Clovis West girls basketball honored as nation’s No. 1 team by MaxPreps and Army National Guard

The Clovis West girls basketball team poses with its trophy and banner presented by MaxPreps and the Army National Guard during a lunchtime assembly on campus. (Contributed photo)

The Clovis West girls’ basketball team has finished as the No. 1 in the nation for the 2016-17 season, MaxPreps announced Thursday.

“Each fall, nearly forty thousand varsity basketball teams take the court in hopes of being champions. The MaxPreps Tour of Champions and the Army National Guard honor the most outstanding teams in the nation for their state championship performance and elite national level ranking,” Andy Beal, president and founder of MaxPreps, said in a news release. “Congratulations to the Clovis West Golden Eagles players, coaches and fans for an amazing year and for earning the Army National Guard’s national rankings trophy.”

Clovis West (34-2) avenged a 76-75 overtime loss to Archbishop Mitty-San Jose on Dec. 10 with a 44-40 victory in the CIF Open Division championship rematch on March 25 at Golden 1 Center in Sacramento. The victory – and Clovis West’s first CIF Open Division championship – elevated the Golden Eagles into the No. 1 position and knocked Archbishop Mitty down to the No. 2 spot, 1.2 points behind the Eagles in the computer rankings.

Clovis West is one of 20 schools in the country honored on the MaxPreps Tour of Champions presented by the Army National Guard.

“It’s a tremendous honor to be included with so many outstanding basketball teams and coaches,” said Clovis West coach Craig Campbell. “To be ranked that high with so many schools is hard to get your hands wrapped around it.”

In honor of the No. 1 ranking, California Army National Guard Staff Sgt. Kasey Comstock presented Campbell and the team with the Army National Guard national ranking trophy and a banner Thursday afternoon at a lunch assembly.

“The Army National Guard represents teamwork and a commitment to community and country. Just as your team joins together to defeat adversity and win, the Army National Guard stands vigilant as a team to protect the community and country in which we live,” Master Sgt. Mark Wojciechowski said in a press statement. “On behalf of the Army National Guard, I am privileged to recognize this nationally ranked championship team for their dedication, leadership and teamwork.”