The Littlefield Wildcats’ varsity basketball team defended their home court on Tuesday, as they took down the Dimmitt Bobcats in their first meeting of district play, 76-44.
With the win, the Wildcats improve to 3-2 in district play.
Nate Castaneda tipped the opening tip- off to Sammy Saenz, who dropped in a quick bucket for the Wildcats, but Ga’Quorie Chatham answered with a lay-up for the Bobcats to tie the game, 22. Jayden Barrio raced down the floor and dropped in another quick lay-up for the Wildcats, but the Bobcats again, answered, as Justin Saenz dropped in a lay-up through contact to tie the game, 4-4.
With just under seven minutes to go in the opening quarter, Sammy Saenz buried a three from the left elbow, off of an assist from Andrew Davis, but Chatham responded with a lay-up on the other end to make it a one-point game, 7-6. Barrio dished a pass to Castaneda, who hit Elijah Rodriguez for a lay-up and Rodriguez followed it up with another lay-up on their next possession to stretch their lead to, 11-6, with 5:51 to play in the first quarter.
Justin Saenz answered with a three from the left elbow, off of an assist from Frankie Cortez, and Rudy Fuentes followed it up with a lay-up, off of an assist from Keenan Hernandez, tying the game, 11-11. On the other end, Barrio would drop in a lay-up, drawing an and- one foul on Justin Saenz. He converted the free throw to make the score, 14-11.
Davis buried a three from the left wing, off of the assist from Barrio, as Dimmitt took a time out with 3:18 remaining in the first quarter, trailing, 17-11. Out of the break, Cortez knocked down a jumper from the left elbow, but Sammy Saenz answered with a three from the left wing, off of the assist from Barrio and he closed out the quarter with a lay-up, pushing their lead to, 22-13, heading into quarter number two.
Sammy Saenz picked up where he left off to begin the second quarter, as he grabbed a steal and took it the other way for a fastbreak lay-up, and he followed it up with a three from the top of the key, extending their lead to, 27-13. Barrio kept it going with a layup through contact, and on their next possession, Barrio drew a shooting foul on Chatham. He made one-oftwo- shots at the line, making the score, 30-13, with 5:40 left to play in the half.
With just over five minutes to play in the half, Chatham took a charge on Barrio, and the Bobcats followed it up, as Baylor Navarro drained a three from the right wing, trimming the lead to, 30-16. Littlefield took a time out with 4:30 to play in the half, and out of the break, Sammy Saenz drove the left side for a lay-up, drawing an and- one foul on Chatham, his second of the game. The free throw was no good, but Sammy Saenz got his own rebound, which led to Davis driving the right side for a lay-up, pushing their lead to, 34-16.
With 3:12 to play in the half, Hernandez was fouled on the floor by Jose Payan, his second of the game. He converted both shots at the line and Cortez followed it up with a fast break lay-up to trim the lead to, 34-20, but on the other end, Castaneda buried a three from the right wing, off of an assist from Sammy Saenz to end Dimmitt’s rally, pushing the lead to, 3720.
With just under two minutes to play in the half, Cortez drove the left side for a lay-up and on the defensive end, Hernandez took a charge on Rodriguez, his second of the game. With time winding down in the half, Castaneda dished the ball to Barrio, who hit Sammy Saenz underneath for a lay-up to close out the first half leading the Bobcats, 39-22.
Barrio opened the second half with back- to- back threes and Sammy Saenz followed it up with a lay-up off of a steal, stretching their lead back out to, 47-22. Littlefield dropped in an- other bucket, before Benny Navarro dropped in a floater from the right side, drawing an and-one foul on Davis, his second. The free throw was no good, but the ball went out of bounds off of Littlefield.
With 5:25 to play in the third quarter, Sammy Saenz picked up a steal on the inbound play from the sideline and dished it to Castaneda for a lay- up, making the score, 51-24. Sammy Saenz would grab a defensive rebound on the next play, dishing the outlet pass down court to Barrio for an easy lay-up and on their next possession, Sammy Saenz was fouled on an attempt by Jadrian Herrera. He made one- of- two shots at the line, making the score, 5427, with 3:38 left to play in the third quarter.
Herrera drained a three from the right wing to end the scoring drought for Dimmitt, but Castaneda answered with a lay-up, off of an assist from Soliz, making the score, 56-27. Herrera would knock down another three from the right elbow for the Bobcats, and on their next possession, he was fouled on the floor by Sammy Saenz, his second. Herrera made the first shot and missed the second, but the ball went out of bounds off of Payan with under a minute remaining in the quarter.
The Wildcats would regain possession, as Barrio drained a three from the top of the key, off of an assist from Saenz to close out the third quarter with Littlefield in front, 59-31.
Ben Castillo tipped an offensive rebound out to Payan, who hit Barrio for a lay-up, and Barrio followed it up with a jumper from the left wing to stretch their lead to, 63-31. With 5: 35 left to play, Sammy Saenz drove the middle for a lay-up, but on the other end, Cortez was fouled on an attempt by Sammy Saenz, his third. Cortez made one-of-two shots from the line and followed it up with a back door pass to Kaden Carpio for a lay-up, trimming the lead to, 65-34.
Rodriguez dropped in a put-back off of a miss by Sammy Saenz, drawing an and-one foul on Chatham, his third. The free throw was good and Castaneda followed it up with a layup for the Wildcats, pushing their lead to, 70-34, with just under three minutes to go in the game.
Dimmitt scored back-toback buckets, but Rodriguez answered with a put-back, before getting called for a charge on the next play, giving him his fourth foul of the game with 1:31 to play. Chatham dropped in a put-back off of a miss by Cortez and Justin Saenz followed it up with a pass to Hernandez for a fast- break lay- up, trimming the lead to, 7242.
Castillo scored back-toback lay-ups for the Wildcats, but Justin Saenz knocked down a pair of free throws for the Bobcats to close out the game, as Littlefield took the contest, 76-44.
Saenz led the way for the Wildcats with 24 points, while Barrio tallied 23 points, and Rodriguez contributed 11 points.
Castaneda chipped in nine points, while Davis added five points, and Castillo finished with four points in the contest.
The Wildcats were at Idalou on Friday for their first meeting of district play. Results were not available at press time. They will continue district play on Tuesday with a road game against Shallowater.
Tip-off is scheduled for 7:30 p.m.