Cats, Lady Cats take on Carlsbad

Both Clovis High basketball squads are looking to take control in the District 4-5A race, with Carlsbad standing in the way.

The Clovis girls host Carlsbad, while the boys travel to face the Cavemen in a pair of 7 p.m. matchups today.

“I expect nothing less than Carlsbad to come out and give everything they’ve got,” Clovis girls coach Jeff Reed said. “If we don’t show up, we could be in trouble.”

Each squad has a 4-5A win over Hobbs. The Lady Wildcats (17-4, 1-0 district) are coming off a 39-32 win over Roswell, one Reed called disappointing because it gives the Lady Coyotes confidence heading into a Friday rematch in Roswell. Carlsbad, following its 32-29 win over Hobbs at home, took a 43-36 loss against Artesia.

Reed said Carlsbad has decent size, but the Cavegirls (14-9, 1-0) will get most of their offense from sophomore guard Taylor Edmondson.

“We’re going to have to shut her down and keep her from making open 3s,” Reed said. “With our aggressive man defense, I think it will be hard for her to get shots.”

Reed is hoping for a big crowd, and a good homecourt advantage.

“They’re a lot better team at Carlsbad than they are on the road,” he said. “I think if we come out with a lot of energy and enthusiasm, we can really get at them.”

The Lady Cats are healthy, except for two reserves. They are without Kayla Ware, who has a tooth problem, and Alicia Viscaino has missed the entire season due to a knee injury.

There’s no shortage of injuries for the Clovis boys (11-8, 1-0), who are awaiting to hear the status of junior guard Lathan Lieb’s right knee.

But the positive is that even with several players out, the Wildcats’ depth hasn’t been dented much.

Counting Lieb, who scored 10 points in his season debut, a 74-69 win over Hobbs, four Wildcats are averaging double figures and four others are averaging at least five points a game.

“We don’t feel like we drop off a lot when we go to our bench,” interim coach Scott Robinson said.

But the Wildcats have certainly taken hits over the last few weeks. Missing from Monday’s practice were:

• Senior post Logan Turnbow, who leads Clovis at 13.3 points per game. He was home with flu symptoms, but Robinson is optimistic Turnbow will play.

• Lieb, who injured his knee Friday and had an MRI Monday. Lieb and Robinson are trying to be optimistic, but both would be surprised if it’s not a torn ACL.

• Junior guard Deven Crockett, who jammed his hand playing pickup basketball Sunday. He scored 17 points for Clovis Friday, and his status is uncertain for tonight.

• Senior guard Landyn Snipes, who missed Friday’s game while doctors look into a heart condition. He is being held out as a precaution while tests continue, Robinson said, and Snipes joked that at least he has other injured teammates to talk to during practices.

If somebody’s needed to play the defensive “hotter” role on Carlsbad guard Robbey Arrington, Snipes’ fill-in is senior guard Jonathan Langan, who helped the Wildcats hold Hobbs guard Shelby Reeves to a season-low 11 points.

“Langan has done a good job for us as a hotter,” Robinson said. “He’ll play that tomorrow if we decide we want to do that.”

Robinson said the Wildcats want to get their pressure defense going and force the Cavemen out of their preferred halfcourt game.

CHS CAPSULES
Boys
Clovis (11-8, 1-0 District 4-5A)
at Carlsbad (11-10, 0-1)
7 p.m. today
Radio: KCLV-AM 1240, KRMQ-FM 101.5.
Last time out: The Wildcats defeated Hobbs 74-69 in their District 4-5A opener on Friday. The Cavemen are coming off a 52-50 loss to Artesia the same night.
Carlsbad players to watch: G Robbey Arrington, Sr., 6-0; P Matt Enloe, Sr., 6-2.
Last meeting: 2009 district tournament, Clovis won 83-29.

Girls
Carlsbad (14-9, 1-0 District 4-5A)
at Clovis (17-4, 1-0)
7 p.m. today
Radio: KCLV-FM 99.1.
Last time out: Clovis defeated Roswell High 39-32 at home on Saturday. Carlsbad is coming off a 43-36 loss to Artesia on Friday.
Carlsbad players to watch: G Taylor Edmondson, So, 5-11; G Veronica Fierro, Sr., 5-1.
Last meeting: 2009, Clovis won 57-42.