It was a year unlike any other for high school basketball in the TRAC.
On the girls’ side, four teams – Clovis West, Clovis, Clovis North and Buchanan – fought it out in the most competitive girls basketball league in the Central Section, and among the best public school leagues in the state.
During the season, Clovis West, Clovis North, and Clovis each hit the state top 25 rankings according to MaxPreps and Cal-Hi Sports, with Clovis West being a mainstay in the top 15. West won the first ever Central Section Open Division girls title – its eighth straight section title – and competed in the state Open Division bracket, the highest level of prep girls basketball in California.
Clovis North, led by Clovis Unified’s all-time leading scorer Savannah Tucker, played in the section’s Open Division final and eventually reached the Division-I state regional semifinals. Clovis was fueled by a motivated senior cast and made it all the way to state regional finals in Division-II. Buchanan competed in the section’s Open Division bracket with the other three Clovis schools before reaching the Division-I state tournament themselves.
Clovis East rounded out a talented list of Clovis Unified girls basketball teams with a Division-I section quarterfinal appearance, the Timberwolves’ best finish in the section in Garrette Mantle’s three years at the helm.
On the boys’ side, three teams – Clovis West, Clovis North, and Clovis East – proved themselves as legitimate section title contenders. This trio battled against each other for two months, yielding three overtime games, a buzzer-beater, and many more close contests between each other.
In the end, West won the TRAC and played in a memorably close Open Division final, North reached the boys’ state basketball tournament for the second straight year, and East won the Division-I Central Section boys championship – the school’s first title win in ten years.
Buchanan and Clovis rounded out what was again the most competitive boys basketball league in the Central Section. Buchanan used the Pack Line defense, introduced by first-year head coach Brooks Malm, to stifle offenses and hang around with the league’s best. Clovis played on a short roster most of the season, yet saw the backcourt duo of Cal Stilson and Diego Ceyala emerge as reliable scorers. Yet those two were far from the only players to impress this season.
And that is what made the TRAC so special: the players. On any given night, fans were witnessing acrobatic layups, three-pointers raining from the sky, electrifying blocks, all from the very best the Central Section has to offer, with many of them coming from Clovis Unified schools.
The Clovis Roundup has compiled its first annual All-Roundup teams to recognize the best players of the five Clovis Unified high schools. The teams consist of first and second team selections, with five players (three guards, two forwards) being named to each team.
Introducing the All-Roundup girls basketball first and second team selections…
All- Roundup Girls First Team
Nikki Tom, guard – Clovis West
Nikki Tom was unquestionably the offensive catalyst for the Golden Eagles in 2019-20. Tom averaged 15.3 points per game, five rebounds, five assists and three steals for a team that went on to win its eighth consecutive TRAC title. In the section Open Division finals against Clovis North, Tom led the way, scoring 16 points in a 60-49 victory.
Savannah Tucker, guard – Clovis North
Savannah Tucker might have been the most potent and explosive offensive force the TRAC and Central Section saw this season. Tucker averaged a cool 22.6 points per contest on 45% shooting overall, and 35% from three-point distance. She added 5.6 rebounds and 1.2 steals a game to lead the Broncos to a third straight Section championship game. Although her Broncos lost to Clovis West, Tucker led all scorers in the game with 23 points.
Avery Evans, guard/forward – Clovis
Avery Evans turned in a very good senior season for the Cougars in 2019-20. Evans averaged 14 points per game, six rebounds, two assists and two steals for a Cougars team that finished 24-11 overall and 6-4 in TRAC play. She played an integral role on a Cougars squad that went deep into the state tournament, before losing at Oakland Tech in the Division-II state regional final.
Ashtyn Arnold, forward – Buchanan
Ashtyn Arnold provided a solid combination of scoring, rebounding and defense to the Bears in 2019-20. Arnold put up 11 points per game to go with 6.6 rebounds and nearly two steals. She played a hugely important role on a Bears team that made its first ever state playoff appearance. The junior made the Old Town Clovis Kiwanis All-Tourney Team in late December as well.
Justyce Harris, forward – Clovis West
Justyce Harris was not as heralded as some of the other top scorers in Clovis, but the junior forward was crucial to the Golden Eagles’ success this season. Head coach Craig Campbell describes her as an elite defender and rebounder, two qualities essential for a player to have in a Campbell-coached system. Harris, in fact, led the Golden Eagles in rebounding this season.
All-Roundup Girls Second Team
Morgan Mathis, guard – Buchanan
Morgan Mathis was the Bears’ leading scorer this season, averaging just shy of 15 points a game while shooting an impressive 37% from long distance. In fact, Mathis made 117 threes on the season, good enough for sixth in the state and 13th in the country. She led the Bears to the school’s first ever state playoff appearance, and the senior leaves Buchanan as the program’s all-time leading scorer with 1,535 points. Mathis received a scholarship to continue her education and playing career at Chico State.
Etoyah Montgomery, guard – Clovis West
Etoyah Montgomery was part of a dynamic backcourt combination with teammate Nikki Tom. Montgomery averaged 8.2 points a game with six rebounds for the section champions. The 6-foot-1 freshman looks to be a foundational piece for coach Craig Campbell to build around the next three years.
Rowan Hein, guard – Clovis North
Rowan Hein was the second-leading scorer on a Broncos team that made it to another section title game, finishing behind first team selection Savannah Tucker. Hein scored 12.5 points per game on 44% shooting, with six rebounds and 4.5 assists.
