Clovis basketball preview capsules

GIRLS

Sandia (8-14, 4-4) at Clovis (14-10, 5-3), 7 p.m.

Last time out: Despite a sluggish start, the Lady Wildcats dominated Santa Fe throughout Saturday night's home game, leading 14-4 after one quarter, 23-12 at halftime, 35-16 after three, and 44-26 at the final buzzer.

The Lady Matadors hosted La Cueva on Saturday and were keeping it close at halftime, trailing only 19-17. The second half, though, did not go as well and Sandia was beaten 47-38, dropping its second straight after a three-game winning streak.

Last meeting: The Lady Wildcats got off to a blazing start, building a 21-11 lead over Sandia by the end of the first quarter. Though the lead dwindled a bit, the Lady 'Cats were still up 29-23 at halftime, but scored only 13 total points in the second half and lost 49-42.

The lowdown: It's a big week for Clovis as the regular season winds to a close.

The Lady Wildcats went 2-0 last week for the first time in District 2-6A play this season, and have a chance to do it again this week, with games against Sandia and Eldorado. Only this week, there's a chance to finish second behind Eldorado at stake.

Offensive inconsistency - as it was in Clovis' first meeting with Sandia last month - has been a problem all winter long. Saturday night against Santa Fe, the Lady Wildcats were again still struggling offensively. They played great defense, as they have most of the season, consistently getting stops and forcing Santa Fe turnovers. But too often, those stops and turnovers didn't transition into baskets on the other end. When the Lady 'Cats did string together a consistent offensive stretch early in the third quarter, it resulted in a 10-0 run that ballooned their lead from 11 points to 21.

Still, they only scored 23 points in the entire first half. The way their defense was playing, they probably should've had 23 in the first quarter alone.

"Hopefully, we can keep the defense up, keep the rebounding up and the shots will start to fall," Clovis head coach Jeff Reed said after Saturday's win.

If Reed gets his wish, Clovis could well have second place locked down by week's end.

BOYS

Clovis (8-15, 0-8) at Sandia (8-14, 1-8), 7 p.m.

Last time out: The Wildcats visited the capital Saturday night, hoping to avenge a close earlier-season loss to Santa Fe. But unlike the first matchup, Clovis was never quite in the rematch, falling 72-50.

The Matadors were also on the road Saturday, looking to halt their own losing streak at three when visiting La Cueva. It became four, however, when Sandia squandered an eight-point fourth-quarter lead, watched the game head into overtime, and faded in that extra period, losing 75-65.

Last meeting: It was a tight one at Rock Staubus Gymnasium on Jan. 27, but the Wildcats fell just short 39-38. It was their second tough loss that week, having lost at the buzzer to Santa Fe four days earlier.

The lowdown: 0-8 in district action is 0-8. No sugar-coating will stick to that.

But, the Wildcats' season is far from over. They have more opportunities, including a golden one tonight. Though on the road in Albuquerque, Clovis faces a Sandia team with almost the same record - just a half-game better in both overall and district play. It's another chance for the Wildcats to get turned around; all they need is one. Their impressive six-game winning streak to end December started with one win, so they could start something new tonight. Every trip down the floor, every quarter, every game, is an opportunity. The 'Cats will only be out of opportunities when they're out of games to play.

- Compiled by staff Writer Peter Stein