Facing the St. Joseph boys basketball team is always a tough task for any team this season.
For Clovis North, it was a welcome challenge for the top-seed going against the No. 3 seed.
The Knights had only lost twice entering Saturday’s Central Section Division I championship game at Selland Arena.
The Broncos showed no fear going against the defending section champions as Dartmouth-bound Connor Amundsen scored 21 points and Jordan Espinoza added 20 points in a 69-60 victory, giving the school’s its first section title since 2011, according to historian Bob Barnett.
“They have a really talented team,” Connor Amundsen said. “I knew there would be talk about it (about not having a chance to beat St. Joseph). Everyone was upset about the ranking system, but we knew we had a good chance going in if we executed everything that we knew we could do, and we got the job done.”
Clovis North poses for a photo after defeating St. Joseph 69-60 in the Central Section Division I basketball championship Saturday, Feb. 24, 2024 at Selland Arena in Fresno. ERIC PAUL ZAMORA ezamora@fresnobee.com
Espinoza always had belief in his teammates and felt their defense is a difference maker such as taking chargers and forcing turnovers. St. Joseph had 15 turnovers.
“Our defense has been tremendous,” he said. “This is the best I’ve seen our defense.”
Clovis North coach Tony Amundsen is equally proud of how his team played tough. The Broncos built a 14-point lead with 6:05 remaining in the fourth quarter.
Even the Broncos picked up five fouls against St. Joseph star Tounde Yessoufou, who finished with a game-high 26 points.
Even better? His sons, Connor and McKae, can call themselves section champions.
“It’s a dream,” he said. “I remember back when I was coaching at Bullard and McKae and Connor were super young and would come to the games with their faces painted. They were always into it.
“They were there for all three section championships and to see them come through the ranks with all these guys growing up playing AAU basketball together all the way throughout the entire system and to culminate in a section championship was absolutely phenomenal.
Clovis North’s Connor Amundsen, right, with St. Joseph’s Julies Price to the left in the Central Section Division I basketball championship Saturday, Feb. 24, 2024 at Selland Arena in Fresno. ERIC PAUL ZAMORA ezamora@fresnobee.com
St Joseph’s Julius Price, left, with Clovis North’s Connor Amundsen, right, in the Central Section Division I basketball championship Saturday, Feb. 24, 2024 at Selland Arena in Fresno. ERIC PAUL ZAMORA ezamora@fresnobee.com
Clovis North’s Elias Gish, left, goes up against St. Joseph’s Tounde Yessoufou, right, in the Central Section Division I basketball championship Saturday, Feb. 24, 2024 at Selland Arena in Fresno. ERIC PAUL ZAMORA ezamora@fresnobee.com
Clovis North’s McKae Amundsen, foreground drives past St. Joseph’s Diesel Lowe, background, in the Central Section Division I basketball championship Saturday, Feb. 24, 2024 at Selland Arena in Fresno. ERIC PAUL ZAMORA ezamora@fresnobee.com
Clovis North’s Elias Gish, foreground, drives past St. Joseph’s Abdul Bare, background, in the Central Section Division I basketball championship Saturday, Feb. 24, 2024 at Selland Arena in Fresno. ERIC PAUL ZAMORA ezamora@fresnobee.com
Clovis North head coach Tony Amundsen, left, talks to Connor Amundsen, center, in the closing minutes against St. Joseph in the Central Section Division I basketball championship Saturday, Feb. 24, 2024 at Selland Arena in Fresno. ERIC PAUL ZAMORA ezamora@fresnobee.com
Clovis North and fans celebrate the team’s 69-60 win over St. Joseph in the Central Section Division I basketball championship Saturday, Feb. 24, 2024 at Selland Arena in Fresno. ERIC PAUL ZAMORA ezamora@fresnobee.com
This story was originally published February 25, 2024 at 5:00 AM.
Anthony Galaviz writes about sports for The Fresno Bee. He covers the Las Vegas Raiders, high schools, boxing, MMA and junior colleges. He’s been with The Bee since 1997 and attended Fresno City College before graduating from Fresno State with a major in journalism and a minor in criminology. Support my work with a digital subscription
