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CMI staff
HOBBS — Down by 12 points and struggling mightily, the high-powered Clovis Lady Wildcats were able to turn things around and keep their perfect season going in the biggest game of the year so far.
link Hobbs News-Sun photo: Kimberly Ryan
Clovis guard Danni Williams comes up with a loose ball Friday night at Ralph Tasker Arena in Hobbs. Williams scored 16 points in Clovis' 39-33 win.
Junior guard Danni Williams scored 14 of her game-high 16 points in the second half and the Lady Cats held Hobbs to nine points after the intermission in rallying for a 39-33 District 4-5A victory on Friday night.
Junior post Shelby Jones, relegated to the bench with two early fouls, returned in the second half to finish with seven points and 11 rebounds as Clovis (22-0, 1-0 district) held the Lady Eagles (20-4, 1-1) scoreless over the final four minutes.
Jones’ rebound basket put Clovis in front for good 34-33 with just under four minutes left. The Lady Cats, who struggled from the line all night, hit 5-of-8 charity tosses the rest of the way, taking a five-point lead on two free throws by Williams with 27 seconds to go.
Early on, though, it didn’t look good.
Hobbs scored the game’s first six points and opened a 24-12 halftime lead behind all 12 of senior post Halle Woods’ points.
“We were settling a lot,” CHS coach Jeff Reed said of the first half. “We weren’t attacking their defense. The second half we started taking it to Hobbs on the dribble.”
CHS closed the margin to two points with a 13-3 run in the third quarter, then took its first lead with just over five minutes 31-29 after a pair of baskets by Williams.
Senior forward Danielle Patterson tied it with a basket, then gave the Lady Eagles a one-point lead by hitting two free throws with 4:18 to go.
Clovis survived a 17-for-33 night at the line despite Williams’ 8-for-10 effort.
“We shot terrible,” Reed said. “When you go to the free-throw line here, everybody’s yelling and it gets crazy. But hopefully (the experience) will help us down the road.”
The loss snaps a 27-game at Ralph Tasker Arena for streak for Hobbs, dating to a setback against Lubbock Coronado on Jan. 3, 2012. The Lady Eagles were 9-0 at home this season, and had beaten Clovis in each of the Lady Cats’ last three visits.
Girls
District 4-5A
Clovis 39, Hobbs 33
Clovis (22-0, 1-0) — Brandi Gomez 2-9 4-9 8, Danny Williams 4-14 8-10 16, Kyleigh Guthals 1-2 0-4 2, Carrie Sharp 1-4 4-7 6, Dee Briggins 0-1 0-0 0, Shelby Jones 3-6 1-3 7, Lakeyia Wilkins 0-3 0-0 0. Totals 11-39 17-33 39.
Hobbs (20-4, 1-1) — Jasmine Martinez 1-11 0-0 2, Tori Sanchez 1-5 0-1 2, Ariel Lopez 1-1 0-0 2, Kennedy Sims 1-3 0-0 3, Harlee Lester 0-1 0-0 0, Azaria Stewart 2-2 0-0 4,Kaylyn Felicetti 0-2 0-0 0, Danielle Patterson 3-6 2-2 8, Halle Woods 5-14 2-5 12. Totals 14-45 4-8 33.
Clovis 3 9 13 14 — 39
Hobbs 12 12 3 6 — 33
3-pointers — Clovis 0-6 (Williams 0-4, Gomez 0-1, Sharp 0-1), Hobbs 1-12 (Sims 1-3, Felicetti 0-1, Lester 0-1, Patterson 0-1, Sanchez 0-2, Martinez 0-2). Junior varsity — Hobbs 47, Clovis 38.