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Clovis girls basketball preview capsule

GIRLS

Clovis (9-6) at Cleveland (8-9)

6:30 p.m., Cleveland High School, Rio Rancho

Last time out: On Tuesday, both teams continued the trend of how they’ve been playing so far this season. The Lady Wildcats are usually up after they’re down, so it wasn’t surprising when they shellacked Goddard 58-33 on the road Tuesday night, following last Friday’s 56-38 loss at Artesia. The Lady ’Cats took control of Tuesday’s game in the second half, outscoring the Lady Rockets 35-15 during that stretch, 20-3 in the fourth quarter.

Cleveland’s trend lately has been struggling, as the Lady Storm carried a three-game losing streak into Tuesday’s road game against Eldorado and made it four in a row, losing 44-27 to the Lady Eagles.

Last meeting: The teams met at Rock Staubus Gymnasium on Friday the 13th in January of last year, but it was far from an unlucky night for the Lady ’Cats. They halted a losing streak at two by defeating Cleveland 54-43 behind double-digit scoring efforts from then-juniors Teya Morris (20), Sydni Hill (12) and Haylee Kidd (10). Morris also had six rebounds and three steals. Then-sophomore Kaydee Weaver had five boards, and Kidd had two steals.

The lowdown: There are four reasons why this game is big for Clovis — 1) The Lady Wildcats would love to win two in a row, avoiding the inconsistency that has plagued them recently; 2) By winning, the Lady ’Cats would end their three-game road swing at 2-1; 3) A victory would allow the ’Cats to head into their District 2-6A play next week with momentum; 4) It’s January. Every game is big.

Cleveland, meanwhile, wants to end the freefall it’s been in lately. The Lady Storm are 8-9, having lost four straight and seven of their last nine following a 6-2 start. Worse yet, all four losses on the Storm’s recent streak have occurred by at least eight-point margins — 42-32 to Eldorado, 42-34 to Hope Christian, 61-46 to La Cueva in Albuquerque’s Metro Tournament; and Tuesday night’s 17-point regular-season loss at Eldorado. Cleveland last tasted victory on Jan. 2, with a 72-35 opening-round rout of Albuquerque in the Metro Tournament.

— Compiled by Peter Stein