Giants topple Sierra for 9th straight women's basketball win, advance to play San Joaquin Delta for spot in Elite Eight

By Nick Giannandrea

COS ATHLETICS

A season that once appeared to be spinning off the rails for College of the Sequoias women's basketball team has reached an Elite Eight play-in game.

The eight-seeded Giants' continued their turnaround with a 73-58 victory over No. 9 Sierra in the second round of the Northern California Regional playoffs on Feb. 28 at Porter Field House.

Sequoias (18-11) advances to face top-seeded San Joaquin Delta (24-5) in one of four regional finals at 7 p.m. March 7 in Stockton. The winner moves on to the California Community College Athletic Association's Elite Eight championship tournament, scheduled for March 12, 14-15 at Porter Field House.

"I think this team is starting to play more like I thought we would earlier," Giants coach Tyler Newton said. "That's all that matters. It's March Madness baby. Survive and advance. Obviously it's a tall task to go to No. 1, but that's what we live for. That's what we coach for, and that's what we play for. Give me a week to prepare for anybody, and I like our chances."

Coming off a 31-1, state semifinalist season in 2024-2025, Sequoias was ranked No. 2 in the California Community College Women's Basketball Coaches' Association preseason state poll.

But as Newton tried to figure out roles for nine newcomers while playing a schedule that featured 13 state-ranked opponents among their first 20 games, the Giants stumbled out to a 9-11 start following a 80-71 home loss to rival Fresno City on Jan. 17.

Sequoias has since won nine straight games to give itself a chance to reach the Elite Eight for the seventh time in the past 10 championship seasons.

"Honestly, I could not tell you what exactly it is that changed," said sophomore Olivia Gill, who delivered 10 points, seven rebounds, four steals and an assist against Sierra. "It literally looks like we flipped a switch and we were like, 'alright, we know how to play basketball now.' But I do think our chemistry is a lot better on the court. I feel like we have a better understanding of what every girl is going to do. We trust each other a lot more."

The Giants shot 60 percent (9 of 15) from the field -- led by a 5-of-7 effort from Demi Boykin (Marysville) -- to open a 22-15 lead in the first quarter against Sierra (20-10).

A Boykin 3-pointer with 8 minutes and 5 seconds left in the second quarter pushed Sequoias' lead to double digits (27-17) for the first time.

Vivian Moore (Central East High-Fresno) made a free throw with 0.2 seconds left to cap an 8-2 run that extended the Giants' lead to 16 points (43-27) at halftime.

"I think the first half really demonstrated our preparation this week," Gill said. "You could see that we came out and we understood what they were going to do, what their normal game plan is, who their main players were. It felt like we shut down (Sierra's leading scorer Brooklynn Nordquist) for the majority of the first half. And we didn't let them get going as much, which helped us with our confidence."

But the Wolverines -- who reached the Elite Eight in four of the past five championship seasons, including a state title in 2022 -- didn't fold.

After a Gill jumper off an assist from Nyla Anderson (Austin, Texas) with 7:58 to play in the third quarter gave Sequoias its largest lead at 18 points (45-27), Sierra began chipping away.

The Wolverines outscored the Giants 20-7 the rest of the third quarter and closed the gap to five points (52-47) on Kameryn King's free throw with 49 seconds to go.

Sequoias, however, regrouped during the quarter break and came out and got a 3-pointer by Gabby Brooks (Henderson, Nev.) off an assist from Izabel Mendez (Caruthers High) to kickstart a 21-11 blitz in the fourth quarter. The Giants shot 58.3 percent (7 of 12) from the field in the fourth, drew five fouls and converted 5 of 7 free throws to pull away from Sierra.

Brooks scored seven of her 11 points in the first 2 minutes of the fourth quarter as Sequoias pushed its lead back to double digits (59-49). Sierra got no closer than 10 points the rest of the way.

"They are a good team. We knew they were going to make a run," Newton said. "I felt like we got a little out of sorts early in the third quarter. I thought they started hurting us on the offensive glass, which is what they are known for. We did a good job in the first half of holding them down, the second half not so much. Played a little tired in the third quarter. We were a little out of sorts on offense. We weren't just staying the course. We got a little sped up and did some out of character things.

"When Gabby hit that three, that kind of stopped the bleeding a little bit for us. In the fourth quarter, we did a better job of locking up guarding, moving the ball better, getting some and ones, making some free throws."

Boykin led the Giants with 18 points, 13 rebounds, five assists and four steals. Brooks added two rebounds and two assists.

Anderson contributed 15 points, six assists, four rebounds and three steals.

Sequoias also received eight points, five rebounds, three assists and a block from Mendez; seven points, five rebounds, an assist and a steal from Moore; two points and two rebounds from Kalysa Phanhsavang (Stockton); two points, two rebounds, an assist and a steal from Sydney Chesnut (Henderson, Nev.); three rebounds and two steals from Maya McNeal (Marysville); and one rebound from Ava King (Bakersfield Christian).

"I'm just happy we pulled through," Boykin said. "We had a rough third quarter. But I kept on telling my teammates, let's not be rattled, let's stay composed because we know what we can do offensively. We don't need to rush anything.

"I feel like if we continue to play like this, we can be state champions. I feel like we're in a good space and we're all confident. I don't really see us falling apart."

The Giants now turn their attention to Delta, which beat No. 17 Modesto 71-30 during its second-round NorCal Regional.

The Mustangs were the only team this season to defeat reigning state champion and Southern California Regional top-ranked Mt. San Antonio (27-1), edging the Mounties

73-72 in the first round of Sequoias' Gilcrest Invitational on Dec. 4.

But among Delta's five losses was a 63-47 setback against the Giants for third place at the Gilcrest Invitational on Dec. 6.

"I'm excited to play Delta. We beat them last time, but we're two completely different teams now," Boykin said. "I know we both want it. At the end of the day, it's just who plays harder and wants it more."

Delta has been a perennial state power under Gina Johnson, making the postseason in each of her 30 seasons as coach.

The Mustangs have reached the Elite Eight in four of the past six championship seasons.

"They are a historically great program," Newton said. "They are the No. 1 team in the North for a reason. She's a great coach. So we have to make sure we come with our 'A' game to have a chance. So we're going to prepare this week, come with our 'A' game and see what happens."