The Sudan Nettes’ varsity basketball team won their tournamentopener in Abernathy Thursday morning over the Muleshoe Lady Mules, 68-35.
With the win, the Nettes improve to 4-1 overall on the season.
Sudan jumped out to a commanding, 24-9, lead at the end of the first quarter.
Blessy Montes opened the second frame with a three from the right wing off of the assist from Kaileigh Greenwalt and Melo Rodriguez followed it up with a fast-break lay-up off of a steal to stretch their lead to, 29- 9. Rodriguez kept it going with a putback off of a miss by Haylee Toscano, but Payton Critchley answered with a lay-up in transition for the Lady Mules, trimming the lead to, 31-11, with 5:22 to play in the first half.
Rodriguez picked up a steal in the half court and took it to the hoop for a fast-break lay-up and she followed it up with a floater in the lane to push their lead to, 3511. Megan Moran dropped in a lay-up in transition, but on the other end Addison Cornelius was fouled on an attempt by Daniella Sanchez, earning a trip to the freethrow line. She made one-of-two shots at the line to stretch the lead to, 36-13.
Natallie Sigala dropped in a layup and the Lady Mules dropped in another lay-up to close out the first half with Sudan in front, 3617.
Edette Herrera was fouled on an attempt to open the second half. She made the first shot and missed the second pushing their lead to, 37-17. The Lady Mules answered with a bucket, but on the other end, Cornelius dropped in a lay-up, drawing an and-one foul on Avery Cantu. She missed the free throw, but Rodriguez was able to gather the offensive rebound with the score, 39-19.
Muleshoe took a time out with 5:11 to play in the third quarter, and out of the break, Edette Herrera was fouled on an attempt by Adalie Agundis; she split the free throws, making the score, 4019, with just over four minutes remaining in the quarter. The Lady Mules dropped in a runner from the right side, but Montes answered with a three from the left wing off of the assist from Toscano, pushing the lead to, 4321, with 2:48 to play in the third.
Lexi Jennings was fouled on the floor by Sanchez and converted both free throws to push the lead to, 45-21, as Sudan took a time out with 2:36 to play in the quarter. Out of the break, Critchley grabbed a steal and took it in for a fast-break lay-up, trimming the lead to, 4523.
Cantu dropped in a lay-up off of an assist from Sigala, but on the other end, Greewalt was fouled on the floor by Cantu, earning a trip to the line. She made oneof- two shots from the line, making the score, 46-25, with 1:21 remaining in the third quarter. Erica Herrera picked up a steal and took it to the hoop for a lay-up and on their next possession, Cornelius was fouled on the floor by Sanchez, sending her to the line for free throws. She made one-oftwo shots from the line, pushing their lead to, 49-25.
Montes picked up a steal and dished the outlet pass ahead to Cornelius, who finished the fastbreak with a lay-up to close out the third quarter with the Nettes in front, 51-25.
Critchley drained a thre from the left elbow to open the final frame for Muleshoe, but Rodriguez answered with a runner off the glass and Toscano followed it up with a fast-break lay-up to stretch the lead to, 55-28. Rylie Woodard dropped in a lay-up for the Lady Mules, but Jennings answered with a jumper from the left wing and Montes hit a cutting Rodriguez on the next play for a lay-up to extend the lead to, 59-30.
With just over five minutes remaining, Rodriguez drove the right side of the basket for a lay-up, and on their next possession Rodriguez was fouled on an attempt by Sanchez, who picked up her fourth foul of the game. Rodriguez converted both free throws and followed it up with a lay-up in transition to make the score, 65-30.
The Lady Mules picked up a steal, as Moran finished off the fast-break with a lay-up, trimming the lead to, 65-32. Montes answered with a three from the left elbow, but on the other end, Cantu was fouled on an attempt by Erica Herrera; she made one-of-two shots at the line, trimming the lead to, 68-33. Critchley knocked down a jumper from the left elbow at the buzzer, as Sudan took the contest, 68-35.
Rodriguez led the team in scoring with 20 points, to go along with 12 rebounds and eight steals, while Montes tallied 16 points, five steals, four rebounds and three assists and Cornelius chipped in 10 points, 12 rebounds and three steals.
Edette Herrera contributed nine points, seven rebounds, four steals, two assists and one block, while Jennings chipped in seven points, two steals and one rebound, and Greenwalt added three points, six steals, four rebounds and three assists.
Toscano chipped in three points, two assists, one block and one rebound, while Erica Herrera tallied two rebounds, two steals and one assist and Humphreys finished with two rebounds.
The Nettes played the winner of Sundown and Nazareth in the second round of the Abernathy Tournament on Friday. Results were not available at press time.