
Cuesta men's basketball claimed 4th place in the 55th Hinson's Tire Pros Winter Classic in San Luis Obispo. The Cougars faced #3-ranked Sequoias in the finale and the visiting Giants pushed past their hosts for their fifth straight title, 70-50. The Cougars last won the title in 2017, while local rival Allan Hancock won in 2018, but since then it has been all Sequoias- plus one Covid cancelation. Sequoias beat both previous champions on their way to the crown. They knocked off the 17th-ranked Bulldogs in yesterday's semi-final, 63-47, before pushing past the Cougars in today's finale. The contest was close to start with the Giants holding a solid ten-point lead over the host Cougars to open the first half, but they got hot before the intermission and took a commanding lead into the break, 35-18. The Cougars made a couple of runs in the second half, but Sequoias answered and matched them shot-for-shot, 35-32, en route to another title. The Giants fifth title tied them with West Valley for third all-time over the past 55 years. Cuesta leads the way with ten titles, while the Cougars' Western State Conference rival Moorpark has captured eight crowns.
Cuesta's Cagers are back in action this Thursday and Friday at the College of San Mateo Fall Classic. The Cougars open the tournament against the host Bulldogs on Thursday (5 PM) and play DeAnza on Saturday (1 PM).
55th Hinson's Tire Pros Results
Saturday, November 9
Sequoias 63, Allan Hancock 47
Feather River 80, Cuesta 57
Sunday, November 10
Allan Hancock 74, Feather River 71
Sequoias 70, Cuesta 50
2024 All-Hinson's Tire Pro Team
Davis White, Sequoias
Jaden Haire, Sequoias*
Mykel Valrie, Allan Hancock
Kaeden Castillero, Feather River
Shinichi Itoh, Cuesta
*Two-time Selection
(Pict- Sophomore Jayden Ares)