Clovis West girls keep full-court pressure vs. Buchanan to improve to 21-0

The TRAC girls basketball showdown Friday night between an undefeated Clovis West and host Buchanan High – owner of a sparkling 18-3 record going into the game – turned into a tight battle.

For the opening half when the hosts clawed back on a 3-pointer by Taylor Melching in the final seconds of the second quarter to bring Buchanan to within one point, 28-27, at the half.

The game never got closer for Buchanan (18-4, 2-2 in TRAC) as Clovis West rained five three-point shots in a 24-5 third quarter to improve to 21-0, 4-0 in TRAC.

Junior guard Athena Tomlinson led the Golden Eagles with a game-high 25 points that included four 3-pointers in the crucial third quarter.

For the game, Clovis West pocketed eight three-point shots.

Senior center Etoyah Montgomery pitched in 16 points and sophomore starter Riley Walls contributed 12 for Clovis West.

Junior Aloni Oliver led Buchanan with 11 points.

Clovis West head coach Craig Campbell figured if his team’s shots started dropping in the second half, the team would survive.

It did more than that.

Here is the scoring in the first 3½ minutes of the third quarter.

Clovis West 3-pointer.

Buchanan free throw.

Clovis West 3-pointer.

Clovis West 3-pointer.

Clovis West steal, layup.

Clovis West 3-pointer.

By then, the state’s No. 6 team had raced to a 42-28 advantage to all but ice the game.

“We shot the ball poorly in the first half, but Buchanan was out-working us in the first half too,” said Campbell. “We weren’t matching their intensity.”

That combination resulted in a close game, something Clovis West has rarely experienced in a season where it has outscored its opposition, 1,478 points to 728. The Golden Eagles have wins by 1, 2 and 5 points in a December tournament against out-of-state competition.

“We played better defense in the second half and we hit a lot of shots,” said Campbell. “We started making the effort on plays, and that’s when the game changed.”

Campbell said the rivalry against Buchanan and head coach Adam Wall results in close contests.

“We know every time we come here, like the first half, it’s a war,” he said. “It’s a good, hard, competitive game.”

So, are the Golden Eagles at top efficiency right now in a conference where Buchanan came in ranked 22nd in the state and upcoming opponent Clovis High (18-3, 4-0 in TRAC) is rated 16th in California?

Clovis High hosts Clovis West on Tuesday (Jan. 24).

Campbell is pleased with his team’s 20-0 start, but defines it as a roller coaster ride thus far.

“There’s a lot more work to be done,” he said. “We’re seeing moments of really good basketball. We’re starting to figure it out a little bit.”

Campbell said there are many “ebbs and flows” in the 20-0 season.

“It’s too much roller coaster within those 20 wins. We need to start getting rid of the bottom end and play at a more consistently high level.”