Clovis holds off Coronado

Clovis’ Aimee Hilburn battles Lubbock Coronado’s Lynsey Thompson, left, and Jordan Sarten for a loose ball during the second half of Friday’s game at Rock Staubus Gym. Clovis defeated Coronado 71-62. (Staff photo: Eric Kluth)

John Eisel

Another game, another career scoring effort for Clovis junior Brittany Blackmon.

Four days after scoring a career-high 32 points against Frenship, Texas, the 5-foot-10 post poured in 34 points as the Lady Wildcats held off relentless Lubbock Coronado 71-62 Friday night at Rock Staubus Gym.

Junior post Aimee Hilburn added 15 points and senior guard Roxanne Luera added nine for the undefeated Lady Wildcats(9-0), who spent the second half trying to protect a 43-25 halftime lead.

Coronado, ranked 10th in Class 5A in Texas, chipped away at CLovis' lead in the third and into the fourth quarters behind relentless full-court pressure. The Lady Mustangs (12-4) got as close as 61-57 with 5:26 left in the game.

However, Coronado went cold from the field, missing layups and 3-pointers and Clovis pulled away for the win as Blackmon scored five of Clovis’ final 10 points.

Clovis had little trouble handling the Lady Mustangs’ full-court press in the first half. Instead of trying to go through it, Clovis just went over it.

Blackmon spent most of the first half looking like Minnesota All-Pro wide receiver Randy Moss, catching long passes behind the defense and scoring at the other end.

Clovis also held a major advantage in the paint, tripling the number of rebounds Coronado had in the first half.

Aiding Coronado's woes were foul trouble for starters Kelsey Wright and Tiffany Hardwell.

However, with Wright and Hardwell back on the floor, the Lady Mustangs made a frantic push to get in the game in the second half.

Coronado cut off the long passes, forcing Clovis to go through the press defense, which choked turnovers out of the the Lady Wildcats. On offense, the Lady Mustangs succeeded in penetrating inside off the dribble, which led to a Coronado parade to the foul line. Coronado nailed 19 of 27 attempts. The Lady Mustangs also hurt Clovis with five 3-points in the game.

Clovis finished the game 12 of 23 from the charity stripe.

Trailing 59-45 early in the fourth quarter, Coronado went on a 10-2 run. Kadace Griffin and Wright hit 3-pointers, followed by layups off midcourt steals by Leslie Powell and Griffin, getting Coronado within 61-57.

Hardwell scored 14 for Coronado, followed by 13 for Griffin and 12 for Wright.