Lady Cats' home streak ended by Roswell High

Sports writer

[email protected]

Clovis High’s girls kept mounting charges after falling behind early.

link Staff photo: Tony Bullocks

Clovis High senior Danni Williams drives by Roswell High junior Alexis Angeles, left, and sophomore Jaedyn De La Cerda during the first half of Tuesday’s game at Rock Staubus Gym. Williams scored 26 points, but the Lady Coyotes held on for a 68-59 win.

Roswell High had an answer every time.

Sophomore guard Jaedyn De La Cerda scored 10 first-quarter points, then hit 7-of-8 free throws in the final minute to help seal the Lady Coyotes’ 68-59 upset of CHS on Tuesday night at Rock Staubus Gym.

Roswell High (13-2) knocked down 11-of-12 in the final minute, with junior forward Gali Sanchez going 4-for-4.

The loss snapped the Lady Wildcats’ 11-game winning streak this season and a 45-game winning streak at The Rock, dating to a 2011 District 4-5A loss to Carlsbad.

CHS coach Jeff Reed said his team struggled to score in the paint.

“We blew a lot of opportunities,” he said. “But to Roswell’s credit, they executed well. They knocked down big shots, and we didn’t.”

The Lady Cats (14-2) trailed virtually all the way, including four times by 11 points. They were never able to get closer than three down the stretch.

“We got off to a good start and that gave our kids some confidence,” Lady Coyotes coach Joe Carpenter said. “This is a tough place to play, but we had some kids stepping up. Jaedyn De La Cerda and Gali Sanchez made some free throws at the end.”

De La Cerda, who finished with 20 points, nailed a pair of 3-pointers in the first quarter to help stake the Lady Coyotes to an 18-7 lead.

link Staff photo: Tony Bullocks

Clovis High senior Shelby Jones shoots over Roswell High’s Georgia Eldridge during the first half of Tuesday’s girls matchup at Rock Staubus Gym. Jones had nine points, but the Lady Coyotes downed CHS 68-59.

The Lady Cats pulled to 43-41 on two free throws by senior Danni Williams in the first minute of the final quarter, but Roswell High took off on a 7-0 run to keep the margin relatively comfortable.

Williams, who finished with 26 points, hit a 3-pointer with 1:20 left, then converted a driving layup and six free throws on a pair of three-shot fouls to keep CHS within 63-59 late.

“We couldn’t stop them,” Reed said. “We didn’t do a good job of handling the ball or finishing shots at the beginning of the game. They wanted it more than we did.”

Junior forward Gerogia Eldridge added 19 points and sophomore guard Priscilla Lucero 14 for the Lady Coyotes, who lost to Clovis 43-31 in the Mel Otero Invite at Rio Rancho in mid-December.

Senior guard Nichele Hyman (11 points) and senior post Dee Briggins (10) also reached double digits for the Lady Cats.

Clovis returns to action on Friday at The Rock in a 7 p.m. contest against Rio Rancho Cleveland.