The Littlefield Wildcats’ varsity basketball team held off a late push from the Muleshoe Mules on Friday, 53-42, in their first meeting of district play at Wildcat Gym.
With the win, the Wildcats improve to 20-3 overall, 3-1 in district play.
MJ Randle buried a three from the right elbow off of an assist from Ryan Williams to open the contest for Littlefield, but Baylee Lovelady answered with a jumper from the right wing for the Mules to make the score, 3-2. Ryan Williams fired right back with another three from the left elbow off of an assist from Chip Green, but the Mules again responded, as Sergio Magallanes drove to the basket for a lay-up to cut the lead to, 6-4, with 6:44 to play in the opening quarter.
Jeremiah Trevino dropped in a lay-up off of a steal, but Magallanes answered with a three from the left elbow for the Mules, cutting the lead to, 8-7, with 4:48 left to play in the first quarter. Noah Cantu dropped in a put-back to give Muleshoe a brief lead, but it was short-lived, as Omar Martinez grabbed an offensive rebound and hit Trevino, who was cutting to the basket for a lay-up, putting the Wildcats back in front, 10-9.
With just under three minutes to play in the first quarter, Trevino was fouled on an attempt by Aaron Morales; he converted both shots from the line to push their lead to, 12-9. Muleshoe took a time out with 2:48 to play in the quarter to prevent a turnover and out of the break, Morales dropped in a lay-up in transition to cut the lead to one point, 1211. Jayden Barrio answered with a three from the right wing off of an assist from Kam McCarty and McCarty drove to the basket on the next play, dumping the ball off to Trevino for a lay-up, extending their lead to, 17-11.
With under a minute to play, Barrio pulled up for a jumper from the free-throw line, and McCarty followed it up with a steal, taking it to the hoop for a lay-up on the fastbreak to close out the first quarter with Littlefield in front, 21-11.
McCarty opened the second frame with a lay-up on the fast-break off of the outlet pass from Barrio, but Sebastian Kirven responded with a lay-up for the Mules to make the score, 23-13. With 6:37 to play, McCarty drove the left side of the basket for a lay-up, drawing an andone foul on Kirven. He missed the free throw, leaving the score, 25-13.
Jojo Barron took a charge on Ja’Den Williams, but the Mules couldn’t capitalize, as Littlefield regained possession and McCarty dropped in a floater in the lane, pushing their lead to, 27-13, as the Mules took a time out to talk things over with 5:43 to play in the half. Out of the break, Adam Alarcon knocked down a jumper from the top of the key and on the next play, Barron was fouled on an attempt by Barrio; he made one-of-two shots from the line to cut the lead to, 27-16, with 3:02 to play in the half.
Ryan Williams dropped in a layup off of the assist from Ja’Den Williams, but Butler answered with a put-back and Kirven was fouled on their next possession by Ryan Williams, earning a trip to the line. He made both attempts at the line, cutting the lead to single-digits, 2920. McCarty answered with a three from the right elbow off of an assist from Randle, but with time winding down in the half, Lovelady knocked down a jumper from the top of the key to make the score, 32-22, with the Wildcats in front going into the locker room at halftime.
Kirven opened the third quarter with a three from the left wing off of an assist from Lovelady, but on the other end, Trevino dropped in a layup, drawing an and-one foul on Kirven, his third. The free throw was no good, but Ryan Williams was there for the put-back, drawing an and-one foul on Morales, his fourth. He converted the free throw to push their lead to, 37-25.
Alarcon drained a three from the top of the key and Morales followed it up with a lay-up off of an assist from Cantu, slicing the lead to, 3730, with 3:17 to play in the third. Barrio took the pass from Ja’Den Williams and was fouled on an attempt by Cantu. He made-one-oftwo shots from the line, but Alarcon answered with another three, this time from the right elbow, cutting the lead to, 38-33.
Ja’Den Williams dropped in a layup off of an assist from Trevino and Barrio followed it up on the next possession with a pass down low to Trevino, who dropped in a layup to push their lead back out to, 42-33, with just over a minute remaining in the quarter. Ja’Den Williams took a charge on Alarcon, and Trevino hit a step-back three at the buzzer from the left wing to stretch their lead to, 45-33, going into the final quarter of play.
Butler dropped in a lay-up off of a steal from Ja’Den Williams, drawing an and-one foul on Sir Pratt. He converted the free throw to get the lead-back to signle-digits, but on the other end, Pratt dropped in a put-back off of a miss by Ja’Den Williams, making the score, 47-36, with 6:31 to play in the game. Butler sank a three from the left elbow, but McCarty answered with a steal, taking it to the hoop for a lay-up, pushing the lead back out to 10 points, 59-49.
Muleshoe took a time out with 4:11 left to play in the game, and out of the break, Barrio grabbed an offensive rebound and dished it to Pratt, who knocked down a jumper from the right wing to make the score, 51-39. Alarcon answered with a three from the top of the key, as Muleshoe took a full time out with 1:28 to play in the game.
Out of the break, the Wildcats scored on a fast-break to put the game away, as they took the first meeting with the Mules, 53-42.
Trevino led the team in scoring with 15 points, to go along with one rebound, one assist, one steal and one block, while McCarty joined him in double-figures scoring with 13 points, five rebounds, four steals and two assists. Ryan Williams tallied eight points, four rebounds, one assist and one steal, while Barrio contributed six points, five rebounds, three assists and one steal.
Pratt chipped in four points and four rebounds, while Randle chipped in three points, one rebound, one assist and one steal, and Martinez added two points, two rebounds and one steal. Ja’Den Williams chipped in two points, two steals, one rebound and one assist, while Green finished with three steals, two rebounds and one assist.
The Wildcats hosted Denver City on Tuesday. Results were not available at press time. They will continue district play on Friday with a road game against Dimmitt.
Tip-off is scheduled for 7:30 p.m.