Cuesta hosted the 54th Hinson's Tire Pros Tournament this weekend and welcomed three-time defending tournament Champion Sequoias Giants and the Gavilan Rams to face Allan Hancock and Cuesta during the two-day tournament in San Luis Obispo.  The host Cougars and their local rival Bulldogs won the tournament in 2017 and 2018, respectively, but the Giants have owned the tournament the past four seasons.  Cuesta fell to Sequoias tonight, 74-45, while the rival Bulldogs salvaged a win against Gavilan, 72-61, to earn a split and second place by point differential.  The host Cougars were edged by the Rams, 62-61, on Friday and faltered against the Giants after tonight's intermission, as a reasonable eight-point setback became a 29-point defeat.  2023 All-WSC First Team Guard Drew Ardouin (pict) was the Cougars' representative All-Hinson's Tournament team, after leading the Cougars with 32 points on the weekend.    He was joined by Allan Hancock's Taevon Pierre-Louis, Gavilan's Cameron Saldana, and both Jaden Haire and Hinson's MVP Jose Cuello from Sequoias.  Two members of the 2022 Hinson's Team also played in this year's tournament but were unable to add themselves to the list of a dozen two-time all-Hinson's players.   2022 Hinson's MVP Cameron Clark scored only six points this weekend, while Gavilan's Isaiah Hinds missed a chance to repeat despite scoring 25 points, grabbing nine rebounds, and dishing out five assists on the weekend.  Cuesta Jorge Bueno was the last to pull the double in 2017 and 2018.  Today loss also dropped the Cougars to 0-4 on the season.   

Cuesta's Cagers are back in action this week with the College of San Mateo Classic.  The Cougars will play two games in the tournament.  The face Foothill on Thursday (6 PM) and battle host San Mateo on Friday (2 PM)

2023 All-Hinson's Tire Pro Team

MVP- Jose Cuello, Sequoias (43 points, 12 rebounds, 7 assists)

Jaden Haire, Sequoias (19 points, 16 Rebounds, 4 Assists)

Taevon Louis-Pierre, Allan Hancock (35 points, 17 rebounds, 5 assists)

Cameron Saldana, Gavilan (35 points, 2 rebounds, six assists)

Drew Ardouin, Cuesta (32 Points, 8 rebounds, one assist)