The Littlefield Lady Cats’ varsity basketball team opened district play at home on Tuesday with a victory over Friona, 68-42.
With the win, the Lady Cats improve to 1-0 in district play.
Amiah Elizondo got the Lady Cats going with a put-back off of a miss by Madison McNeese, as Friona took a time out to talk things over with 7:23 remaining in the opening quarter. Out of the break, McNeese dropped in a lay-up off of the assist from Kyndal Edgemon, but the Squaws answered, as Reyna Arias dropped in a lay-up off of the assist from Jacee Burney to make the score, 4-2.
Ivoery Shelby tied the game with a jumper from the right elbow, but the Lady Cats quickly answered, as Edgemon drove to the basket for a lay-up on the left side and followed it up with a short jumper off of the assist from McNeese to push their lead to, 84. With 3:43 to play in the first quarter, Kennadi Hanlin took a charge on Shelby, and on the other end, McNeese drew a foul on a fastbreak attempt by Burney. She converted both free throws to make it a six-point game, 10-4.
With 1:22 remaining in the quarter, Edgemon buried a three from the left elbow off of the assist from Arianna Cruz, and Cruz followed it up with a three from the left wing off of the assist from Hanlin to stretch their lead to, 16-4. Friona took a time out with 45.2 seconds remaining in the quarter, and out of the break, Maerysa Saenz was fouled on a put-back attempt by Angelica Reyes. She sank both free throws to stretch the lead to 14 points, 18-4, but in the closing seconds, Kitzy Welch was fouled on an attempt by Danica Jouett. She split the attempts at the line to trim the lead to, 18-5, as the first quarter came to a close.
Edgemon opened the second frame with back-to-back lay-ups and Elizondo dropped in a lay-up off of an assist from Edgemon, pushing their lead to, 24-5, with 6:18 remaining in the first half. Welch dropped in a lay-up off of an assist from Shelby and Shelby followed it up with a pull-up three from the top of the key to cut the lead to, 24-10.
Littlefield, though, would answer, as McNeese drained a three from the right elbow off of the assist from Hanlin, and Saenz followed it up with a lay-up on the left side, off of the assist from McNeese to push the lead to, 2910, with just under five minutes to play in the half.
Jazmine Barrios dropped in a lay-up off of a Friona turnover and McNeese followed it up with a layup off of the bounce pass from Edgemon in transition to stretch their lead to, 33- 10. Burney knocked down a short jumper from the right elbow, but on the other end, Hanlin was fouled on an attempt by Reyes, earning a trip to the line. She made one-of-two shots at the line, pushing their lead to, 34.12.
Reyes answered with back-toback lay-ups for the Squaws, but in the closing seconds of the half, Hanlin and Kamryn Meiwes each split a pair of free throws to make the score, 36-16, going into the locker room at halftime.
Edgemon split a pair of free throws to open the second half, but Reyna Arias answered with a lay-up for the Squaws to make the score, 37-18. McNeese dropped in a lay-up from on the left side, but Shelby answered with a three from the left wing off of the assist from Arias, and Arias followed it up with a lay-up to cut the lead to, 3923, with 4:19 to play in the third quarter.
Saenz went coast-to-coast for a lay-up, but Arias answered with a lay-up on the other end, off of the outlet pass from Shelby, trimming the lead to, 41-25, with 3:31 to play in the third. McNeese buried a three from the left elbow off of the assist from Hanlin, but Hanlin was called for a charge on the next play, giving Friona the ball with 2:03 left to play in the quarter.
Burney dropped in a lay-up, but Sawenz took a steal the other way on the next play, drawing a shooting foul on Welch. She converted both free throws to extend their lead to, 46-27. Shelby dropped in a floater in the lane, but on the other end, Edgemon was fouled on an attempt by Burney, who picked up her fourth foul. Edgemon split the free throws, and Reyes answered with a put-back off of the miss by Shelby, cutting the lead to, 47-31. In the closing seconds of the quarter, Edgemon was fouled on an attempt by Reyes, who picked up her fourth foul; she split the attempts making the score, 48-31, heading into the final quarter of play.
McNeese opened the fourth quarter with a pull-up jumper from the free-throw line and followed it up with a lay-up, before Shelby dropped in a lay-up on the right side for Friona, making the score, 52-33. Littlefield answered with a quick bucket and with 5:47 remaining in the game, McNeese was fouled on an attempt by Jacquelyn Falcon. She converted both shots at the line and after the play, Shelby was assessed a technical foul, putting McNeese on the line for two more shots, which she converted to push their lead to, 59-33.
With 4:45 remaining, Edgemon drove to the basket for a lay-up, but on the other end, Burney was fouled on an attempt by McNeese; she converted both shots to trim the lead to, 61-35. Barrios dropped in a reverse layup, but Lylianna Martinez answered with a lay-up of her own to make the score, 63-37. Littlefield came right back with another layup, and with 1:47 remaining, Meiwes was fouled on an attempt by Arias. She made one-of-two shots at the line, pushing their lead to, 66-37.
Shelby converted a pair of free throws for Friona, but Saenz answered with a steal, taking it the other way for a lay-up to stretch their lead to, 68-39. In the closing seconds, Burney split a pair of free throws and they closed out the game with a lay-up, as Littlefield took their district-opener, 68-42.
McNeese led the Lady Cats in scoring with 25 points, and she was joined in double-figures scoring by Edgemon, who finished with 15 points. Saenz tallied nine points, while Barrios finished with six points, and Cruz netted five points.
Elizondo added four points and Hanlin and Meiwes each finished with two points in the contest.
The Lady Cats were at Lamesa on Friday as district play continued. Results were not available at press time. They will return to action after the Christmas Holiday when they host the Wildcat Classic.