Tigers turn back Eagles

CLOVIS - Elida junior Aiden Yates wasn't quite aware of what he'd accomplished on Saturday night.

Yates carried the Tigers in a rematch with Clovis Christian, scoring a personal-best 40 points in a 78-61 victory over the Eagles at the CCS gym.

Both teams now get ready to host their district tournament finals this weekend, with aspirations of bigger things down the line when the Class 1A state tournament begins with round-of-16 games on March 5.

Yates didn't realize how many points he had scored, but said the Tigers are focused more on the postseason.

"It was an awesome game; we had fun," Yates said. "If we go to state playing the way we are right now, I think we have a pretty good chance."

Elida came in motivated after losing to the Eagles 76-70 at home on Feb. 12. This time it was close for much of the first half, although CCS (19-6) erased a 10-point deficit to tie it late in the second stanza.

Sophomore Seth Jimenez got inside for a layup to put the Tigers (19-4) in front 33-31 at the break, a lead they would never relinquish.

"This time, we defended their two shooters (juniors Noah Gershon and Carter Teune) better when they got to the 3-point line," Yates said. "They shot the lights out at our place."

Teune finished with 31 points in this one, and Gershon added 19. But Gershon had the team's only 3 of the game, and no one else tallied more than four points.

CCS had come through a tough late-season gauntlet, winning at Fort Sumner on Friday night to clinch the District 4-1A regular-season crown. It was evident that the game had a little more meaning for Elida.

"They're a good team, and they worked really hard to win their district," Tigers coach Jared Fraze said of CCS. "But we pressured them better tonight."

Senior Rylan Creighton added 14 points for Elida, while junior Jose Jimenez finished with 13.

"We got some early baskets, but we didn't get the 3s," CCS coach Trent McKay said. "There was a little letdown coming off (Friday) night, but Elida came out and played well."

In other area games on Saturday:

Dora boys 67, Logan 34 - The Coyotes held Logan to 11 first-half points and cruised in the regular-season finale for both teams at Dora.

Junior Steven Masini led Dora (14-9) with 18 points, while sophomore Cache Skelley had 17. Senior Park Strong tossed in 11 points for the Longhorns (8-17).

Logan 63, Dora girls 33 - Seniors Reece Goldston (21) and Kyra Conway (18) combined for 39 points for the Lady Longhorns (21-5), including six of the team's 10 3-pointers. A 24-point second stanza sent Logan in front 39-15 at halftime.

Senior Katelyn Burnett was the high scorer for the Lady Coyotes (11-10) with eight points.