College of the Sequoias' Jocelyn Medina (15) in a Gilcrest Invitational semi-final game versus San Joaquin Delta on December 6, 2024. (Photo Credit: Norma Foster / COS Athletics)

December 7, 2024

Giants storm into Gilcrest Invite women's basketball final with rout of No. 5 Delta

San Joaquin Delta

Sequoias

Final

San Joaquin Delta

Sequoias

By Nick Giannandrea

COS ATHLETICS

Tyler Newton describes his state top-ranked College of the Sequoias women's basketball team as "special."

The Giants looked it during the semifinals of the Gilcrest Invitational on Dec. 6 at Porter Field House.

Sequoias raced past No. 5 San Joaquin Delta 88-58 to earn a spot in the final of the 47th annual midseason showcase of state powers. The Giants will face No. 4 Mt. San Antonio in the final, scheduled for 4 p.m. Dec. 7.

"Yes, that's who we are. That's our basketball club," said Newton, Sequoias' first-season coach. "Tough, gritty, play for each other. Everybody plays and does their job, you know, staying together. I mean, Delta is a hell of a basketball team and, you know, to win like that, it's pretty special."

After falling behind 5-2 early, Sequoias (10-0) outscored the Mustangs 31-14 over the rest of the first quarter to take a 14-point lead.

Delta opened the second quarter with an 11-2 run that cut its deficit to five points (35-30) with 5 minutes and 57 seconds remaining. But that's as close as the Mustangs would get.

Sequoias responded with an 8-0 run that pushed its lead back to double-digits (43-30). Delta didn't get closer than nine points (43-34) the rest of the way as the Giants completed a sweep of the team's ranked Nos. 2-6 in the California Community College Women's Basketball Coaches Association preseason Top 25, having toppled No. 2 and two-time defending state champion Orange Coast (81-63), No. 3 Moorpark (68-58), No. 4 Mt. SAC (69-68), No. 5 Delta and No. 6 Glendale (69-39).

Sequoias has defeated those five heavyweights with an average margin of victory of 17.8 points as it chases after a second state title for a program that won its only championship under tournament namesake Tom Gilcrest in 1987.

"I've been telling these girls from the beginning that this is a special group, and that we have everything that we need to win it all," Newton said. "That being said, obviously it's not easy. There's a lot of things you have to go through to try to get there, and the only people that are going to get in our way are ourselves. So as long as we stay composed and we stay together and keep growing, you know, we have a great chance."

A day after saying the Giants didn't play particularly well, were sloppy with the basketball and weren't in rhythm shooting during a Gilcrest-opening 79-51 victory over short-handed Butte, which dressed only seven players, Newton said pride led to improved play against Delta.

Sequoias shot 54.4 percent (31 of 57) from the field and 45.5 percent (16 of 21) from 3-point range against the Mustangs after connecting for 51.5 percent (34 of 66) from the field and 37 percent (10 of 27) on 3-pointers against Butte. The Giants outrebounded Delta by 14 after holding an edge of only three against Butte.

"We watched film of our poor effort from last night, and we were all embarrassed by our effort," Newton said. "And they decided to come out and play like ourselves today."

Sequoias was led by it's trio of reigning all-state performers: Jocelyn Medina (Arbuckle), Campbell Vieg (Chico) and Morgan Trigueiro (Caruthers High), who all transferred from Butte, which Newton turned into a state power during his seven seasons as coach of the Roadrunners.

Medina delivered game-leading totals of 21 points, 10 rebounds, eight assists and four steals.

Vieg contributed 18 points, six assists, three rebounds and three steals, while Trigueiro added 17 points, five rebounds, two assists and a steal.

The Giants also received 12 points, three rebounds and a block from Lucia Ricci (Seattle); 10 points, two assists and a steal from Anisa Torres (Caruthers); four points, eight rebounds, two assists, an assist and a block from Kaitlin Giacone (Eureka); four points, two rebounds and a block from Maya McNeal (Marysville); two points, three rebounds, two blocks, an assist and a steal from Mallary Gonzalez (Hoover-Fresno); a rebound and an assist from Olivia Gill (Woodland); and a rebound and a block from Tylie Hatcher (Cloverdale).

Next up for Sequoias is a rematch with Mt. SAC, which rode 24 points, 12 rebounds, three assists and two steals from Taliyah McFerson; and 22 points, 13 rebounds, six assists, six blocks and three steals from Daisia Mitchell to a 77-59 win over No. 7 Laney in the other championship semifinal.

During their first meeting Nov. 3 at the Mt. SAC Tip Off Tournament in Walnut, the Giants took the lead with 11 seconds left on three-point play from Medina to edge the Mounties by one point.

Mt. SAC is an eight-time state champion, its last coming in 2017.

"You know, that was a dog fight the first time," Newton said. "They are a historic program and do a great job every year. I'm looking forward to the challenge."

In the consolation semifinals, Cerro Cosa beat No. 18 Chabot 86-79, and Butte topped Los Angeles Valley 92-61.

The conclusion of the Gilcrest also sees L.A Valley (3-4) face Chabot (6-3) at 10 a.m. in the seventh-place game, Cerro Coso (8-2) taking on Butte (5-4) at noon in the consolation championship, and Laney (6-2) playing Delta at 3 p.m. in the third-place game.