A native of Hobbs, living in Clovis, Katherine Medrano has a lot of mixed emotions when the sports rivals get together as they did Friday night. The Eagles beat Clovis, 88-83, ending Clovis’ dreams for an undefeated basketball season.

Medrano shared her thoughts in an e-mail:

“Wow! What a game! As great as the one two weeks ago. Clovis won that one and Hobbs won this one. What will this Saturday bring? I can’t wait!

“The competition is always fierce (not for the faint at heart), the fans are all a hype. Each team brings their determination and passion for the sport. Fans (moms, pops, sisters, brothers, aunts, uncles, cousins, and people we don’t even know) bring their colors, noise makers, painted faces, popcorn, candy, soda, and words that at times go too far.

Hobbs fans chant “Go Eagles Go.” Clovis fans chant “Wildcats, Wildcats” and simultaneously Hobbs yells “Suck.” I even heard them yell worse. Young and old alike.

You may ask “how do you know?”

I’ll tell you my story: I arrived with my family at the Ralph Tasker arena around 5:15 this past Friday. There wasn’t a seat to be found in Clovis’ “Play Pen” marked by a yellow rope and a set of steps (Clovis does the same thing).

“We exceeded the boundary and had a great seat but for a few moments when a less-than pleasing attendant insisted that we move because that side was for Hobbs fans only! We found another great seat this time on the opposite side of the court. We sat amongst family and friends. They didn’t ask us to leave.

“My son and daughter may have gotten a few glares for wearing their colors on the opposite side, but I told them to wear their PURPLE WITH PRIDE.

“Talk about feeling uncomfortable, try clapping and cheering for both teams in home seating. You might ask ‘Why would you do such a thing?’ I’ll tell you why. I live in Clovis, my kids are Wildcats. I support my community and my nephew, Josh Sanders, who proudly plays for the ‘Black and Gold.’

“I’m proud of both teams!!!

“For the past three years I’ve witnessed Jaden Isler being called ‘daddy’s girl’ and have often said that ‘If he can make it through the taunting he can make it through anything.’

“I’ve attended Hobbs-Clovis games for the past 23 years and have heard players from both teams being heckled, but Isler is the one I remember most.

“Until Friday Night!!!

“Hobbs Eagle Jeff Taylor … what a story! His daddy played for the Hobbs Eagles and went on to play in the NBA. Somewhere along the way he marries a lady from Sweden, has a son, son grows up. Daddy is so proud of what he learned as a Hobbs Eagle that he brings his son thousands of miles from home to be trained on the hardwood floor of the Great Ralph Tasker Arena. I’m sure he misses his parents. Good thing that his grandmother and uncle are there to support him.

“Jeff was taunted by Clovis fans chanting ‘USA, USA, USA.’ Somewhere in there I heard ‘Go home.’ He could have gone to Anywhere, Planet Earth, but he chose to come to our Great Country and our Great State.

“Our community is made up of people from all over the world. Military families choose Cannon as a place to serve our country. Some move away and come back here to retire. Of all the places in the world they choose Clovis, N.M., USA.

“I was born and raised in Hobbs, but I choose to live in Clovis. Don’t forget that we all originated from somewhere else.

“Did I mention that there is a game at “The Rock” this Saturday? I can’t promise who will go home the winner, but I can promise that there will be popcorn, soda, candy, noisemakers, moms and pops, painted faces, stomping and cheering, booing at the referees, great rivalry (not for the faint at heart), and hopefully a lot more ‘Fan-Manship.’

“I will be the one cheering for both teams and screaming really loud for my nephew.

“Make me proud Clovis!!!”

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