Clovis guard Bryan Pierson gets a handle on the ball on a first-quarter layup attempt in Monday night’s season opener at Rock Staubus Gymnasium. Pierson had six points in Clovis’ 78-53 win.

Jaye Crockett throws down a dunk over Dumas forward Terrance Williams in the first quarter of Monday night’s season opener at Rock Staubus Gymnasium. Crockett scored 28 points in Clovis’ 78-53 win.

Clovis guard Tanner Adams goes up for the fast-break layup as Dumas guard Eric Whitfield backs off on defense in Monday night’s season opener at Rock Staubus Gymnasium. Adams scored two points in Clovis’ 78-53 win.

If Clovis isn’t ready by now — and the first few minutes might have indicated that — they’ll be ready well before 2009 rolls around.

The Wildcats recovered from a shaky first quarter, and dominated the rest of the way in a 78-53 season-opening win against the overmatched Dumas Demons on Monday night at Rock Staubus Gymnasium.

Senior Jaye Crockett dominated with 28 points for Clovis, which plays seven more games in the next 12 days, and is back in action tonight at Canyon, Texas.

“I guess you can say it was by design,” Clovis coach J.D. Isler said of the schedule, which is heavy on games early and light once district play comes around. “It makes it difficult early on, but it’s necessary.”

In a balanced effort, 10 players scored for the Wildcats and two others scored 11 to join Crockett in double figures — junior post Logan Turnbow and senior guard Dexter Correll, who scored seven unanswered to open the second quarter and give the Wildcats the lead for good.

Senior guard Bryan Pierson, who added six points for Clovis, said Crockett probably will score the bulk of the points with help from his supporting cast while he figures the Wildcats won’t fall into early problems like the 13-4 deficit they faced five minutes into the game.

“Everyone was nervous, I was nervous,” Pierson said. “We got the first game out of the way. We’re going to come in with a better attitude (Tuesday) and just be ready to play.”

The Demons (6-5) couldn’t build on their early momentum, but coach Chris Packer felt the Wildcat rally was inevitable.

“They’re a good team, an exceptional team,” Packer said. “In order to get better, you’re going to have to play teams like that.”

Packer said the undersized Demons couldn’t do much against Crockett, who he called every bit as good as advertised. The Texas Tech-bound Crockett hit one of Clovis’ three 3-pointers and had three dunks.

“The good thing about Jaye is we can move him around,” Isler said. “We don’t have to put him on the block where people can double-team him to death.”

Terrance Williams scored 19 to lead Dumas, which faces Plainview next Tuesday. Garrett Thompson added 13 and Eric Whitfield 12 for the Demons.

Following the Wildcats’ game at Canyon, they will get back to action Thursday for a tournament in Albuquerque Academy, visit Canyon Randall on Monday and host Portales on Dec. 16.

Clovis was without senior guard Stefan Mills, who was held out for precautionary reasons due to a bone bruise.