Serving Clovis, Portales and the Surrounding Communities
Serving Clovis, Portales and the Surrounding Communities
ALBUQUERQUE — They came at Clovis in waves, bringing the Lady Wildcats’ record-breaking season to a crashing halt.
Senior Ashley Gilpin fueled a decisive third-quarter run, leading Mayfield to a 57-49 win over the Lady Wildcats in the Class 5A girls state title game Friday at The Pit.
Gilpen finished with a game-high 16 points and Krystal Torres made 6-of-6 free throws when Clovis was trying to make a late run as Mayfield (26-1) won its first girls state basketball title.
‘We came in on the bottom and went out on the top,” said Gilpin, who scored five points in an 11-1 run that gave the Lady Trojans a 40-29 lead heading into the fourth quarter. “There’s nothing better than going out with a state title.”
Sophomore post Brittany Blackmon led Clovis (27-4) with 15 points despite sitting out more than half the game in foul trouble. Senior Monique Walker added 13.
Subbing in fresh bodies at every stop in the action, Mayfield wore down the Lady Wildcats, forcing nearly as many turnovers as Clovis had shots.
“I didn’t think they could pressure us like that,” Clovis coach Miles Watters said of the Lady Wildcats’ season-high 31 turnovers. “It’s hard to win a ballgame when you’re turning the ball over that many times.”
Mayfield also owned a 41-23 edge on the boards, an area that is usually a Clovis strength.
“They were more aggressive than us,” Watters said. “They were more aggressive going to the ball.”
Watters said despite the loss the Lady Wildcats had a great season.
“We were one of the last two teams left in the state,” Watters said “Everybody else went home.
“We won more (girls basketball) games than anybody ever has at Clovis and I think we won more games than anybody in the state.
“But give Mayfield credit. We lost to a better team tonight. They were just better.”
Clovis, which led 24-20 at halftime, tried to make a late run, but could only trade points with the Lady Trojans before time ran out.
“We weren’t ready for (Mayfield’s quickness),” said Clovis junior Melissa Roberts, whose defensive energy and scoring fueled Clovis’ comeback effort. “We just didn’t come out ready tonight.”
Mayfield 57, Clovis 49
Mayfield (26-1) — Erica Granado 0-0 0-0 0, Ashley Gilpin 4-8 6-7 16, Krystal Torres 3-11 6-6 12, Sophia Holguin 3-7 1-2 7, Felicia Lara 1-6 0-0 2, Madison Spence 1-3 5-8 7, Marie McGee 2-3 1-4 5, Carissa McGee 3-5 2-4 8, Megan Turner 0-0 0-0 0. Totals 17-43 21-31 57.
Clovis (27-4) — Tori Quintana 1-4 0-0 3, Melissa Roberts 1-1 2-2 4, Brittany Blackmon 5-6 5-8 15, Monique Walker 4-6 5-5 13, Tori Northcutt 0-1 1-4 1, Jessica Russell 0-1 0-0 0, Jessica Hohn 1-3 0-0 2, Aimee Hilburn 4-12 2-4 11. Totals 16-35 15-24 49.
Mayfield 13 7 20 17 — 57
Clovis 12 12 5 20 — 49
3-pointers — Mayfield 2-10 (Gilpin 2-4, Torres 0-4, Lara 0-2), Clovis 2-7 (Quintana 1-4, Northcutt 0-1, Hilburn 1-2). Rebounds — Mayfield 43 (C. McGee 10), Clovis 23 (Hohn, Walker 4 each). Assists — Mayfield 10 (Spence 3), Clovis 11 (Hilburn 4). Turnovers — Mayfield 28, Clovis 31. Totals fouls — Mayfield 20, Clovis 22. Fouled out —Mayfield, M. McGee. Clovis, Hilburn, Blackmon. Technical fouls — none.
