Clovis senior guard Bryan Pierson protects the ball from Goddard’s Ryan Gass (right) in the first quarter of Saturday’s game at Rock Staubus Gymnasium. Pierson had 10 points in Clovis’ 91-68 win. To see more photos, visit fnm.mycapture.c

Jaye Crockett elevates over Goddard junior guard Ryan French for a dunk to open the fourth quarter of Clovis’ 91-68 win over the Rockets. Crockett had 34 points in the victory. To see more photos, visit fnm.mycapture.com

Clovis senior post Dustin Williams gets tied up by Goddard post Michael LaBine in the fourth quarter of Saturday’s game at Rock Staubus Gymnasium. To see more photos, visit fnm.mycapture.com

Dexter Correll likes to catch and shoot from the 3-point corners. Jaye Crockett likes to catch and finish slightly above the rim.

These are things a young team learns about itself, and Saturday’s 91-68 win over Goddard at Rock Staubus Gym shows the Clovis Wildcats have been good students.

“We’re jelling together,” said Correll, who scored all nine of his points on spot-up treys. “We’re coming together as a team, not doing things as individuals.”

Clovis (5-3) made quick work of the Rockets, posting a 15-0 run in the first quarter and entertaining the crowd the rest of the night with a series of highlight dunks from Jaye Crockett, who finished with a game-high 34 points.

Goddard coach Kevin Jones conceded that Crockett was going to be tough to stop, but felt the key to Clovis’ dominance came in the half-court defense.

“We don’t do bad against full-court pressure,” Jones said. “We were getting the ball up the floor well, but we just had a really hard time getting shots off.”

That was what coach J.D. Isler said Clovis needed to work on in the days leading up to Saturday’s contest — and 25 Goddard turnovers later, the eighth-year Wildcat coach was pleased.

“I thought it was much better, our half-court defense was much better,” Isler said.

Isler also liked the balanced effort. Just three reached double figures for Clovis, but 12 players scored for the Wildcats and eight finished with at least five points.

“It’s getting better each game,” Isler said. “The team is realizing the more they talk, the less mistakes they’ll make. That is difficult for them, because this is a quiet group, but they’re going to have to (talk).”

Arthur Calbert had 11 points and Bryan Pierson added 10 for Clovis.

Calbert was one of six Clovis players who hit a 3-pointer on the night in a game full of open looks with the Rockets paying extra attention to Crockett.

“Stefan (Mills) causes some of that, too,” Isler said. “His penetration kind of opens it up.”

Mike LaBine was a consistent force for the Rockets with 24 points, but most of Goddard’s other scorers didn’t get involved until Clovis, which led by as much as 35 points, had the game well in hand.

David Vega added 17 and Christian Wilcox had 15 for the Rockets, who host Dexter on Saturday.

The game against the Demons will be a wecome change for Goddard, which hasn’t had an easy schedule of late. The Rockets have lost four of their last five, including a 90-55 blowout to Hobbs at home before coming to Rock Staubus.

“That’s why we play these teams,” Jones said. “We have to be battle-tested and ready to go when district play rolls around.”

Clovis, meanwhile, is off all this week. The Wildcats return to action Dec. 29 in the Milk Cow Classic.

Isler said some of the seniors from last season’s 29-2 Class 5A runnerup are back for the holidays and are helping with practices.

“We can get better, we’ll have a lot of practice and we are going to get four home games in a row,” Isler said.