The Littlefield Wildcats’ varsity basketball team held off a late push from the Dimmitt Bobcats on Tuesday night, 60-54, to stay in the hunt for a district title.
With the win, the Wildcats improve to 16-12 overall, 8-2 in district play.
Cj Willey opened the first quarter with a jumper from the free-throw line, but on the other end, Chip Green was fouled on an attempt by Willey, earning a trip to the line. He converted one-of-two free throws to cut the lead in half, 2-1. Jeremiah Trevino followed it up with a lay-up off of an assist from Elijah Salazar, putting the Wildcats in front, 3-2, with 6:26 to play in the opening quarter.
Emiliano Peralta knocked down a jumper from the top of the key to put the Bobcats back in front, but it was short-lived, as Trevino dropped in a lay-up off of the assist from Ryan Williams to make the score, 5-4. The lead changed again, as Ivan Moreno answered with a jumper from the right elbow, but Ryan Williams with a steal taking in the other way, finishing with a floater in the lane to put the Wildcat in front, 7-6, with 4:53 to play in the first.
Moreno sent an outlet pass down court to Daunte Perez for a fast-break lay-up, but Green answered with a three from the left elbow, off of an assist from Ryan Williams to keep the Wildcats in front, 10-8, with under four minutes to play in the quarter. Peralta knocked down a three from the top of tkey key to give Dimmitt a one-point advantage, but Trevino responded with a lay-up off of an assist from Salazar to put Littlefield back on top, 12-11, with 2:45 to play in the quarter.
With 1:38 remaining in the first, Damian Arriaga dropped in a lay-up on the right side, but Omar Martinez answered with a three from the let elbow off of an assist from Randle, and Randle followed it up with a deep buzzer-beating three from the right elbow off of the assist from Martinez to put the Wildcats in front, 18-13, as the first quarter came to a close.
Trevino was fouled on a shot attempt by Devin Enriquez to open the second quarter; Trevino converted both free throws to stretch their lead to, 20-13. Peralta answered with a three from the top of the key and he followed it up with a floater on the right side to make it a one-possession game, 20-18, with 6:13 to play in the half.
Martinez buried a three from the left wing and followed it up with a floater in the lane off of an inbound play, stretching the Littlefield lead back out to, 25-18, with 5:42 to play in the first half. Martinez dropped in a layup and Ryan Williams followed it up with a drive to the basket through traffic for a lay-up to extend their lead to, 29-18, as the Bobcats took a time out with 4:14 to play in the half. Out of the break, Ryan Williams hit Martinez with an outlet pass, who got it to Green on the two-on-one fast-break for a layup, pushing their lead to, 31-18, with 3:08 to play in the half.
Martinez took a charge on Sabian Martinez and the Wildcats capitalized on the turnover, as Trevino dropped in a lay-up to extend their lead to, 3318. With 1:09 remaining in the half, Moreno dropped in a put-back off of a miss by Willey, drawing and-one foul on the play. He missed the free throw leaving the score, 33-20. With time winding down in the half, Green dropped in a lay-up off of the assist from Ryan Williams to close out the first half with the Wildcats in front, 3520.
Moreno dropped in a lay-up to open the second half for Dimmitt, as Littlefield took a time out with 6:49 to play in the third quarter. Out of the break, Q Busby dropped in a lay-up and the Bobcats took a time out with 4:02 to play in the third. Out of the break, Trevino dropped in a lay-up for Littlefield, but Moreno answered with a three from the right wing to cut the lead to 10 points, 41-31, with under three minutes to play in the quarter.
Green responded with a three of his own from the right wing, but Willey answered with a put-back off of a miss by Peralta to make the score, 44-33. With time winding down in the quarter, Martinez burried a deep buzzer beating three from the left elbow, off of an assist from Randle to make the score, 47-33, going into the final quarter of play.
Trevino opened the final frame with a lay-up off of an assist from Salazar and Ja’Den Williams followed it up with a lay-up to stretch their lead to 51-33. Willey dropped in a put-back off of his own miss, but Trevino responded with a lay-up to push their lead back out to, 53-35. Moreno banked in a jumper from the left elbow for Dimmitt and Willey followed it up with a bucket to cut the lead to, 53-39.
With under five minutes to play in the game, Peralta was fouled on an attempt by Salazar; he sank both free throws to make the score, 53-41, and Moreno followed it up with a lay-up to slice the lead to 10 points, as Littlefield took a time out with 3:41 left to play in the game. Out of the break, Salazar drove the lane and dumped the ball off to Busby for a lay-up, but Willey answered with a hook shot in the lane to keep it a 10-point game, 5545.
Green was called for a charge with 3:02 remaining, and Dimmitt capitalized on the turnover, as Peralta knocked down a jumper in the lane, making the score, 55-47. Dimmitt took a time out with 2:44 remaining, and out of the break, Moreno dropped in a reverse lay-up to cut the lead to six points, 55-49. With under two minutes remaining, Moreno dropped in another lay-up, drawing an and-one foul on Busby. He missed the free throw leaving the score, 55-51, as Littlefield took a time out with 1:54 remaining.
Out of the break, Martinez drew a block on Moreno and made both shots on the one-in-one opportunity, as they took another time out with 1:04 remaining. Out of the break, Green was fouled on the floor by Moreno; he sank both free throws to make the score, 59-51, as Dimmitt took a time out with 31.4 seconds to play in the game.
Out of the break, Moreno buried a three off of the assist from Enriquez and they called a quick time out with the lead cut to, 59-54, with 9.9 seconds to play. Martinez was fouled on the floor by Sabian Martinez with 8.2 seconds to play and he split the free throws, as the Wildcats held on for the, 60-54, victory over the Bobcats.
The Wildcats were led by Trevino and Martinez, who netted 16 points a piece. They were joined in double-figures scoring by Green, who tallied 13 points. Ryan Williams and Busby each chipped in four points, while Randle tallied three points, and Saenz and Ja’Den Williams each finished with two points in the contest.
The Wildcats were at home against Friona on Friday. Results were not available at press time. They will close out the regular season on the road on Tuesday against Lamesa.
Tip-off is scheduled for 6:30 p.m.