Laney Amundsen, forward – Clovis North
Laney Amundsen was an all-around solid contributor for the Broncos this season. Amundsen scored just over 10 points per game, adding six boards on nearly 43% shooting for a 24-9 Broncos team.
Raegan Stermer, forward – Buchanan
Raegan Stermer was part of a solid group of forwards for a Bears team that had arguably its best season in program history. Stermer averaged nine points per game to go with six rebounds, 1.5 steals and nearly two assists. Stermer figures to be an even bigger part of the team’s offense next season following the departure of senior Morgan Mathis.
And now introducing the All-Roundup boys basketball first and second team selections…
All-Roundup Boys First Team
Cole Anderson, guard – Clovis West
Cole Anderson did so many things well on the court in the 2019-20 season, but the Clovis West junior was especially gifted at one thing: getting buckets. Anderson led the TRAC in scoring, averaging 27 points per game, and won his third straight league MVP. Anderson was lethal from downtown, shooting at a 45% clip from three-point range, and also finished second on the team in rebounding with 4.2 rebounds/game. The signature moment of Anderson’s season was his 27-point performance against Clovis North on Jan. 11, in a come-from-behind 75-71 overtime Clovis West victory.
Jermal Pittman, guard – Clovis East
Jermal Pittman was the prototypical combo guard for Clovis East who showed an ability to slash into the paint and shoot it well from long-distance. Pittman used his crafty offensive attack to score 20.1 points per game, while shooting 57.8% from the field. Pittman was also an effective rebounder, ranking second in the TRAC in rebounds with seven boards per game. Pittman received numerous honors at out-of-town tournaments in December, including the Legacy Tip-Off Classic tournament MVP, along with a spot on the Modesto Christian Holiday Hoops Classic All-Tournament team.
Will Wiggins, guard – Clovis East
Will Wiggins filled up the stat sheet for Clovis East, while providing relentless energy on both ends of the court. Wiggins averaged 10.8 points per game, led the TRAC in assists with 4.4 assists/game, and brought down 4.1 rebounds/game as well. In the Division-I championship game against Bullard, Wiggins scored 14 points and grabbed eight rebounds to earn game MVP honors and bring home a section title with his father, head coach Adrian Wiggins..
AK Okereke, forward – Clovis North
AK Okereke turned in a solid junior campaign in 2019-20, proving himself to be a go-to scorer for the Broncos down the stretch in any close game. Okereke averaged 13.6 points per game, good for second on the team, and 5.7 rebounds/game. The athletic 6-foot-5 product showcased his two-way prowess at the Clovis West Nike Invitational in December, where he took home tournament MVP honors.
Terri Miller, center – Clovis North
Terri Miller was a throwback to the old, back-to-the-basket days of basketball. The 6-foot-7 Broncos center presented a matchup nightmare in the low post, as Miller averaged 14.1 points per contest and led the TRAC with 8.7 rebounds/game. Miller was also an adept passer, dishing out 2.5 assists per game. Miller played a pivotal role in one of the most entertaining games of the season, when he put up the game-winning layup at the buzzer to defeat Clovis West and win the Nike Invitational on Dec. 14.
All-Roundup Boys Second Team
Jarren Carr, guard – Clovis West
Jarren Carr played an integral role in Clovis West winning the TRAC regular season championship for a third year in a row. Paired with Cole Anderson in the backcourt, Carr provided his own scoring punch, averaging 11 points per game. Carr also acted as the Golden Eagles’ key facilitator, dishing out a team-best 3.4 assists per game. On the defensive end, Carr was a ball hawk, tying for the TRAC lead with 2.2 steals/game. Playing taller than his 5-foot-4 frame would indicate, Carr was one of the more exciting players to watch in the TRAC, night in and night out.
Cal Stilson, guard – Clovis High
Cal Stilson was a bright spot on a Cougars team that fell short of winning a game in the TRAC. Stilson himself was stellar during league play, averaging 15.3 points per game against TRAC opponents. Stilson also swiped 2.2 steals per contest, tied with Jarren Carr for the TRAC lead in that category.
Malachi Henry, guard – Clovis North
Malachi Henry brought an important facet to the Bronco offense in 2019-20: the three-point attack. Henry was a marksman from downtown, shooting 40% from three-point range, which complemented Miller’s post game and Okereke’s mid-range game well. Overall, Henry scored 12 points per game and added four rebounds/game, helping the Broncos to a second straight 20-win season.
Max Phillips, forward – Clovis West
Max Phillips emerged as a scoring-rebounding threat for Clovis West in his senior year, and carved out a key role in coach Vance Walberg’s offense. Phillips averaged 12.2 points per game, while contributing a team-high five rebounds/game. Phillips enjoyed his best game of the season against Bakersfield Christian at the Fresno City MLK Invitational on Jan. 20, where he scored 18 points and knocked down the game-winning shot in overtime.
David Opoku-Ababio, forward – Clovis North
David Opoku-Ababio provided a consistent frontcourt presence alongside Terri Miller for the Broncos. The 6-foot-4 senior did most of his scoring in the paint, totaling seven points per game and shooting a league-best 64% from the field. In addition, Opoku-Ababio finished third in the TRAC in rebounding, bringing down six boards per contest.