Clovis North’s Connor Amundsen showed why he is considered the top high school point guard in the San Joaquin Valley Tuesday. (photo: David Carrizales)
By Gabe Camarillo
High school boys’ basketball does not get better than Tuesday night.
Top-level teams in the Central Valley finally collided and it led to entertaining games, amazing performances, and our questions answered.
You want a comeback in the fourth quarter, or a comeback from a season lost to shoulder surgery? You got both Tuesday.
Two things we learned from the battle of TRAC unbeatens (Clovis North-Clovis West) and another de facto league championship in the CMAC (San Joaquin Memorial-Bullard):
1. Clovis North is the best team in town
Clovis West took seven straight games from its nearby rival until last January, when Clovis North escaped with a two-point win at home. Clovis West subsequently won by 13 in their next meeting, advanced to Selland Arena and began the current season ranked No. 1 in the Central Section in some polls.
In other words, people overlooked Clovis North. Not anymore.
Who needs a traditional-sized center when Connor Amundsen speeds around and slashes through defenses ferociously for 36 points on an efficient 16-for-27. The 5-foot-11 senior point guard sat on the bench for last year’s win over Clovis West, limited by injury. This was his chance to finally beat Clovis West himself.
Clovis North led by 14 at halftime, allowed the Golden Eagles to come back, then put them away for good, 79-67. It makes 10 straight victories and 15 in their last 17 games for the Broncos. Those only losses came against State-ranked No. 6 St. John Bosco and No. 19 Windward.
That raises another valid argument for Clovis North’s candidacy as best boys’ basketball team in town. They own the same record as Clovis West (19-5) but the higher strength of schedule. In fact, the Broncos faced the toughest schedule in the Central Section with other losses to State-ranked No. 2 Sierra Canyon, No. 7 Salesian and No. 13 Archbishop Riordan.
Everyone else on Clovis North’s schedule – except Campbell Hall but including Clovis West – lost by double digits to the Broncos.
They have the two leading scorers from the state runner-up team two years ago, Amundsen and reigning TRAC MVP Jordan Espinoza. Sophomore McKae Amundsen and junior Loukas Jones fire away from 3-point range, for 44% and 41.5% respectively.
The defense is “connected” as head coach Tony Amundsen likes to call it. They forced 20 Clovis West turnovers to their own 10 and swiped 10 steals while Clovis West did not grab any.
Everyone realized Tuesday, finally, that Clovis North is the best in town. Not to mention the favorite to land the top seed in the Division I bracket, largely because of the win over Section-ranked No. 3 Clovis West and the superior strength of schedule to current No. 1 St. Joseph of Santa Maria.
2. Bullard is the sleeper pick in Division I
The Knights are uniquely constructed. Two seniors, Kyshawn Johnson and Jaleel Jackson, anchor the paint. Sophomores Javance Coleman Jr. and Dalen Felder man the backcourt; both are very talented for their age.
The mix of youth and experience raised the question before Tuesday night – is Bullard’s title window in the future, or is it right now?
For a Central Section title, the jury is out. For a league title, the time is now.
Bullard grabbed control of the CMAC and snapped San Joaquin Memorial’s 17-game home winning streak in a come-from-behind 67-66 victory. Bullard stayed perfect in league play at 5-0, while Memorial fell to 3-2.
Both sides were evenly matched unlike last year, when Memorial won both meetings by 19 and 42 points. Bullard raced ahead 24-12, but its lead shrunk to 37-32 by halftime. Memorial fought back to take a five-point lead in the third quarter and extended it to nine, 66-57 with 3:43 left.
Memorial went cold from the free throw line and missed four in a row. Bullard mounted a 10-0 game-closing run, and Felder put the finishing touches with his soaring bucket to win the game at 16 seconds left.
The length and athleticism of Johnson and Jackson resulted in plenty of offensive rebounds, second-chance points and steals between the two. The Knights do not lack size or skill.
Or moxy in tough road environments. The San Joaquin Memorial gym reached decibel levels as loud as any around the state. The Knights were not fazed, bolstered in part by their own traveling student section that rushed the court when the final buzzer sounded.
Bullard could clinch an outright CMAC title with four more wins – at Sanger, vs Garza, at Madera, and at Edison. If the Knights win league, they will be seeded above San Joaquin Memorial in Division I.
Since they beat Memorial, which defeated Bakersfield Christian, the Knights will be seeded above BCHS as well. Plus, Bullard beat current No. 4 Clovis East. The path is clearly there for Bullard to earn the No. 4 seed and at least two home playoff games.
Let’s say that St. Joseph’s strength of schedule drops them from the No. 1 seed. Bullard could encounter familiar foe Clovis North, or Clovis West if their rating climbs back enough, in a potential semifinal. That beats having to drive three-and-a-half hours to Santa Maria.
Want a team that could disturb the pecking order between Clovis North, St. Joseph and Clovis West? Look in Bullard’s direction.
