The Littlefield Wildcats’ varsity basketball team cruised to victory on Tuesday over the Friona Chieftains on the road, 70-38.
With the win, the Wildcats improve to 7-13 overall, 1-2 in district play.
Jared Rejino opened the game with a put-back off of a miss by Kaden Jeter, but Chip Green picked up a steal and dropped in a lay-up for the Wildcats to tie the game, 2-2. Rejino again scored for Friona, knocking down a jumper from the right wing, but Littlefield had the answer, as Jaron Cabello dropped in a bucket to keep the game tied, 4-4, with 5:36 left to play in the opening quarter.
Tyrell Norman scored a put-back off of a miss by Jordan Trevino, but Jacob Bautista responded with a lay-up and Jeter followed it up with a lay-up in transition to regain the lead for Friona, 8-6. A steal by Norman led to a lay-up on the offensive end for Jordan Trevino, but the Chieftains again answered, as Jeter dropped in a lay-up to make the score, 10-8, with 3:25 remaining in the first quarter.
Norman dropped in a bucket to tie the game, 10-10, and with just over one minute to play, Andrew Rivera dropped in a lay-up off of an assist from Bryan Chavira, making the score, 10-12. Jeremiah Trevino would drop in a put-back off of the miss by MJ Randle in the closing seconds of the quarter to make the score, 12-12, heading into quarter number two.
Jeter opened the second quarter with a lay-up, off of an assist from Chavira, but Jordan Trevino scored a lay-up off of an assist from Green and Cabello followed it up with a three from the right elbow to put Littlefield in front, 17- 14. Jeter was fouled on an attempt by Norman with 6:42 left to play in the half. He split the free throws and Cabello again answered with a three from the left elbow to extend their lead to, 20-15.
Green dropped in a bucket for the Wildcats and Randle followed it up with a bucket two possessions later, as Friona took a time out with 4:43 remaining in the first half. Out of the break, Green went three-for-four from the foul line to extend the lead to, 27-15, with 3:38 remaining in the half.
Hetter grabbed a steal and scored on a fast-break lay-up, drawing an and-one foul on the play. He missed the free throw, but Chavira followed it up with a three from the right elbow to cut the lead to, 27-20. Green responded on the other end with a three from the right elbow and Randle took a charge on Jose Saucedo to regain possession for Littlefield with 1:55 left to play in the half.
West was fouled on an attempt by Stef Ally and sank both free throws and with 1:02 remaining, Randle was fouled on the floor by Chavira. He split the free throws, making the score, 33-20, going into the locker room at halftime.
Norman banked in a jumper in the lane to begin the second half and Omar Martinez drove to the basket on the next play, kicking it out to Green, who knocked down the three from the left wing to stretch their lead to, 38-20. Green sank another three from the right wing, off of the inbound pass from Cabello and Martinez banked in a jumper in the lane off of an assist from Green, making the score, 43-20, as the Chieftains took a time out to talk things over.
Out of the break, Rejino dropped in a lay-up, drawing an and-one foul on Green. He converted the free throw to trim the lead to, 43- 23, with 4:44 remaining in the quarter. Cabello drained another three for the Wildcats, but Friona answered with a bucket to make the score, 46-25. Jeremiah Trevino picked up a steal on the defensive end and went coast-to-coast finishing with a finger-roll lay-up and Green followed it up with a three from the right wing off of the assist from Elijah Salazar, making the score, 51-25.
Ethan Garcia kncoked down a three from the left corner off of the assist from Salazar and West followed it up with a lay-up off of the assist from Jeremiah Trevino, making the score, 56-25, heading into the final quarter of play.
Ally took a charge on Jordan Trevino to open the fourth quarter and on the next play, Rejino was fouled on the floor by Jordan Trevino, earning a one-in-one opportunity at the line. He converted both free throws, but Norman answered on the other end with a jump-hook in the lane, drawing an and-one foul on Jeter. He missed the free throw, leaving the score, 58-27, with 5:50 left to play in the game.
Norman picked up a steal and got it ahead to Martinez for a layup, but Rejino answered with a three from the right elbow for Friona to trim the lead to, 60-30. Saucedo followed it up with a three from the left elbow, but Salazar ended the run with a three of his own from the right elbow, stretching their lead back out to, 63-33.
With 3:34 remaining, Jeter was fouled on the floor by Garcia, earning a one-in-one opportunity at the line. He sank both free throws to make the score, 63-35. Randle drove to the lane and dished a nolook pass to Salazar for a lay-up and Randle followed it up on the next play with a scoop lay-up to extend their lead to, 67-35. Friona knocked down a three and called a quick time out with 1:04 left to play, but in the closing seconds, Salazar buried a three from the right elbow to make the score, 70- 38, as time ran out in the contest.
The Littlefield Wildcats were led in scoring by Green, who tallied 19 points and Cabello, who finished with 11 points. Norman and Salazar each finished with eight points, while Randle netted five points and Jordan Trevino, West, Jeremiah Trevino and Martinez each added four points. Garcia tallied three points in the contest.
The Wildcats hosted Lamesa on Friday. Results were not available at press time. They will continue their season on Tuesday with a road game against Muleshoe.
Tip-off is scheduled for 7:30 p.m.