Lady Cats face big challenge in Canyon

At 9-3, the Clovis High girls are off to a solid start this season.

Their five-game winning streak will be put to the test tonight when the Lady Wildcats play at traditional Texas power Canyon, with the varsity girls contest tipping off at 5:30 p.m. (MST).

Clovis is coming off a come-from-behind 46-45 win at Mayfield on Saturday, overcoming a nine-point, second-half deficit.

“It’s nice to be coming off a good win like that,” CHS girls coach Jeff Reed said. “I hope we come out confident, not cocky. Our whole goal is to go over there and be able to compete.”

Meantime, the Lady Eagles were ranked No. 1 in Texas Class 4A and 14-0 at one time under longtime coach Joe Lombard, but dropped a couple of games last week in a tournament.

Clovis beat the Lady Eagles in 2005 and 2006, but Canyon routed the Lady Cats 63-18 in last year’s matchup at Rock Staubus Gym. Reed said the Lady Eagles could well be the best team Clovis sees all season.

“Coach Lombard is too good a coach to let his team overlook us,” Reed said. “But I don’t think they’re expecting us to come in there and beat them.”

This weekend, Clovis will participate in the Portales Shoot-Out, facing Clayton at 3 p.m. Friday and Hot Springs at 4 p.m. on Saturday.