Clovis girls edge Sandia

STAFF REPORT

ALBUQUERQUE — One day after a 49-point loss at defending Class 6A state champion Cibola, Clovis High’s girls made a nice bounce-back in their final game for a little while.

Junior post Monay Phillips scored a career-best 14 points to pace three Lady Wildcats in double figures in a 48-41 victory over Sandia, a game Clovis led virtually all the way.

Sophomore post Mimi Coleman finished with 13 points — including 11 in the second half — while sophomore guard Teya Morris chipped in 10 for the Lady Cats (4-6), who next face Highland at 6:15 p.m. on Dec. 28 in the quarterfinals of their own Plateau Wireless Classic at The Rock.

“It was nice to be able to get a win off (Friday’s loss),” CHS coach Jeff Reed said. “It could be something that factors into the seeding (for the state tournament in March).

“It was a good win for us; they’re not a bad club. Hopefully, we can use this momentum going into our tournament.”

Phillips scored nine points in the first quarter as the Lady Cats built a 16-11 lead. The Matadors (2-4) opened the second stanza with a 3-pointer, but Clovis scored the next seven points.

Morris hit a 3-pointer to cap that run with under a minute left in the half, then hit another 3 at the buzzer for a 26-17 halftime margin.

Sandia, led by 20 points from junior Cara Liggins, pulled even late in the third period before a basket by Coleman and a 3-point play by senior guard Serena Garcia gave CHS a 33-28 advantage heading into the final period.

The Matadors tried to chip away, but back-to-back 3-point plays by junior guard Jaci Sievers and Coleman in the final minute pushed the lead to 10 before Liggins hit a 3-pointer at the buzzer.

The Matadors had one more field goal than CHS, but the Lady Cats went 13-of-19 from the free throw line to 3-of-7 for Sandia.

“They were pressing hard, but we handled the ball (well),” Reed said. “We took it to them and drew fouls. We made more free throws than they attempted, and that’s something we try to do every game if we can.”

Freshman Sequoia Broussard added 11 points for Sandia, but only two other Matadors scored.