Cats, Lady Cats fall in District 4-5A openers

CLOVIS - Carlsbad's girls have specialized in holding their opponents to low point totals this season.

Tuesday night at The Rock, Clovis High held the Cavegirls in check, but their inability to muster much offense of their own proved costly in a 29-22 loss in the District 4-5A opener for both teams.

Neither team was able to muster as much as 10 points in any quarter, but the Cavegirls (18-4 overall) held the Lady Wildcats (13-6) to just two points in the final stanza to seal the win.

"Carlsbad plays a very slow, deliberate pace," CHS girls coach Jeff Reed said. "It wasn't our defense that killed us this time; it was our offense."

Clovis was within 21-20 until Cavegirls senior Alisa Bernal drilled a 3-pointer - her only points of the night - near the end of the third frame. Each team scored only two points in the fourth period until Carlsbad converted three free throws in the final minute.

Morgan Boatwright, a 6-foot senior, was the only player in double figures with 12 points for Carlsbad. Meantime, the Lady Cats got nine points from senior guard Yvonne Fuerte and seven from senior guard Luisa Chavez.

Clovis was slated to host Hobbs on Friday night. The next outing for the Lady Cats is on Friday night at Roswell High.

Carlsbad 60, Clovis boys 27 - At Carlsbad, the Cavemen dominated from the get-go and built a 51-15 halftime lead before the entire second half was played with a running clock.

"They really pressured us in the first half," Clovis coach Jaden Isler said. "We turned it over on our first three possessions of the game."

Damian Perez, a 6-5 junior guard, led all scorers with 16 points in the game. Junior guard Devin McWright finished with 11 points.

"They're solid," Isler said of the Cavemen. "They've got one of the best guards in the state (in Perez).

"We didn't play well, and obviously they played good."

Junior forward R.J. Nora led the Cats (3-18) with 12 points, while senior guad Luciano Webster scored nine.

The Cats traveled to Hobbs on Friday night. They are slated to host Roswell High on next Friday night.