Prior to the start of practice this fall, first-year Clovis High girls coach Jeff Reed told senior Leia Willis he saw her in a “sixth man” role with the Lady Wildcats.

Willis said she’d hoped to start, but adjusted.

“Once I realized my role, I do it well,” said Willis, a 5-foot-7 guard-forward. “Now he told me I’d be starting with Kat (Katharine Cordova) not here.”

Cordova, a junior guard who had started every game for the Lady Cats (9-4) prior to Tuesday’s 55-34 loss at Canyon, was declared academically ineligible prior to that game. Willis got her first start against the traditional Texas powerhouse, scoring six points.

“I was a little nervous, but I knew I could do it,” Willis said. “On any other level, I’ve been a starter. But I knew it would be an adjustment.”

Willis is expected to be in the starting lineup again this weekend when Clovis plays in the Portales Shootout. The Lady Cats face Clayton at 3 p.m. today and Hot Springs at 4 p.m. Saturday.

Reed said he doesn’t know much about Hot Springs, but he’s pretty familiar with today’s opponent. He spent the last two seasons as Clayton’s boys coach, and had many of the Lady Jackets in class.

“Those girls are going to be gunning for us,” he said. “I’m hoping we take care of business, but if we don’t it could be a dogfight.”

Clayton, a solid Class 2A program which competes with Texico in District 6-2A, brings a 10-2 record into the weekend.

“They don’t have any standouts,” Reed said. “They have a lot of girls that contribute, and they’ve been playing together for a long time.”

Reed said Tuesday’s game against Canyon was good for his squad, adding that Willis and others will be asked to do a little more with the loss of Cordova.

“We saw a team (in Canyon) at another level,” Reed said. “Canyon would win the state championship in New Mexico.

“We can play with anybody in New Mexico, but if we don’t step up we could get beat by anybody — and beat pretty good by some teams.”