Preview: Coalinga Falcons at Sequoias Giants

VISALIA, Calif. (Interstat) — A struggling Coalinga men’s basketball team seeks an elusive road win Wednesday when it visits a Sequoias squad looking to rebound from a narrow conference loss.

The Falcons (2-12) travel to face the Giants (9-5) in a California community college matchup. The game tips off Jan. 7.

Coalinga has lost eight consecutive games since its last victory on Nov. 22. Its most recent outing was a 92-58 defeat at El Camino on Dec. 13. Kristian Graham led the Falcons with 21 points in that loss, while Josiah Perez-Little grabbed eight rebounds.

In contrast, Sequoias enters having played a tight game against a strong opponent, falling 82-78 in overtime to Citrus on Jan. 2. The Giants have shown a potent offense this season, scoring 95 points or more in four games.

A key player to watch for Sequoias is forward Zaquien Whitehead. He is coming off a dominant double-double performance against Citrus, scoring 18 points and securing 11 rebounds in 25 minutes. His activity on the glass will challenge a Coalinga team that has been outscored by an average of 24 points during its current losing streak.

The Giants’ balance was evident in the Citrus game, where Cameron Kelly added 19 points and nine rebounds, and Mason Dorsey contributed 14 points, eight rebounds and six assists.

For Coalinga, finding consistent scoring beyond Graham’s 21-point effort last month is crucial. The Falcons have been held under 70 points in nine of their 12 losses this season.

Historically, the Central Valley Conference schedule intensifies in January. This game marks the start of a critical stretch for both teams as they jockey for postseason positioning.

Sequoias will aim to leverage its home court and superior record, while Coalinga desperately needs a turnaround performance to halt its lengthy skid.