Clovis, Hobbs battle for first

Take a deep breath. Calm down a little. Despite what 4,500 fanatics in the stands may think, Hobbs is just another district opponent.

Clovis Wildcats coach J.D. Isler said his team can’t get too wrapped up in the excitement surrounding tonight’s 7:30 p.m. game at Rock Staubus Gymnasium.

“Everybody makes such a big deal out of this game, but in reality it’s no bigger than Sandia was last week or Cibola will be next week,” Isler said.

Isler said Clovis (16-2, 1-0 District 4-5A) hasn’t played a good home game against Hobbs in three years because they’ve let the excitement get the better of them. Last year Clovis lost 75-68 against Hobbs in Rock Staubus. They’ve tried to do too much, leading to poor decisions passing or shooting.

“We have to play with a lot of energy, but not too much emotion,” Isler said.

He thinks his senior-laden squad is mature enough to handle the environment.

“They understand how to approach the game,” he said.

However, it’s still a home District 4-5A game.

“To have a chance to win the district, you’ve got to win your home games,” Isler said.

Hobbs won its first district home game on Friday , beating up No. 1 Cibola 77-58.

However, Hobbs coach Russ Gilmore said the win doesn’t change that Hobbs (13-6, 1-0) is down from their usual perch atop high school basketball in New Mexico.

“It’s not one of our better teams, not one of our better seasons,” Gilmore said.

For the Hobbs Eagles, energy has been the key, according to Gilmore. When they’ve lost, offensive ball movement has been poor and defensive intensity was down.

“If you’re pretty average, you’re going to be up and down,” Gilmore said.

Someone who has helped determined Hobbs’ success is 6-foot senior guard B.J. Meridyth. Meridyth slashes quickly through the paint, either pulling up for jumpers, going to the basket for layups or dishing to an open shooter. He averages 18 points a game.

“We have to make him work for all his points,” Isler said, adding that Tizrick Phillips or Jacob Jones will have to guard Meridyth. “He kind of makes Hobbs go.”

The Eagles face a mismatch trying to guard 6-8 Clovis senior post Tigg Bunton, who’s averaging over 20 points a game. Hobbs has five players who are 6-4. Gilmore joked that he was going to call on a few former players who went on to play Division-I ball to come back and help guard Bunton.

“I thought all along when I heard Tigg was coming back they’d have a good shot of winning it,” Gilmore said of Clovis’ state championship chances.

Isler said the ’Cats will pass the ball down low, just as they have all season.

“I don’t think we have to do anything great or different than what we’ve been doing,” he said.

District 4-5A

Hobbs (13-6, 1-0) at Clovis (16-2, 1-0)

7:30 p.m. tonight

Last week: Clovis beat Sandia 61-45; Hobbs beat Cibola 77-58

Last meeting: Hobbs beat Clovis 96-90 in overtime last year in the District 4-5A tournament.

Notable: A victory by Clovis would likely put them back on top of the Albuquerque Journal Class 5A Coaches Poll. The Wildcats were No. 2 last week and No. 1 Cibola lost to Hobbs.

Quotable: “I thought it would have been a closer game.” — Clovis coach J.D. Isler on Hobbs’ 19-point win over Cibola.

By the numbers: Hobbs and Clovis played 13 quarters against each other last year through three games with one going to overtime.