesn't get the championship."

Sequoias has now won or shared the CVC title every championship season since 2019. There wasn't a CVC season in 2021 because of the Covid pandemic.

It's the second-longest conference title winning streak in program history. The Giants won eight straight conference titles between 1946-1953 under legendary coach Polly Wilhelmsen.

"We knew what was on the line. They got us up there and we had to get them here," sophomore Mason Dorsey (Los Angeles) said. "We talked about 40 minutes. Our season is 40 minutes from now on. We can either go home or keep going. We peaked at the right time. It was a collective effort and we got the job done."

In a matchup of potential top 10 seeds for the Northern California Regional playoffs, Columbia and Sequoias traded the lead six times before Kareem Barnett (Miami) sank a jumper off an assist from Kion Hayes (Savannah, Ga.) with 14 minutes and 13 seconds to play in the first half to put the Giants ahead for good at 12-11.

Sequoias went on a 16-6 run over the next 5:24 -- capped by a Hayes 3-pointer off a feed from Dorsey -- to extend the lead to double digits at 28-17.

Columbia never got closer than 10 points the rest of the way.

"Once we were up double digits in the first half, we knew all we had to do was keep the same momentum and same intensity, and the game was going to be ours," said Barnett, who contributed 11 points, eight assists, a rebound and a steal. "This is probably the best game we've played all year."

The Giants' lead swelled to 20 points (60-40) following a free throw from Javon Bragg (Corcoran High) with 13:55 left.

Sequoias closed the game on an 8-0 run, extending its lead to a zenith of 29 points on a Burnett dunk off a Bragg assist with 32 seconds remaining.

"Attention to detail. I thought we really focused. We were the more physical team tonight," Jensen said. "Columbia is absolutely phenomenal. I think the world of them and their team and their coach. But the boys, their focus and physicality tonight, they were ready to go."

The Giants shot a blistering 60.6 percent (20 of 33) while opening a 46-30 lead in the first half. Sequoias finished at 52.8 percent overall (38 of 72), 5.2 percent better than its season average while scoring 15.1 points above its season average of 79.9 points per game.

"We've been in the gym," Dorsey said. "That was a key emphasis, we've got to shoot the ball. We play defense, but we haven't been scoring enough. Today we were able to put up 95 and hold them to 66. That's a testament to our work."

Dorsey delivered his first triple-double of the season with 23 points, 11 assists and 10 rebounds to lead the Giants. He also had a steal.

"Finally," said Dorsey, who has been close to the statistical achievement several times this season. "It was the biggest game of the year. I had to do it."

Sequoias also received 14 points, 13 rebounds, three blocks and two assists from Bragg; 13 points, three rebounds, three assists and two steals from Hayes; four points, four rebounds, an assist and a block from Zaquien Whitehead (Columbus, Ga.); three points and a rebound from Jayden Abuyen (Centennial High-Bakersfield); and three points and two rebounds from QShawn On'gele (Portland, Ore.).

"We are playing our best basketball," Kelly said. "I think it's about that time where we are hitting our stride. Everyone knows their role. Everyone knows what they are capable of. We just got to keep doing that every game."

Jensen said following the Giants' 66-53 win over Porterville on Feb. 17 that he believed his team would receive a seed between Nos. 10-13 for the NorCal Regional playoffs. He added that the convincing victory over Columbia likely won't impact the team's seeding much.

But it's noteworthy that five of the nine teams from NorCal that are ranked ahead of Sequoias in the California Community College Men's Basketball Coaches Association state Top 25 (No. 6 Las Positas, No. 8 Modesto, Columbia, No. 13 Yuba and No. 14 Sierra) have lost in the past week, and only five (San Francisco, Santa Rosa, Columbia, Yuba and San Jose) are also conference champions.

Playoff pairings will be announced Feb. 22. The Giants -- who have lost three players to season-ending injuries and played their last five games with only a three-man bench -- are expected to host a first-round regional playoff game Feb. 25.

"The things we've gone through on and off the floor, it's hard to put into words," Jensen said. "I'm just super proud of them right now. They have been a resilient bunch. They are super coachable and fun to be around. I think we will be a dangerous out even as a low seed come playoffs."

If the seedings play out as Jensen expects, Sequoias would have to win its opener at home, then win two road games in order to qualify for the state's Elite Eight tournament, which is scheduled for March 13-15 at Porter Field House.

The Giants enter the postseason riding a seven-game winning streak. 

"I know it's not going to be as easy a journey as it's been the last few years," Kelly said. "We're probably going to have to play two tough away games. But I'm looking forward to the challenge. We can ride this momentum all the way."