Crazy Eights: Clovis West basketball dynasty still plenty strong, wins another section title
To understand why the Clovis West High girls basketball plays with such focus and intensity, one needs to just watch Golden Eagles coach Craig Campbell for a few plays.
Standing up, making an array of body gestures and facial expressions, barking instructions to his players, Campbell never lets up.
His players, however, still are learning to follow suit for an entire game.
Saturday was the latest example.
Clovis West led from start to finish and quickly built a 20-point advantage by the second quarter but spent much of the second half “playing not to lose” after the Golden Eagles’ intensity dropped off.
Nonetheless, it was plenty enough for Clovis West to beat Clovis North 60-49 at Selland Arena and capture the Central Section’s first Open Division championship.
“It’s special,” Campbell said. “In this program, there aren’t many firsts to achieve anymore. There’s been so many Valley players of the year and league players of the year.
“But this is the first Open Division (title). So this is something they can hang their hat on.”
The Golden Eagles won their eighth straight section title — all achieved under Campbell’s watch — and the 20th championship in Clovis West history.
Each of the past three titles have come at Clovis North’s expense.
And this one looked over quickly with the Eagles (27-4) opening the game with 12 straight points before the Broncos scored.
“After we got to that lead, we kind of calmed down and knew we got this game,” Clovis West junior Nikki Tom said.
Then with about 3 minutes left in the first half, Clovis West expanded its lead to 20 points.
In each moment, Campbell could be seen standing by the Eagles bench, trying to coach up his team. Even the refs.
“Your hands are down! Get your hands up!”
“Run!”
“That’s a travel!”
“I’m always going to be vocal and intense,” Campbell said. “When you have a young team with not a lot of vocal leadership … we tell our kids, ‘Feed off of our energy.’
“They’re quiet kids. They listen. … It’d be nice for someone to step out and be more vocal. But that’s where we’re at.”
Clovis West’s second-half dip — outscored 36-23 after halftime — helped Clovis North (22-8) get back in the game and was partly a reason why the Eagles didn’t celebrate too much after the game.
The Broncos got within 13 points midway through the fourth quarter, though, they never could reduce the Clovis West lead to single digits.
“Of course, no coach wants to start 12-0,” Broncos coach Heather Long said. “But I’m proud of our kids for battling back.
“Clovis West, they’re very, very well-coached. They shoot the 3. They do all the little things. And they do them really well. I have a lot of respect for what they do. Our kids are right there.”
Tom led Clovis West with 16 points, aided by 6-for-6 shooting from the free-throw line, and added eight rebounds and five assists.
Senior teammate Aaliyah Seuell and junior Kendall Jackson provided 10 points each.
Clovis North’s Savannah Tucker led all scorers with 22 points.
Clovis West has now won 16 straight going into the state playoffs.
“We’re still very young,” Campbell said. “Definitely played not to lose in the second half.
“But just to see the growth of our kids from October to now, it’s been tremendous.”
This story was originally published February 29, 2020 at 8:38 PM.
