The Littlefield Wildcats’ varsity basketball team got off to a quick start on Tuesday, as they cruised past the Muleshoe Mules, 47-15, in their first meeting of district play.
With the win, the Wildcats improve to 15-10 overall, 53 in district play.
Josue Sigala was fouled on an attempt by Andrew Davis to begin the contest. He made one-of-two shots at the line to put the Mules in front, 1-0, as Littlefield took a time out to talk things over with 5:02 remaining in the opening quarter. Out of the break, Luis Valles used a pump fake to move Nate Castaneda, as he knocked down a short jumper from the left side, but Jayden Barrio answered with a three from the left wing, off of the assist from Davis, tying the game, 3-3.
With 3:52 remaining in the quarter, Castaneda took a charge on Sigala, and Barrio followed it up with a three from the left wing, off of an assist from Sammy Saenz, making the score, 63. On their next possession, Barrio drove the left side, kicking the ball out to Castaneda, who buried another three for the Wildcats, stretching the lead to, 9-3.
Jose Payan kept it going with a three from the top of the key, off of the assist from Barrio, as Muleshoe called a time out to try and slow the Wildcats momentum, trailing, 12-3, with 1:19 to play in the first quarter. Out of the break, Barrio dropped in a put-back off of a miss by Blayton Soliz, but with time winding down in the quarter, Ram Regalado knocked down a fade-away from the right side to make the score, 145, going into quarter number two.
Payan drove the right side, kicking it across to Barrio, who buried a three from the left wing, but with 2:41 to play in the half, Brayton Butler was fouled on an attempt by Barrio, his second of the game. Butler converted one-of-two shots at the line, trimming the lead to, 17-6. On the other end, Soliz would save a ball under the basket, that led to a floater from Barrio in the lane, pushing the Littlefield lead to, 19-6.
Barrio drained a three from the right wing, and in the closing seconds of the half, he pulled up and nailed a three from the logo, extending their lead to, 25-6, going into the locker room at halftime.
Saenz opened the second half with a steal, taking it to the hoop for a fast-break lay-up, and he followed it up with a three from the left wing, stretching their lead to, 30-6. With 4:29 to play in the third quarter, Noah Hernandez was fouled on an attempt by Elijah Rodriguez. He split the attempts at the line, but Saenz answered with another three for the Wildcats, pushing their lead to, 33-7.
Butler knocked down a pair of free throws for the Mules, after Saenz picked up his third foul of the game, and on their next possession, Sigala was fouled on an attempt by Davis, his second of the game. He made one- of- two shots from the line, trimming the lead to, 33-10. With 1:28 to play in the quarter, Barrio dropped in a put-back off of a miss by Castillo, making the score, 35-10.
Soliz scored a lay-up off of an assist from Castillo, drawing an and-one foul on Valles. He missed the free throw, but followed it up with a poke away on defense, which was picked up by Barrio, who took it to the hoop for a fast-break layup to close out the quarter with Littlefield in front, 3910.
Littlefield took a time out to open the fourth quarter, and out of the break, Castillo dropped in a reverse lay-up, off of an assist from Davis, but Hernandez answered with a lay-up, off of an assist from Butler, making the score, 41- 12. Chase Coronado dropped in a layup and on their next possession, Davis was fouled on an attempt by Hernandez, his second of the game. Davis split the shots at the line extending their lead to, 44-15.
Davis drove the lane and kicked the ball out to Castillo, who knocked down a three for the Wildcats, as Littlefield went on to take the contest, 47-15.
The Wildcats were led by Barrio, who tallied 23 points, nine rebounds, three assists, two steals and one block, while Saenz netted eight points, to go along with four rebounds, one assist, one steal and one block.
Castillo chipped in five points, five rebounds, two assists and one steal, while Castaneda contributed three points, three rebounds, two steals and one assist, and Payan added three points, three rebounds and one assist.
Coronado tallied two points and one rebound, while Soliz chipped in two points, two rebounds and one steal, and Davis finished with one point, four rebounds and three assists. Rodriguez added six rebounds, one assist and one block.
The Wildcats will resume district play next Tuesday when they host the Roosevelt Eagles, for their second meeting of district play.
Tip-off is set for 7:30 p.m.