The Littlefield Wildcats’ varsity basketball team fell at home on Friday to the Abernathy Antelopes, 56-35.
With the loss, the Wildcats fall to 3-2 overall on the season.
Junior, Ethan Garcia, buried a three from the right elbow off of the assist from senior guard, Jeremiah Salazar, to open the contest, but on the other end, Seth Bender was fouled on an attempt by Garcia earning a trip to the line. He split the free throws, making the score, 3-1, with just under seven minutes to play in the opening quarter.
Salazar hit senior forward, Tyree Jones, on a back door cut for a lay-up, but the Antelopes answered, as Houston dropped in a bucket, trimming the Littlefield lead to, 5-3.
With 5:14 left to play in the first quarter, Jones picked up a steal and took it strong to the basket for a lay-up, drawing an and-one foul on Houston. Prior to the free throw, Abernathy’s Head Coach was called for a Technical foul. Jones converted the and-one free throw and split the technical free throws, making the score, 9-3.
Malachi Reyes was fouled on an attempt by Garcia and sank both free throws to cut the lead to four points and on their next possession, Anthony White scored on a third-chance put-back to make it a one-possession game, 9-7.
Jones scored a lay-up off of the assist from senior forward, Chris Brown, as the first quarter came to a close with the Wildcats in front, 11-7.
Salazar opened the second quarter with a jumper from the freethrow line and on the defensive end, junior, Ryan West, took a charge on Matthew Deanda, to regain possession for Littlefield.
With 6:11 left to play in the first half, Deanda dropped in a lay-up off of the assist from Bender, but Littlefield answered, as Salazar knocked down a bucket for the Wildcats to extend their lead to, 15-9.
With 5:40 to play in the half, Sean Rodriguez was fouled on an attempt by West; he split the free throws to trim the lead to, 15-10. Salazar split a pair of free throws on the other end for Littlefield and junior, Jaron Cabello, picked up a steal that led to a shooting foul on Rodriguez. He too split the free throws making the score, 17-10, as Abernathy took a time out with 3:37 remaining in the half.
Out of the break, Rodriguez was fouled on an attempt by Chris Brown. He sank both free throws and Deanda followed it up with a jumper from the left elbow, making the score, 17-14, with just under three minutes to go in the second quarter.
Salazar knocked down a jumper from the top of the key, but Reyes responded with a three from the left wing for Abernathy, making it a one-possession game, 19-17.
Chris Brown cut to the basket and was fouled on a shooting attempt by Deanda with just under two minutes to play in the half. He split the free throws to make it a three-point game, but with under one minute to play in the half, Brendon Brown knocked down a jumper from the right wing to cut the lead to just one point, 20-19.
Bender drove to the basket and dropped in a lay-up in the closing seconds to give Abernathy a onepoint lead, 21-20, going into the locker room at halftime.
In the third quarter, Chris Brown dropped in a lay-up off of the assist from Salazar, but Bender and Deanda responded with back-to-back threes for the Antelopes to stretch their lead to, 27-22, with 6:18 remaining in the third quarter.
Littlefield took a time out, and out of the break, White took a charge on Jones to regain possession forAbernathy. The Antelopes capitalized with back-to-back buckets by Houston and White to push their lead to, 31-22.
Chris Brown scored a put-back off of a miss by junior, Jordan Trevino, as Abernathy took a time out with 4:25 to play in the third quarter, leading the Wildcats, 31-24.
Out of the break, Salazar dropped in a reverse lay-up, but Houston answered with a three from the right elbow for the Antelopes, extending their lead to, 34-26. White dished the ball to Reyes for a lay-up on the two-on-one break with Salazar and Houston followed it up with a put-back, as the Wildcats called for a time out with 3:02 to play in the quarter.
Out of the break, White was fouled on an attempt by Jones, who picked up his fourth foul of the game; White sank both free throws to make it a 14-point lead for Abernathy.
A steal by West allowed Salinas to get out on the break, taking contact from Brendon Brown, as he dropped in a lay-up to trim the lead to, 40-28, with 1:44 to play in the quarter.
Rodriguez buried a three from the right elbow and Reyes split a pair of free throws to close out the third quarter with Abernathy in front of the Wildcats, 44-28.
White opened the final quarter with a runner in the lane, but on the other end, Salazar was fouled on an attempt by White; he split the free throws making the score, 46-29.
With 5:12 left to play in the game, Deanda dropped in a floater, drawing an and-one foul on Salinas. He converted the free throw, to stretch the Abernathy lead to 20 points, 49-29.
Salinas was called for a technical foul with just under five minutes to play, sending White to the line for free throws. He made both attempts at the line, pushing their lead to, 51-29.
With 3:55 remaining, Reyes dished a no-look pass to Rodriguez for a lay-up, as their lead grew to, 53-29.
Jones knocked down a pair of free throws, after being fouled on an attempt by White, who picked up his fourth foul of the game, but on the next play White went coast-to-coast for a lay-up, drawing an and-one foul on junior, Ty’Jae Chambers. He missed the free throw, leaving the score, 55-31, with 2:12 remaining in the contest.
West scored a put-back off of a miss by Cabello and Chambers scored a put-back off of a miss by Trevino, trimming the lead to, 55-35, with just over one minute to play in the game.
Deanda split a pair of free throws in the closing seconds, as Abernathy took down the Wildcats at Wildcat Gym, 56-35.
The Wildcats were led in scoring by Jones and Salazar, who each netted 10 points. Brown chipped in five points, while Garcia netted three points and Salinas, Chambers and West each finished with two points. Cabello added one point in the contest.
The Wildcats traveled Floydada on Tuesday to take on the Whirlwinds. Results were not available at press time. They will continue their season on Friday with a home game against the Springlake-Earth Wolverines.
Tip-off is slated for 8 p.m.