Cats drop another close one

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A pair of teams called “Wildcats” collided on Friday night at The Rock, both in serious need of a win.

Unfortunately, for Clovis High and first-year coach Scott Robinson, the wrong ones prevailed.

Led by 6-foot-8 senior center Stephen Lennox, Lovington pulled away in the final period to post a 54-49 victory.

Lennox finished with 20 points, including a three-point play with 1:12 left to give his team a five-point lead.

For Robinson and his Cats (3-10), it was just a continuation of the frustration they’ve endured during a five-game losing streak.

“We can’t make plays when they matter,” Robinson said. “We struggle to make the right play at the right time. It’s been the story of our season.”

The teams were tied after each of the first two periods, but quick baskets by junior Roland Chavez and senior Tristen Pautler when play resumed gave Clovis its biggest lead to that point at 29-25. Lovington countered with an 8-0 run and, except for a brief tie late in the period, never relinquished the lead.

Lennox scored six points in each of the final two periods to help keep his team in front.

“He’s a tough stop for a lot of teams,” said first-year Lovington coach Casey Riddle, whose squad was trounced by Lea County rival and CHS district rival Hobbs 91-25 on Tuesday. “He’s long and athletic, and he can step outside and knock down shots.

“We’ve been struggling. I told the guys, ‘We just have to find a way to get a win.’ I thought we executed extremely well, especially toward the end.”

Senior guard Luis Carrillo added 14 points for Lovington. Clovis, which had a 20-17 edge in field goals and a 4-2 margin in 3-pointers, got 11 points each from Pautler and junior guard Tucker Dobbs.

Robinson said Lennox was probably the difference in the game.

“He’s a senior who knows how to win and what it takes to win,” Robinson said. “When they needed plays, he made them. That’s what we’re lacking right now.”

The game marked the start of a busy stretch for Clovis, which plays at Roswell High tonight and then hosts Las Cruces High on Monday and Roswell Goddard on Tuesday.

Friday’s game was added to the schedule when Lovington had to cancel out of the final two games of last week’s Big XII Holiday Classic here, while the Cruces contest is a makeup of last Saturday’s snowout.