Clovis West’s hope for top-seed in the CIF Open Division were dashed. ‘Very disappointed’
Clovis West hopes of getting a No. 1 seed in the California Interscholastic Federation girls basketball Open Division came to halt Sunday night.
The Golden Eagles are seeded No. 2 in the Northern California behind top-seed Archbishop Mitty.
After Saturday’s Central Section Division I win over Clovis, Golden Eagles coach Craig Campbell felt it was his team and Mitty fighting for the 1-2 seed. He was right, but he had hoped his team would get the top-seed based off a 32-0 undefeated record.
“Very disappointed,” he said Sunday.
Perhaps the selection committee saw one common opponent between the two. Both played Pinewood. Clovis West defeated Pinewood 54-50 in the Bay Area and Mitty beat Pinewood 59-51 in the Central Coast championship at Santa Clara.
Following Saturday’s win, Campbell laid out why they should be the No. 1 seed.
“Mitty’s a tremendous team and it’s no knock, but since they’ve lost their best player for the year, they did lose three games. Three games to nationally ranked teams. Really good teams, but how do you discredit Clovis West, who’s been the only team that’s been in the Open Division every year in the entire state over Mitty and all the others,” Campbell said.
“To go 32-0, travel 7,500 miles and beat a state champion and a state runner-up, like how do you say no this team is still better than you. We played the last three years and our season ended at Mitty. I feel like our kids earned the 1 at worst the 2. You go down the list of the three through what’s probably eight ... It’s a gauntlet. It’s going to be a dog fight. You could be one and done and still have had a hell of a year.”
Nevertheless, the Golden Eagles will await the winner between No. 3 San Ramon Valley or No. 6 Pinewood.
On the line for Clovis West is keeping its undefeated record intact.
“Both those teams are outstanding,” Campbell said. “Their coaches are good friends of ours. It’s going to be a great game either way. At the end of the day you got to go out and win.”
Clovis will play in Division I and earned the No. 2 seed and will host No. 15 Oak Ridge.
On the boys side, Fresno Christian earned the top-seed in Division IV and will face No. 16 Citrus Hill in a SoCal Regional game.
The Eagles took care of business Friday defeating Monache 73-50.
Also receiving a top-seed is the Immanuel girls in NorCal Division III.
The Eagles will meet No. 16 East Union.
Immanuel won the Division IV title after a 58-36 victory over Santa Ynez.
Round 1 begins Tuesday at the host sites at 7 p.m.
Here’s the rest of the schedule involving Fresno-area teams:
CIF state playoffs
Boys basketball
Tuesday, 7 p.m.
Division I
NorCal
No. 12 San Joaquin Memorial at No. 5 San Ramon Valley
No. 13 Liberty-Brentwood at No. 4 Clovis North
No. 14 Clovis West at No. 3 Lincoln-Stockton
No. 15 Monterey Trail at No. 2 Buchanan
Division II
NorCal
No. 16 Bullard at No. 1 Rocklin
No. 10 Cardinal Newman at No. 7 Clovis East
Division III
NorCal
No. 10 Central at No. 7 Carmel
Division IV
SoCal
No. 16 Citrus Hill at No. 1 Fresno Christian
No. 10 Monache at No. 7 Granada Hills Charter
Division V
NorCal
No. 14 Chowchilla at No. 3 Argonaut
SoCal
No. 9 La Puente at No. 8 Strathmore
Girls basketball
Open Division
No. 2 Clovis West bye
March 8
No. 3 San Ramon Valley/No. 6 Pinewood winner at No. 2 Clovis West
Division I
NorCal
No. 16 San Joaquin Memorial at No. 1 Folsom
No. 12 Central at No. 5 Priory
No. 15 Oak Ridge at No. 2 Clovis
Division II
NorCal
No. 14 Clovis East at No. 3 Colfax
No. 15 Grant at No. 2 Sierra Pacific
March 6
NorCal
No. 8 Sacred Heart Cathedral/No. 9 Christian Brothers at No. 1 Caruthers
SoCal
No. 8 Palos Verdes/No. 9 Rolling Hills Prep winner at No. 8 Palos Verdes
Division III
NorCal
No. 16 East Union at No. 1 Immanuel
Division V
SoCal
No. 10 Lindsay at No. 7 Santa Ana
