The Littlefield Lady Cats’ varsity basketball team moved one step closer to an undefeated district record, as they went on the road and took down the Brownfield Lady Cubs on Friday, 34-31.
With the win, the Lady Cats improve to 20-9 overall, 11-0 in district play.
Kennadi Hanlin opened the contest with a steal and was fouled on the fast-break attempt by Kyndal Huerta; she converted both shots at the line to put the Lady Cats in front, 2-0, with 5:32 remaining in the opening quarter. Madison McNeese followed it up with a three from the left wing and kept the run going with a put-back off of a miss by Amiah Elizondo to stretch their lead to, 7-0.
The Lady Cubs took a time out with 3:56 to play in the first quarter, and out of the break, Kaylynn Fininen dropped in a lay-up off of an assist from Lucy Guzman. Elizondo answered with a lay-up off of the assist from McNeese, but Fininen responded with a drive to the basket for a lay-up to trim the lead to, 9-4. With 2:13 to play in the quarter, McNeese knocked downa three from the right elbow to extend their lead to, 12-4, but on the next play, Alley Coffey was fouled on an attempt by Elizondo, earning a trip to the line. She made one-oftwo shots at the line to make the score, 12-5.
With 1:15 remaining in the quarter, McNeese pulled up for a jumper in the lane and with time winding down in the first, Kyndal Edgemon grabbed a defensive rebound and dished the outlet pass down court to Maerysa Saenz, who finished off the play with a lay-up in transition to close out the quarter with the Lady Cats in front, 16-5.
Hanlin opened the second frame with a three from the right elbow off of an assist from McNeese, but Huerta answered with a three from the right elbow, off of an assist from Coffey, trimming the lead to, 19-8, with 4:27 to play in the half. Just over a minute later, Fininen dropped in a reverse lay-up for the Lady Cubs to cut the lead to single-digits, 19-10.
However, on the other end, Arianna Cruz grabbed an offensive rebound and went back up for the lay-up to make the score, 19-12, with under three minutes to play in the half. Rhianna Miranda knocked down a runner off the glass for Brownfield, but in the closing seconds of the half, McNeese drained a three from the top of the key, making the score, 24-12, going into the locker room at halftime.
McNeese opened the second half with a three from the left elbow off of an assist from Hanlin and Cruz followed it up with a jumper from the right wing, off of the inbound pass from McNeese, making the score, 29-12, with just under seven minutes to play in the third quarter.
Brownfield would respond, as Kayleigh Saldana dropped in a layup in transition and Miranda followed it up with a floater from the right elbow, making the score, 2916. With 2:29 to play in the third, Coffey was fouled on an attempt by Cruz; she made one-of-two shots at the line, trimming the lead to, 2917. Miranda dropped in a lay-up off of an assist from Jaelyn Molina, prompting Littlefield to take a time out with 1:17 to play in the quarter. Out of the break, Amery Pauda buried a three from the top of the key, slicing the lead to, 29-22, going into the fourth quarter of play.
Fininen spun to the basket for a lay-up to open the fourth quarter, and on their next possession, Miranda was fouled on an attempt by Elizondo. She split the free throws to make it a two-possession game, as Brownfield took a time out to talk things over. With 5:31 remaining in the contest, Saldana went coast-to-coast for a lay-up off the glass to make it a one-possession game, 29-27.
With just under three minutes remaining, Hanlin picked up a steal in the back court and was fouled on the shot attempt by Miranda. She converted both free throws to stretch their lead back out to 31-27. Edgemon hit a cuting McNeese for a lay-up, but on the other end, Coffey dropped in a lay-up, drawing an and-one foul on Hanlin. She missed the free throw leaving the score, 33-29.
Both teams took a time out and with under a minute to play, McNeese was fouled on the floor by Coffey, earning a one-in-one opportunity at the line. She split the free throws to extend their lead to five points, 34-29. Coffey dropped in a lay-up in the closing seconds, as Littlefield held on to defeat the Lady Cubs, 34-31.
The Lady Cats were led in scoring by McNeese, who tallied 19 points. Hanlin chipped in seven points, while Cruz contributed four points and Elizondo and Saenz each added two points.
The Lady Cats closed out the regular season on Tuesday at home for senior night against Dimmitt. Results were not available at press time. They will continue their season when the first round of the playoffs start. Match-ups are TBA.