State top-ranked Giants women's basketball rolling into home opener, set for 6 p.m. Nov. 22 vs. Antelope Valley
By Nick Giannandrea
COS ATHLETICS
College of the Sequoias women's basketball team is living up to its No. 1 preseason state ranking under first-year coach Tyler Newton.
The Giants have already beaten four teams ranked among the state's top six heading into their home opener, scheduled for 6 p.m. Nov. 22 against Antelope Valley at Porter Field House.
"I had high expectations for us," Newton said. "The kids have done a good job buying into what we're doing and coming together quickly."
Sequoias' 7-0 start includes wins over No. 2 and reigning state champion Orange Coast (81-63), No. 3 Moorpark (68-58), No. 4 Mt. San Antonio (69-68) and No. 6 Glendale (69-39). The Giants' average margin of victory against those four state heavyweights is 14.75 points per game.
"We've learned a lot from each of those games," said Newton, who was hired as Sequoias coach in April after leading Butte to the state semifinals last season. "We still have a long way to go, but I'm pleased with the start."
Three reigning all-state players who played for Newton last season at Butte -- Jocelyn Medina (Arbuckle), Morgan Trigueiro (Caruthers) and Campbell Vieg (Chico) -- have helped the Giants become the state's third-leading scoring team at 79.3 points per game.
Medina is averaging 14.9 points per game, while Trigueiro is contributing 13.6 points per game, and Vieg provides 10.1 points per game.
The Giants are also receiving 8.3 points per game from freshman recruit Kaitlin Giacone (Eureka) and 7.6 points per game from sophomore returner Lucia Ricci (Seattle).
Sequoias is shooting a state second-best 46.3% from the field, pulling down a state sixth-best 47.9 rebounds a game (led by Medina's average of 8.6); and making a state second-best 21.1 assists per game (led by Medina's 4.7 per game).
The Giants are also allowing a state seventh-best 47.4 points per game, while holding teams to a state fourth-lowest 29.7% shooting percentage.
"I'm very pleased with our selflessness, our commitment to playing hard and defending," Newton said. "If you do that, you have a chance to win most games."
As good as Sequoias has been so far, Newton said there are areas for improvement.
Newton said he would like to see the Giants improve their 3-point shooting percentage from its current 30.3 percent to around 35 percent.
"We're a good enough team to do that," Newton said. "We've just got to keep chipping away at it and it will improve."
He'd also like to see his team take better care of the basketball. Sequoias is averaging 18.5 turnovers a game, and Newton wants it to be 12 or less.
"Some of that is being a little too careless and sloppy," Newton said. "At times we're trying to play too fast. We want to play fast, but we've been a little too fast at times."
Newton's Butte teams didn't didn't lose a home game over the past five seasons. He'd like to launch a similar streak with the Giants inside Porter Field House, beginning with Antelope Valley (4-2).
"We had a heck of a winning streak (at Butte) and I'm hoping to start that with home game No. 1 on (Nov. 22)," Newton said. "When you're No. 1 (ranked in the state), everyone gives you their best shot. So we're looking forward to getting out there and playing at a high level. We're excited to go put on a show."
After facing Antelope Valley, Sequoias will remain at home for its next five games, starting with the 47th annual Gilcrest Tournament on Dec. 5-7. The Giants open the eight-team tournament against Butte at 7 p.m. Dec. 7.
Sequoias will host Hartnell at 6 p.m. Dec. 12 and Canyons at 3 p.m. Dec. 14.
The Giants are coming off a 87-24 victory over Allan Hancock (1-6) on Nov. 19 in Santa Maria.
Vieg and Mallary Gonzalez (Hoover-Fresno) led the way with 14 points apiece. Gonzalez also had eight rebounds, two assists and a block, while Vieg contributed three steals, an assist and a rebound.
Sequoias also received 13 points, seven rebounds, three assists and three steals from Medina; 12 points, five rebounds, two assists and two steals from Trigueiro; and 10 points, eight rebounds, three assists and three steals from Giacone.
