Lady Cats cruise to win

Really, there was never a doubt that Clovis High's girls were going to win Friday's matchup against Santa Fe High at Rock Staubus Gym.

It certainly took the Lady Wildcats a while to get going, though.

Trailing 7-3 early and leading only 16-11 with just over two minutes left in the half, CHS went to fullcourt pressure and allowed the Lady Demons to score on just two more possessions – a 3-point basket to open the second half and a four-point play in the final stanza – en route to a 56-18 victory.

Senior standouts Kailyn Jefferson (9) and Zarai Lewis (2) combined for only 11 points, and the Lady Cats converted just 12-of-32 from the foul line. But freshman guard Gianna Cordova delivered 23 points off the bench and senior post Mackenzie Roach added a personal-best 10 to help the team pull away.

"She stepped up and did a good job when 'Z' (Lewis) had an off-game," Lady Cats coach Jeff Reed said of Cordova. "Hopefully, she'll continue to grow and get better."

It was Cordova's second big outing of the campaign – she delivered 26 points in a 68-39 victory at Lubbock Trinity Christian on Dec. 1.

"I wasn't expecting it, but I knew I could do it," said Cordova, who also came up with several steals on defense. "You just have to stay in the moment and do what you do."

Cordova said she expected to be able to contribute on the varsity level after the Lady Cats graduated several players from last year's contingent.

"I played JV (junior varsity) last year," she said. "I expected to play a role, and I think I play a good role. I work well with my teammates."

Cordova scored 11 points in the second quarter, including six in the final 90 seconds to help the Lady Cats (9-2), ranked fourth in Class 5A by MaxPreps, open a 26-11 margin.

Junior guard Isabella Lovato hit a 3-pointer on Santa Fe High's first possession of the second half, but Clovis tallied the next 21 points before sophomore Gabby Chavez converted the four-point play with 5:40 left.

"The thing I was happy about is we set up our halfcourt offense and ran it," Reed said. "If we can do that against good teams, it makes us that much better."

Junior guard Amanda De La Rosa hit a three for Clovis 16 seconds into the game, but Santa Fe High sophomore Avah Baca tied it with a 3 on the Lady Demons' first possession. Lovato's 3 and a free throw from freshman Desi Martinez established a four-point margin for Santa Fe High (2-7) five minutes in.

Only one of the Lady Demons' five field goals was a 2-pointer, and they also struggled big-time from the line (4-of-15) while committing 28 turnovers. Lovato's two 3-pointers gave her team scoring honors with six points.

"We had a slow start," Cordova said. "But I think we had a good game on defense."

The Lady Cats faced a quick turnaround with a Saturday afternoon game at Amarillo Caprock (15-4). They return to action on Saturday when they welcome Amarillo Palo Duro (9-4) to The Rock for a 3:30 p.m. tipoff.