Tyler Kennedy scored 20 points to lead four in double figures, and the Trinity Christian Lions held off Clovis 71-56 Tuesday night to sweep both games of the cross-state series.

The Lions never trailed after opening the game with a 7-0 burst, and hit 15-of-18 from the free throw line to snap a three-game Clovis winning streak.

“They get ahead, they spread you out,” Clovis coach J.D. Isler said. “You’ve got to keep them from getting to the basket, and that’s pretty hard.”

The Lions had hit 32 3-pointers in their two previous game. This time Trinity Christian hit eight, with Kennedy collecting four of them.

“If he can hit a three now and then,” Isler said, “it gives their team energy. He got 20, but we did a good enough job on them.”

Jaye Crockett had 20 to lead Clovis, while Arthur Calbert added 12 and Bryan Pierson 11.

Isler said foul trouble hurt Clovis most of the night. The Lions were shooting the double bonus late in the third quarter, while the Wildcats weren’t in the first bonus until the final two minutes.

The Wildcats cut the lead to five early in the fourth, but the Lions posted a 23-17 advantage in the final stanza.

“I kept thinking our kids would come back and get it, but they started spreading (their offense). Their guards are going to handle it, they’re going to get fouled and they hit their free throws.”

The Wildcats hit the road again Friday for their District 4-5A opener against rival Hobbs.

Clovis (13-8)
Bryan Pierson 5 0-2 11, Dexter Correll 3 2-2 8, Tanner Adams 1 1-2 4, Jaye Crockett 9 2-4 20, Dustin Williams 0 1-2 1, Arthur Calbert 4 4-5 12, Totals 20 2 10-17 56.
Trinity Christian (25-4)
Parker Wentz 4 4-4 13, John Stephenson 2 0-0 5, Luke Adams 6 0-0 14, Tyler Kennedy 6 4-5 20, John Hurdt 2 0-0 4, Andrew Beck 1 0-0 2, Jonathan Wheeler 3 4-4 10, Cameron Fischenisch 0 3-5 3, Totals 16 8 15-18 71.

Clovis 13 15 11 17 — 56
Trinity 20 19 9 23 — 71

3-pointers — Clovis 2 (Pierson 1, Adams 1) Trinity Christian 8 (Kennedy 4, Adams 2, Wentz 1, Stephenson 1). JV score — Trinity 75, Clovis 57.