Central Section basketball championships: Preview, schedule and predictions
Selland Arena will be busy Friday and Saturday as the Central Section high school basketball championships take place.
The Division I championships will feature top-seed Clovis North boys going against the defending champions No. 3 St. Joseph, while the defending girls champions and top-seed Clovis West will face No. 2 St. Joseph.
Both games will be played at 6 p.m. and 8 p.m., respectively.
Clovis North advanced to the championship after a 74-50 win over No. 5 Clovis East, while the Knights defeated No. 2 Clovis West 88-73.
“I think our defense has been very good,” Clovis North coach Tony Amundsen said. “I love that we have stayed poised even when there is a streak against us and have figured out how to stop their run and increase ours. We have stayed connected on offense and defense.”
It will be a challenge facing St. Joseph, led by junior Tounde Yessoufou and sophomore Julius Price. The Broncos counter with Dartmouth-bound Connor Amundsen and Jordan Espinoza.
The Clovis West girls, meanwhile, are going for a 12th straight section championship.
The Golden Eagles are led by Boston College-bound and The Bee’s Player of the Year Athena Tomlinson.
Clovis West defeated No. 4 Central 71-50. The Knights defeated No. 3 Buchanan 76-57.
Seniors Avary Cain and Kai Ohani lead the way for St. Joseph.
Schedule
Friday
Division VI
Girls: No. 2 Bishop Union vs. No. 5 Foothill, 10 a.m.
Division VI
Boys: No. 2 Caruthers vs. No. 5 Strathmore, noon
Division IV
Girls: No. 2 Immanuel vs. No. 13 Mendota, 2 p.m.
Division IV
Boys: No. 5 Kerman vs. No. 11 Corcoran, 4 p.m.
Division II
Girls: No. 1 Monache vs. No. 3 Tehachapi, 6 p.m.
Division II
Boys: No. 1 Dinuba vs. No. 2 Mission Prep, 8 p.m.
Saturday
Division V
Girls: No. 1 Hanford West vs. No. 2 Rosamond, 10 a.m.
Division V
Boys: No. 1 Coalinga vs. No. 2 Mendota, noon
Division III
Girls: No. 1 Bakersfield Christian vs. No. 2 Morro Bay, 2 p.m.
Division III
Boys: No. 1 North vs. No. 2 Sierra, 4 p.m.
Division I
Girls: No. 1 Clovis West vs. No. 2 St. Joseph, 6 p.m.
Division I
Boys: No. 1 Clovis North vs. No. 3 St. Joseph, 8 p.m.
Predictions
Boys
Division I
St. Joseph 84, No. 1 Clovis North 73
Division II
No. 1 Dinuba 67, No. 2 Mission Prep 60
Division III
No. 2 Sierra 72, No. 1 North 69
Division IV
No. 5 Kerman 74, No. 11 Corcoran 65
Division V
No. 1 Coalinga 72, No. 2 Mendota 64
Division VI
No. 2 Caruthers 57, No. 5 Strathmore 53
Girls
Division I
No. 1 Clovis West 73, No. 2 St. Joseph 62
Division II
No. 1 Monache 78, No. 3 Tehachapi 65
Division III
No. 1 Bakersfield Christian 64, No. 2 Morro Bay 50
Division IV
No. 2 Immanuel 70, No. 13 Mendota 55
Division V
No. 1 Hanford West 54, No. 2 Rosamond 44
Division VI
No. 5 Foothill 63, No. 2 Bishop Union 50
This story was originally published February 22, 2024 at 12:55 PM.
