Newcomers fuel successful opening weekend for Giants women's basketball

A pair of local recruits made immediate impacts as Sequoias opened its abbreviated nine-game season with two victories last weekend.

Sierra Pacific High-Hanford products Celeste Lewis and Alana Roberts combined to score 70 points as the Giants beat Bakersfield College 78-57 on March 5 at Porter Field House, and 81-64 in Bakersfield on March 6.

In Sequoias' opener, Lewis delivered 20 points, eight rebounds, four assists, five steals and three blocks, while Roberts added 13 points, 12 rebounds, two assists, three steals and a block.

The Giants trailed 17-16 at the end of the first quarter, but a layup by Sapphire Jones (Hanford) with 9:53 remaining in the second quarter put them ahead to stay.

Sequoias pulled away by outscoring the Renegades 43-28 in the second half.

Jones finished with 13 points and four rebounds.

The Giants also received 11 points, three rebounds and two steals from Diablo Valley transfer Ayon Carter (Oakland); 10 points and four rebounds from Neli Diaz (McFarland); five points eight assists, three assists and three steals from Serena Ybarra (Coalinga) and two points, eight rebounds and three steals from Hailee Edwards (Ridgeview-Bakersfield).

On March 6, Sequoias (2-0) rolled to an 81-64 win at Bakersfield (0-2) again behind Lewis and Roberts.

Lewis scored a game-leading 21 points to go along with eight assists, a rebound and a steal. Lewis contributed 16 points, 12 rebounds, four steals and five blocks.

The Giants got off to a slow start and trailed 21-12 after the first quarter. Sequoias began to find its stride in the second quarter, pulling into a 34-34 tie by halftime before pulling away in the second half when it outscored Bakersfield 47-30.

Jones continued doing a little bit of everything for the Giants, finishing with 10 points, four rebounds, two assists and seven steals.

Sequoias also received nine points from Diaz; eight points and two rebounds from Edwards; six points, five rebounds, four assists and two steals from Ybarra and six points and six rebounds from Carter.

The Giants will play host to Antelope Valley (2-0) at 4 p.m. March 12, then travel to Lancaster to face the Marauders at 1 p.m. March 13.

Antelope Valley opened its season by beating Taft 48-31 on March 5 and 66-27 on March 6.