The Littlefield Lady Cats’ varsity basketball team went on the road Friday night and took down the Muleshoe Lady Mules, 72-39, as district play resumed.
With the win, the Lady Cats improve to 13-6 overall, 3-2 in district play.
Madison Williams opened the contest with a drive to the right side of the basket for a lay-up and Amoni Jefferson followed it up with a lay-up off of a steal to make the score, 4-0, with 6:30 left to play in the opening quarter. Cali Saldana kept the run going, as she buried a three from the left elbow off of the assist from Jefferson to stretch their lead to, 7-0.
Ari Castillo was called for a charge, but the Lady Cats would regain possession, as Cali Saldana picked up a steal and was fouled on the fast- break attempt by Melanie Martens. She converted both shots at the line to push the lead to, 9-0, with 5:31 left to play in the first quarter. Martens answered with a lay-up in transition to get the Lady Mules on the board, but Littlefield would fire right back, as Castillo dropped in a put-back off of a miss by Williams to make the score, 9-2.
Castillo dropped in another putback off of a miss by Williams, but SiennaBuentrostro drained a three from the left wing to cut the lead to, 11-5, with 4:21 to play in the quarter. On the other end, Cali Saldana drove the right side for a lay-up, drawing an and-one foul on Buentrostro. She missed the free throw, but Nia Cleveland was there for the offensive rebound and the put-back to stretch their lead to, 15-5.
Buentrostro dropped in a layup for Muleshoe, but on the other end, Cleveland hit Castillo for a lay-up to make the score, 17-7, with 3:27 left to play in the quarter. Buentrostro kept the Lady Mules close, as she knocked down another three from the left elbow and Jadaci Olivarez followed it up with a three from the left wing to cut the lead to, 4 points, 17-13. With under a minute to go in the first quarter, Nevaeh Esquibel drained a three from the right wing off of the assist from Jefferson and Cleveland followed it up with a put-back off of a miss by Bri Martinez, stretching the lead back out to, 22-13, as the first quarter came to a close.
Esquibel got the second frame going with a drive and kick out to Jefferson on the left wing, who buried the three to push their lead to, 25-13. Esquibel followed it up with a runner from the right side and Castillo drove in on their next possession, dishing the ball across the lane to Williams, who knocked down a short jumper from the left side, making the score, 2913, with 5:53 to play in the first half.
Adalie Agundis was fouled on the floor by Williams and sank both free throws to end the scoring drought for Muleshoe, but on the other end, Jefferson was fouled on an attempt by Natallie Sigala with 2:40 left to play in the third second quarter. She made one-of-two shots from the line, but Buentrostro answered with a three from the right elbow to trim the lead to, 30-19. Muleshoe took a time out with 21.7 seconds to play in the half, and out of the break, Agundis buried a three from the right wing to make it an eight-point Littlefield lead, 30-22, going into the locker room at halftime.
Castillo opened the second half with a pass down low to Cali Saldana for a lay-up and Esquibel followed it up with a drive to the basket for a lay-up, pushing the lead back out to, 34-22, with 6:27 to play in the third quarter. Jefferson picked up a steal from Sabryna Sayas and got it ahead to Cali Saldana on the fast-break for a lay-up, as Muleshoe took a time out trailing, 36-22.
Out of the break, Castillo picked up a steal and took it in for a layup and the Lady Cats kept up the defensive pressure, as Williams picked up a steal and took it to the hoop for a lay-up to extend their lead to, 40-22, with 5:31 left to play in the quarter. Buentrostro was fouled on an attempt by Cali Saldana and sank both free throws to trim the lead to, 40-24. But, on the other end, Castillo dropped in a floater in the lane to make the score, 42-24.
Olivarez knocked down a jumper from the top of the key and Buentrostro dropped in a lay-up in transition, but on the other end, Castillo answered with a lay-up, drawing an and- one foul on Agundis. She sank the free throw to make the score, 45-28, with just over two minutes remaining in the quarter. Jefferson picked up a steal, dishing it ahead to Esquibel, who then hit Castillo, who was fouled on the shot attempt by Sayas. She made one-of-two shots from the line, making the score, 46-28, with 1:33 to play in the quarter.
Esquibel delivered a block on Buentrostro on the left wing, as the loose ball was gathered by Cali Saldana, who took it the other way for a lay-up in transition, pushing their lead to 20 points, 48-28. With just under a minute to play, Muleshoe took a full time out, and out of the break, Castillo picked up a steal in their own end and dropped it in for an easy lay-up to close out the third quarter with the Lady Cats in front, 50-28.
The Lady Cats opened the fourth quarter with back-to-backto- back buckets by Castillo, Jefferson and Cali Saldana, stretching their lead to, 56-28. Cali Saldana kept it going with another lay-up off of a steal, as Muleshoe took a time out with 6:59 to play in the game, trailing the Lady Cats, 58-28. Out of the break, Megan Moran knocked down a three from the right elbow, but Jefferson answered with a lay-up off of a Muleshoe turnover and Cali Saldana followed it up with a three from the right wing to make the score, 63-31, with 4:34 left to play.
Jefferson picked up a steal and dropped it in for a lay-up, but Moran answered with a three from the left elbow, as Muleshoe took a time out with 2:57 to play, trailing, 65-34. Out of the break, Esquibel drove the middle for a lay-up, but Agundis again answered with a three from the top of the key, making the score, 67-37.
Agundis dropped in a lay-up for the Lady Mules, but Esquibel answered, as she drove the middle for a lay-up and on their next possession, Williams was fouled on the floor by Sigala, her second. She made both shots at the line and with time winding down, Cobi Saldana was fouled on the floor by Agundis, her second. She split the free throws, as Littlefield went on to take the contest, 72-39.
The Lady Cats were led in scoring by Cali Saldana, who finished with 20 points, as one-of-four Lady Cats in double-figures scoring. Castillo tallied 16 points, while Jefferson chipped in 12 points and Esquibel added 11 points. Williams contributed eight points, while Cleveland added four points and Cobi Saldana finished with one point in the contest.
The Lady Cats hosted Roosevelt on Tuesday. Results were not available at press time. They will wrap up the first half of district play at Dimmitt on Friday.
Tip-off is scheduled for 6:15 p.m.