Cats complete perfect district run

Kamal Cass has had a lot of big scoring games — in football. Not so much in basketball.

The junior guard was on his game Friday night, though, scoring 10 of his 15 points in the first half to help Clovis High's boys wrap up a perfect run through the District 4-5A schedule with a 68-59 win over Hobbs at Rock Staubus Gym.

The game didn't matter in the district race, since the Wildcats (19-6, 4-0 district) had already wrapped up the top seed in next week's District 4-5A tournament. Hobbs hosts Carlsbad on Thursday night, with the winner coming to The Rock in the championship game two nights later.

CMI photo: Tony BullocksClovis junior Willie McCray gets a layup as Hobbs junior Jordan Chavarria defends during Friday's District 4-5A matchup at Rock Staubus Gym.

Still, it's Hobbs, and that was motivation enough for the Cats.

"It was kind of hard (to motivate), but it was the Hobbs game so we were already hyped up, especially in front of our home crowd," said Cass, an all-state running back in football.

Cass, who fell one point short of his season high set in the earlier game at Hobbs, led a balanced attack which also included three others in double figures — senior forward Drew Cole with 15, senior guard John Dawson with 14 and senior forward D.J. Blackmon with 13.

"I was just kind of in the rhythm," Cass said. "John and D.J. were giving me the ball, and I was shooting with confidence."

Cole had a strong outing on the boards for the Cats, in addition to his scoring.

"He had a great game," CHS coach Matt King said. "He made big shots when we needed them.

"The thing that's carried us has been consistent defense. That gets you through games where you don't shoot the ball that well."

CMI photo: Tony BullocksClovis senior Dijon Ford shoots over Hobbs' Devante Brown, right, and Jordan Chavarria during Friday's District 4-5A matchup at Rock Staubus Gym.

The Cats trailed by four points early in the second quarter, but took the lead for good on two free throws by junior guard Willie McCray with 23 seconds left in the half. They led by 11 near the end of the game.

"I think for these kids, the face they know each other and people talk about it, it was a humongous game," King said. "We just want to play the right way."

Senior guard Dane Pannell led the Eagles (19-7, 1-3) with a game-high 19 points. Junior guard Devonte Brown added 12.

Clovis forced the Eagles into 17 turnovers, including 11 in the first half — matching the Cats' total for the entire game.

"We took too many rushed shots," Eagles coach Mike Smith said. "We needed to be more patient and get to the free throw line more."