The Littlefield Wildcats’ varsity basketball team cruised past Muleshoe on Tuesday, 70-27, to take their season series with the Mules, 2-0.
With the win, the Wildcats improve to 17-8 overall, 6-4 in district play.
Chip Green buried a three from the right elbow off of an assist from Jayden Barrio to open the contest and Barrio followed it up with a lay-up off of a steal to make the score, 5-0. Yahir Quezada answered with a three from the top of the key for Muleshoe, but the Wildcats responded, as Barrio hit Ryan Williams with a no look pass in the lane, as Williams finished the play with a floater to make the score, 7-3, with 4:33 to play in the opening quarter.
Aaron Morales drained a three from the right corner, as Littlefield took a time out with 3:07 to play in the first quarter, leading, 7-6. Out of the break, Morales dropped in a lay-up, drawing an and-one foul on Barrio. He converted the free throw to put the Mules in front, 97, but it was short-lived, as Green drained a three from the left elbow off of an assist from Williams and Williams followed it up with a three from the left corner off of the assist from Barrio to put the Wildcats back in front, 13-9.
With 1:47 remaining in the quarter, Green picked up a steal and knocked down a three from the right elbow and on the next play, Green hit Barrio in transition for a lay-up to push their lead to, 18-9. Morales was fouled on an attempt by Nate Castaneda with under a minute to play. He made one-oftwo shots from the line, but Green answered with a three from the left elbow off of the assist from Williams, making the score, 21-10, as the first quarter came to a close.
Green opened the second quarter with a three from the left elbow off of the assist from Barrio, making the score, 24-10. With 6:25 to play in the half, Brayton Butler dropped in a lay-up, drawing an and-one foul on Eizeah Coleman. He missed the free throw, leaving the score, 24-12. Williams responded with a lay-up, drawing an and-one foul on Avy Elizalde. He converted the free throw to make the score, 27-12, and on the defensive end, Jose Payan took a charge on Quezada to regain possession for Littlefield.
Green used a euro-step to get into the paint for a lay-up, but the Mules answered with a quick bucket to make the score, 29-14. With 2:56 to play in the half, Coleman drained a three from the top of the key and on their next possession, Williams was fouled on the floor by Ethan Whitworth. He sank both shots from the line to push their lead to, 34-14.
With time winding down in the half, Coleman sank a deep three from the left side to close out the first half with the Wildcats in front, 37-14.
Williams opened the third quarter with a drive, dumping the ball off to Ben Castillo for a lay-up, stretching the lead to, 39-14. Morales knocked down a short jumper from the right side for the Mules, but Castillo answered with a drive to the basket for a lay-up to make the score, 41-16.
Green picked up a steal and got it ahead to Castillo on the break for a lay-up and Williams followed it up with a floater from the left side off of the assist from Barrio, making the score, 45- 16, as Muleshoe took a time out with 4:42 to play in the third quarter. Out of the break, Castillo buried a three from the left elbow and Green followed it up with a steal and a fastbreak lay-up, drawing an and-one foul on Whitworth. He missed the free throw leaving the score, 5016.
Andrew Davis knocked down a three from the right wing, off of the assist from Green, pushing their lead to, 53-16. With just over three minutes to go in the third quarter, Morales was fouled on an attempt by Coleman, his second. He split the attempts at the line, trimming the lead to, 53- 17. Quezada drained a three from the right elbow, but Davis answered with a floater in the lane, stretching the lead to, 55-20.
With under a minute to go in the third quarter, Quezada drove the left side for a lay-up, trimming the lead to, 55-22, going into the final quarter of play.
Williams drove the left side for a lay-up to open the fourth quarter, but Butler answered with a three for the Mules to trim the lead to, 57-25. Williams, would fire right back with back-to-back threes and he followed it up with a steal on the defensive end, taking it to the hoop for a lay-up, making the score, 65-25, with just over five minutes left to play in the game.
Butler drew a block on Caden Reyes and sank both free throws, but Davis answered with a putback off of a miss by Coleman, making the score, 67-27. Reyes followed it up with a three from the top of the key and Coleman took a charge on Butler, as Littlefield took the contest, 70-27.
The Wildcats were led by Williams, who finished with a gamehigh 22 points, to go along with nine rebounds, five assists and five steals. Green chipped in 19 points, seven steals five assists and five rebounds, while Castillo contributed nine points, five rebounds and one steal, and Davis added seven points and one rebound.
Coleman contributed six points and five rebounds, while Barrio added four points, seven assists, two rebounds and one steal, and Reyes finished with three points, four rebounds and one steal.
The Wildcats were at Roosevelt on Friday to take on the Eagles. Results were not available at press time. They will continue their season on Tuesday with a home game against Dimmitt.
Tip-off is scheduled for 7:30 p.m.