Talk about a hot start. Clovis East runs away from Bullard for section D-I title
Clovis East High was on fire from the start.
By the second quarter, it became apparent that the Timberwolves’ hot hand simply was too much for Bullard to handle.
Clovis East nailed five 3-pointers during the second quarter alone to build a 25-point lead en route an 80-55 victory in the Central Section Division I boys basketball championship Friday night at Selland Arena.
It is Clovis East’s first section championship since 2010, according to section historian Bob Barnett.
And to think, the Timberwolves accomplish this goal despite falling short of their intended game plan to drain 15 3-pointers.
Instead, Clovis East finished 12 of 22 from downtown.
“We’ve been at 12, and they’re capable of that,” Clovis East coach Adrian Wiggins said of his players. “It’s what our skill sets are, and I was really proud of them tonight. They found their open teammates and knocked them down.”
In the first half, the Timberwolves shot 76% from the field and 57% from 3-point range.
William Wiggins, the coach’s son, led Clovis East with 14 points.
“All these early mornings and late nights paid off,” William Wiggins said. “It feels great to know my brothers and I persevered.”
William Wiggins attributed the hot start to the team’s work ethic and relentlessness.
Tyler Pacheco, who made made 3 of 4 3-pointers in the first half to finish with nine points, pointed out how the Timberwolves often made an extra pass to help create open 3-point looks.
“We just pride ourselves as a team on making the extra pass, attacking the pitch,” Pacheco said. “Bullard helps defensively, and if they were going to help, we were going to make shots. And we made the extra pass and we made shots.
“It’s a surreal feeling, and it’s a dream for every hooper in Fresno.”
This story was originally published February 28, 2020 at 10:43 PM.
