The Littlefield Lady Cats’ varsity basketball team grinded out a victory over the Muleshoe Lady Mules, 58-50, taking their season series, 2- 0.
With the win, the Lady Cats improve to 18-8 overall, 8-4 in district play.
Nevaeh Esquibel delivered a block on the defensive end, which led to a fast- break layup by Cali Saldana to open the contest. Melanie Martens took a charge on Cali Saldana and on the next play, Sienna Buenrostro was fouled on an attempt by Ari Castillo. She made one- of- two free throws to get the Lady Mules on the board, by Castillo answered with a drive through the lane for a lay- up to stretch the lead to, 4-1.
Muleshoe answered with a bucket to make it a one- point game, 4- 3, but Castillo responded with a lay- up, drawing an and- one foul on the play. She converted the free throw to push their lead to, 73, as Muleshoe took a time out with 4: 52 to play in the opening quarter. Muleshoe buried a three out of the break and Buenrostro followed it up with another three from the left elbow, putting the Lady Mules in front, 9-7.
Cali Saldana dropped in a lay- up off of an assist from Amoni Jefferson to tie the game, 9- 9. With just under three minutes to play in the first quarter, Jaydaci Olivares knocked down a jumper from the left wing to regain the lead for Muleshoe, but on the other end, Esquibel was fouled on an attempt, earning a trip to the line. She made one- of- two shots from the line to cut the lead to, 11-10.
Olivares was fouled on an attempt by Jefferson and sank both shots from the line extending their lead to, 13- 10. With 1:38 to play in the first quarter, Nia Cleveland was fouled on an attempt by Olivares and converted both shots from the line to cut the Muleshoe lead to one-point, 13-12. Muleshoe knocked down a runner in the lane, but Castillo answered with a lay- up off of an assist from Cleveland to keep it a onepoint game, 15-14.
With time winding down in the quarter, Buenrostro was fouled on an attempt by Bri Martinez. She converted both attempts at the line to make it a three- point game, 17- 14. However, Esquibel dropped in a lay-up at the buzzer off of an assist from Cleveland to make it a one-point game, 17-16.
Cleveland opened the second frame with a put- back off of a miss by Jefferson to regain the lead for Littlefield, but Buenrostro was fouled on an attempt by Cobi Saldana. She split the attempts at the line, tying the game, 18- 18. With 5: 50 to play in the game, Castillo drove the left side for a lay- up, but Muleshoe answered with a three from the right elbow putting the Lady Mules back in front, 21-20.
Megan Moran drained a three from the right elbow to push their lead to, 24- 20, as Littlefield took a time out with 4:53 left to play in the half. Out of the break, Cali Saldana drew a blocking foul on the Lady Mules and converted both shots from the line to make it a one- possession game, 24- 22.
Moran drew a shooting foul on Esquibel and split the attempts at the line, but on the other end, Castillo was fouled on a second-chance attempt by Moran, her second. She split the attempts, trimming the lead to, 25-23. Muleshoe took a time out with 2:48 to play in the first half. Out of the break, Muleshoe knocked down a pair of free throws and Buenrostro followed it up with a lay-up to extend their lead to, 29-23.
Muleshoe dropped in a fastbreak lay- up and on their next possession, Olivares was fouled on the floor by Martinez, her second. She split the free throws pushing their lead to nine points, 32-23. With just over a minute to play in the half, Jefferson split a pair of free throws and followed it up with a steal, pulling up in the lane for a jumper to close out the first half with the Lady Mules in front, 32-26.
Muleshoe opened the second half on a, 5-0, scoring run, before Esquibel drew a shooting foul on Sabryna Sayas. She slit the attempts at the line to cut the lead to 10 points, 3727. With under six minutes to play in the third quarter, Cali Saldana picked up a steal off of a bad pass from Sayas, taking it to the hoop for a fastbreak lay-up, trimming the lead to, 37-29.
Muleshoe drained a three from the right elbow, but Castillo answered with a layup off of an assist from Cali Saldana, making the score, 4031. Muleshoe took a time out with 4: 07 to play in the third, and out of the break, Castillo dropped in a lay- up off of the assist from Jefferson and Jefferson followed it up with a bank shot off of the assist from Cobi Saldana, slicing the lead to, 40-35.
With under two minutes to play in the quarter, Cali Saldana drained a three from the left elbow off of the assist from Martinez, making the score, 40- 38. Buenrostro was fouled on an attempt by Cobi Saldana, his second. She sank both free throws to make it a four-point game, but Jefferson answered with a pull- up from the left wing to cut the lead to, 42-40.
With time winding down in the quarter, Cali Saldana picked up a steal and dished it to Jefferson who dropped in a lay- up to tie the game, 42- 42, going into the final quarter of play.
Martens dropped in a lay-up to open the fourth quarter for Muleshoe and Moran followed it up with a three from the right elbow, making the score, 47-42. With 6: 44 to play in the game, Esquibel was fouled on an attempt, earning a trip to the line. She made one- of- two shots from the line making the score, 47-43. Sayas was fouled on an attempt by Jefferson, her second. She made one- of- two shots from the line, but Esquibel answered with a floater from the right wing, trimming the lead to, 48-45.
Jefferson split a pair of free throws and Cali Saldana followed it up with a put-back off of her own miss to tie the game, 48- 48. Buenrostro responded with a lay- up off of a turnover by Cobi Saldana and Jefferson was called for a charge with 4: 10 to play in the game. Muleshoe took a time out with four minutes remaining, and out of the break, Cobi Saldana picked up a steal and took it to the hoop for a fast- break layup, tying the game, 50-50.
After a Littlefield time out, Castillo was fouled on an attempt by Sayas, her fourth. She converted both shots at the line and after a Muleshoe turnover, Castillo picked up a steal in their own end, making the score, 54-50. With 1:38 remaining, Jefferson was fouled on the floor by Sayas, who fouled out. She converted both shots at the line, stretching their lead to, six points, 56-50.
Castillo sank a pair of free throws to close out the game, 58-50.
Castillo led the team in scoring with a team-high 20 points, while Cali Saldana chipped in 13 points and Jefferson finished with 12 points. Esquibel contributed seven points, while Cleveland added four points and Colbi Saldana finished with two points.
The Lady Cats traveled to Roosevelt on Friday to take on the Lady Eagles. Results were not available at press time. They will close out the regular season on Tuesday with a home game against Dimmitt.
Tip-off is scheduled for 6:30 p.m.