Giants cruise to eighth straight win, await seeding for NorCal Regional women's basketball playoffs

By Nick Giannandrea

COS ATHLETICS

A season that began with lofty expectations and appeared to be spiraling out of control at one point for College of the Sequoias women's basketball team is emphatically back on track.

The state No. 19-ranked Giants closed the regular season with their most dominant performance to date, an 85-16 Central Valley Conference dismantling of Porterville during Sophomore Night on Feb. 17 at Porter Field House.

Sequoias (17-11 overall, 10-2 CVC) bolted out to a 20-2 first-quarter lead and didn't allow a single point in the second quarter while cruising to its eighth straight win -- the third longest streak among teams in the Northern California region.

It's been a dramatic turnaround for the Giants, who opened the season ranked No. 2 behind reigning state champion Mt. San Antonio in the California Community College Women's Basketball Coaches' Association preseason Top 25 poll after going 31-1 and reaching the state semifinals in 2024-2025.

But while working in eight newcomers to a 12-woman roster, Sequoias lost its first three games of the season, and had dropped six of nine games following an 80-71 home loss to rival Fresno City on Jan. 17 that left the team two games under .500 at 9-11.

Only No. 6 Laney (18 straight) and No. 2 San Joaquin Delta (14) among NorCal teams have won more games in a row heading into the regional playoffs.

"It hasn't always been easy this year, because there are high expectations," Newton said. "High expectations for the team and high expectations for them individually from their coach. That's the standard here, and it's not easy. We've pushed through those trials and tribulations, and now we're to the other side. I think we're kind of dangerous right now."

Newton said he expects Sequoias to be seeded in the Nos. 8-9 range for the NorCal Regionals. Seedings will be announced Feb. 22.

A top-eight seed comes with a first-round bye and second-round home game. If Sequoias is seeded No. 9, it would host a first-round game Feb. 25, and be on the road through the regional quarterfinals if they make it that far.

The state's Elite Eight tournament -- which the Giants have reached in six of the past eight championship seasons -- is set for March 12 and 14-15th at Porter Field House.

Sequoias is ranked sixth among teams from NorCal and has the region's sixth-best TSRPI, but also has losses and worse records than two teams lower in the rankings in Butte (21-5) and Lemoore (19-8).

"I love March. I love the madness," Newton said. "You can line them up, wherever, whoever, whenever, and we're going to prepare and give it our best shot. And I think if we play well, we can beat anybody."

Starting a lineup featuring all five of their sophomores -- Sydney Chesnut (Henderson, Nev.), Gabby Brooks (Henderson, Nev.), Olivia Gill (Woodland), Mallary Gonzalez (Hoover High-Fresno) and Maya McNeal (Marysville -- the Giants scored the game's first 10 points against Porterville (2-25, 0-11) and never looked back.

Sequoias was up 53-2 at halftime after limiting the Pirates to 1 of 17 shooting, including 0 for 8 in the second quarter. It was the first time this season that Sequoias held an opponent scoreless for a quarter.

"I think everyone seems to want to count us out," said Chesnut, who finished with eight points, four rebounds, four assists and three steals. "But honestly, I think everyone should be scared and they should be worried because we're figuring it out right now. I can't wait to see the run we're going to make. If we play the teams we played in the preseason, we're going to come at them really hard."

All 12 Giants scored, led by Brooks, who had 14 points, three rebounds and a steal.

Sequoias' three other sophomores all contributed, with Gonzalez tallying four points, eight rebounds, an assist and a block; McNeal putting up four points, eight rebounds and a steal; and Gill scoring three points with eight rebounds, five steals and an assist.

Vivian Moore (Central East High-Fresno) came off the bench to deliver 13 points, three steals, a rebound and an assist.

The Giants also received nine points, four rebounds, three assists and three steals from Kalysa Phanhsavang (Stockton); eight points, two steals, a rebound and an assist from Izabel Mendez (Caruthers High); seven points, a rebound and a steal from Nyla Anderson (Austin, Texas); six points, seven rebounds and two steals from Claire Olia (Walnut); six points, five assists, three rebounds and a steal from Demi Boykin (Marysville); and three points, four rebounds and two assists from Ava King (Bakersfield Christian High).

"The thing that is different about our team is that we push through every single time," Chesnut said. "Coach always talks about that wall you always hit, and we push through that wall every single time. We met with each other off the court and we came back together on the court. We all thought we wanted to figure it out, and we made it our goal to figure it out. I feel like it's showing every single play and every single game we've been going through."

The Giants will likely finish one game behind No. 11 Fresno City in the chase for the CVC championship, which would snap a streak of five straight teams Newton has coached to conference titles dating back to his time at Butte. The Rams (20-7, 10-1) close the regular season Feb. 20 at home against Porterville, a team they beat 83-44 during the first round of CVC play.

Newton has led runs to the state's Elite Eight in each of the past four seasons, including a state runner-up finish in 2022-2023 at Butte.

"I've been close to the state championship lots of times, and how funny would it be if this team out of all of them makes a run and goes and wins the whole thing," Newton said. "I told the girls I believe in them, and I know if we're locked in and playing good basketball, we can beat anybody. I think we have turned a corner. I think the girls are playing more confident. We're just doing what we're supposed to do."