Defensive duo sparks Lady Cats

Clovis senior guard Melissa Roberts’ job is to harass opposing point guards. Sophomore Tori Northcutt draws the opponent’s top scorer.

The pair teamed to disrupt Abilene Cooper’s offense Monday with constant pressure as Clovis rolled to a 64-40 win Monday in the first round of the Plateau Holiday Classic at Rock Staubus Gym.

Roberts collected four steals and Northcutt three and generally harassed the Lady Cougars (10-7) into numerous turnovers. Roberts and Northcutt also grabbed five rebounds each as Clovis improved to 11-0.

“Those two are the backbones of our defense,” Clovis coach Miles Watters said. “We give them the toughest assignments.”

Roberts enjoys the challenge.

“I love getting on them,” Roberts said. “You have to be good at something. That’s what I work at.”

Watters said Roberts and Northcutt get the job done in different ways.

“Melissa is just hard-nosed and plays all-out,” Watters said. “Northcutt gets good position and plays smart.”

Abilene Cooper coach Kevin Long said Clovis’ defense overpowered them.

“It was physical, but we didn’t see that kind of physical play back home,” he said. “I don’t think we ever adapted.”

The Lady Cats started the game a little ragged after a 10-day layoff, according to Watters and Roberts, missing easy shots and playing a step slow.

Clovis was up 17-9 after one quarter but broke the game open by scoring the first 10 points of the second quarter, the first eight by junior post Brittany Blackmon, who finished with a team-high 20 points and five rebounds.

The Lady Cougars never got closer than 14 points.

“They have a couple of girls I’d like to take home,” Long said. “I knew watching them we wouldn’t be able to match up.”

Roberts and Watters said it was good to put a team away. The previous two games Clovis allowed 20-point leads dip into single digits.

“It doesn’t take teams a lot to get their energy going,” Roberts said.

The Lady Cats play La Cueva (4-3) today in the semifinals. The Lady Bears defeated Gadsden 48-31.

“They’re by far the biggest team in the state,” Watters said. “They’re going to cause problems for everyone.”