Lady Cats cruise to win over Cibola

CLOVIS — So far, so good for the Clovis High Lady Wildcats.

Tougher games are ahead, notably in District 4-5A play with Hobbs and Carlsbad, but for now the Lady Cats are feeling pretty good about themselves as they approach the holiday break.

Down 5-0 in barely a minute on Friday night, CHS took the lead for good late in the first quarter and steadily increased it until Clovis coach Jeff Reed cleared his bench down the stretch in a 50-39 victory over Cibola at Rock Staubus Gym.

Senior guard Yvonne Fuerte scored 13 points and sophomore guard Zarai Lewis added 12 as nine players contributed to the scoring column.

“It took us a little bit (to get going), but I think we came out and played hard,” Fuerte said. “The third quarter, we really just put them away. We always talk about coming out and putting (teams) away, but this time we did it in the third quarter.”

Leading 24-12, the Lady Cats (6-3) converted two Cougars turnovers into transition layups to start the third stanza. They led 50-27 with just over two minutes left before Cibola (1-5) took advantage of the late substitutions to go on a game-ending 12-0 run.

“I’m happy we’re 6-3, and we could’ve won a couple of the games we lost,” Reed said. “Overall, I feel like we’re doing well. If we can just clean up a few things here and there, we have a chance to be a pretty good team.”

With the score tied, baskets by Fuerte and senior Mya Slade in the final minute of the period put Clovis in front 13-9 at the quarter. Only a 3-point basket by Cibola’s Izabella Trevino early in the period kept the Cougars from being blanked in the second stanza.

Among other players, Slade gave Clovis a lift off the bench. She scored eight points and was physical around the basket in going after rebounds and loose balls.

“Mya has heart and hustle,” Fuerte said. “Every time she comes in, she plays with a lot of heart.”

Reed said he was impressed enough that he would give Slade consideration for a starting role.

“Mya gave us a good game off the bench,” he said. “She did a heck of a job tonight, and we’ve got to have somebody who’ll go in there and clean up the junk. It gives me confidence to play her more.”

After Trevino’s 3-pointer made it 5-0 only 61 seconds into it, the Cougars struggled from there, managing only three field goals over the next 17 minutes.

Junior guard Leilani Soriano led Cibola with 12 points, but eight came in the closing blitz. Meantime, Trevino tallied eight points in the first 9 1/2 minutes, and never scored again.

The Lady Cats return to action on Monday in the three-day Plateau Holiday tournament at The Rock, facing Taos in a 5:10 p.m. quarterfinal matchup.