First-year Clovis High girls coach Jeff Reed is hoping to see his team challenged tonight.

He expects the Lady Wildcats will get a test when they take on Roswell High at 7 p.m. on the opening night of the Milk Cow Classic.

Saturday, Clovis faces Roswell Goddard in the finale of the four-team event. Rio Rancho plays the 5:30 p.m. game each night, trading opponents with the Lady Cats.

Roswell High brings a 14-3 record and a nine-game winning streak into tonight’s contest.

“We need to play Roswell at this time just so we can get better,” Reed said. “We need to be challenged, and we haven’t really been challenged since the Canyon game (a 55-34 loss  on Jan. 13).

“We’re going to have to be able to play well in tight games.”

Reed said the Lady Coyotes, who beat Hobbs at home 51-36 on Tuesday, are led by 5-foot-11 senior center Chantale Riddle and 5-11 sophomore guard Shanice Steenholdt.

Goddard has struggled in recent seasons. The Lady Rockets, though, may have built a little momentum by winning two of their last three — both victories at the expense of Lovington.

Reed said he doesn’t know much about the Lady Rockets and plans to scout them on Friday night.

“We’ve just got to take them one at a time,” he said.

CHS GAMEDAY
What: Milk Cow Classic
Where: Rock Staubus Gym
Today’s games: Roswell Goddard JV vs. Rio Rancho JV, 4 p.m.; Roswell Goddard (4-12) vs. Rio Rancho (15-1), 5:30 p.m.; Roswell High (14-3) vs. Clovis (13-4), 7 p.m.
Saturday’s games: Rio Rancho JV vs. Clovis JV, 4 p.m.; Roswell High vs. Rio Rancho, 5:30 p.m.; Roswell Goddard vs. Clovis, 7 p.m.
Clovis on radio: KCLV-FM 99.1.
On the Net: kclvsports.com.
Notes: The Lady Wildcats come into tonight’s game with nine wins in their last 10 games, while Roswell High has won nine in a row since a 51-43 loss at Las Cruces High on Dec. 20. … With their 49-39 win over Portales on Tuesday, the Lady Cats exceeded their win total for last season (12-17). … Clovis will face both Roswell schools again at home later this season, hosting Goddard on Jan. 31 and Roswell High on Feb. 13.

— Compiled by Dave Wagner