Lady Cat Magic was in full effect on Tuesday night, as the Littlefield Lady Cats’ varsity basketball team edged out the Slaton Tigerettes in regulation, 51-50, on a last second buzzer beater by Cali Saldana.
With the win, the Lady Cats improve to 9-8 overall, 2-1 in district play.
Kaitlyn Parker opened the contest with a jumper from the top of the key for Slaton, but Amoni Jefferson answered with a leaner in the lane to tie the game, and Cali Saldana followed it up with a jumper from the left wing, off of the assist from Madison Williams to put the Lady Cats in front, 4-2. Ari Castillo drove the left wing for a lay-up off of the assist from Williams and Castillo followed it up with another lay-up on the left side, stretching the lead to, 6-2, with 5:08 to play in the opening quarter.
Jefferson picked up a steal in their own end and dished it to Williams for a lay-up, but Slaton would respond, as Serenity McNabb hit Parker in transition for a lay-up to trim the lead to, 8-4, with just under four minutes to play in the first quarter. Brocoiya Harris dropped in a lay-up in transition and on their next possession, Saibree Gonzales was fouled in transition by Williams, earning a trip to the line. She converted both free throws to tie the game, 8-8.
With 2:47 left to play in the first quarter, Cali Saldana knocked down a three from the right elbow off of the assist from Jefferson and Jefferson followed it up with a layup off of a Slaton turnover, drawing an and-one foul on Sabibree Gonzales. She converted the free throw, stretching their lead back out to, 14-8.
Gonzales knocked down a jumper from the left elbow for Slaton and Kolbi McCord followed it up with a lay-up to make it a one-possession game, 14-12, with 1:49 to play in the quarter. Slaton would go on an, 8-2, scoring run to close out the first quarter, leading the Lady Cats, 20-16.
Cali Saldana opened the second frame with a three from the right elbow off of the assist from Jefferson and Jefferson followed it up with a jumper from the right elbow, putting them back in front, 21-20, with just over seven minutes left to play in the first half.
Slaton took a time out with 6:30 left in the half, and out of the break, Cali Saldana drained another three from the right wing, off of the assist from Nevaeh Esquibel, pushing their lead to, 24-20. Gonzales dropped in a lay-up to end the scoring drought for Slaton, but on the other end, Jefferson was fouled on a put-back attempt by Parker. She made one-of-two shots from the line, but McCord responded with a three from the left wing to tie the game, 25-25.
With just over two minutes to play in the half, Harris dropped in a lay-up, drawing an and-one foul on Castillo. She converted the free throw to make it a three-point game, but Castillo responded, as she picked up a steal on their own end and dropped in the lay-up, making the score, 28-27. Jefferson split a pair of free throws to close out the first half for the Lady Cats with the game tied, 28-28.
Williams opened the second half with a jumper from the left elbow, but Parker responded with a layup to keep the game tied, 30-30. Cali Saldana knocked down another three from the right elbow for the Lady Cats, but on the other end Kamryn Barrera was fouled on an attempt by Castillo, her third, earning a trip to the line. She made one-of-two shots from the line, making the score, 33-31, with 5:42 to play in the quarter.
Jefferson drove to the basket for a lay-up and Esquibel drained a three from the left wing, off of the assist from Cali Saldana, pushing their lead to, 38-31, with 4:28 to play in the third. Harris hit Barrera in transition for a lay-up, as Slaton took a time out to talk things over. Out of the break, Gonzales hit a jumper from the left wing, and after a Littlefield time out, Barrera drove the right side for a lay-up, slicing the lead to one point, 38-37.
With under a minute to go in the quarter, Esquibel was fouled by Gonzales, her third; she split the free throws, but Gonzales drove the left baseline for a lay-up to tie the game, 39-39, going into the final quarter of play.
Barrera opened the fourth quarter with a three from the right wing to regain the lead for Slaton, but it was short- lived, as Jefferson drove the lane, kicking it out to Williams, who buried a three from the right wing to tie the game, 4242. Littlefield took a time out with 5:54 to play in the game, and out of the break, Jefferson dished the ball to Nia Cleveland under the basket for a lay-up to regain the lead for Littlefield, 44-42.
McCord drained a three from the left elbow for Slaton, but Jefferson answered with a lay-up off of the assist from Esquibel, giving Littlefield a one-point lead, as Slaton took a time out with 3:31 left to play. Out of the break, McCord took a charge on Esquibel and the Tigerettes were able to capitalize, as Harris grabbed a steal and went coast-to-coast for a layup, making the score, 47-46.
After a Littlefield time out, Esquibel was fouled by Harris and converted both free throws to give the Lady Cats a one-point lead, 48-47. With under 20 seconds to play, McCord was fouled on an attempt by Esquibel, her fourth; she converted both free throws to give Slaton a one-point lead, 4948.
Castillo turned the ball over with 2.5 seconds to play and McCord was quickly fouled by Cali Saldana, sending her to the line for free throws. She missed the first and made the second to make the score, 50-48, with 1.57 seconds remaining. Littlefield advanced the ball to midcourt before a time out was called with .58 seconds to play. The inbound pass out of the break went to Cali Saldana running across half court, as she fired up a prayer that found the bottom of the net to lift the Lady Cats past Slaton, 51-50, in regulation.
The Lady Cats were led by Cali Saldana, who netted 17 points. She was joined in double-figures scoring by Jefferson, who tallied 13 points. Williams contributed nine points, while, Esquibel tallied six points, and Castillo added four points. Cleveland finished with two points in the contest.
The Lady Cats hosted Shallowater on Friday as district play continued. Results were not available at press time. They will continue their season on Dec. 27th when they begin play at the Wildcats Classic. Brackets can be found in this edition of the Leader-News.