The Littlefield Lady Cats’ varsity basketball team swept the season series on Tuesday with Denver City, taking the second meeting in Littlefield, 49-31.
With the win, the Lady Cats improve to 18-6 overall, 7-0 in district play.
Tori Rodriguez opened the game with a three from the left wing for the Fillies, but Ari Castillo answered with a lay-up off of an assist from Kennadi Hanlin to make the score, 3-2. Rodriguez responded with a lay-up for the Fillies, but Amiah Elizondo had the answer, as she drained a three from the wing off of the assist fromHanlin, tying the game, 5-5, with 5:36 to play in the opening quarter.
Sydney Roberts dropped in a floater from the left wing, but Jazmine Rosalez was fouled on a put- back attempt by Mia Carmona. She made one-of-two shots from the line to cut the lead to, 7-6, and Cali Saldana drained a three from the left elbow off of the assist from Hanlin to put the Lady Cats in front, 9-7. Saldana followed it up with a steal on their own end, as she got the ball to Rosalez, who dished it to Hanlin for a lay-up, stretching their lead to, 11-7, with 3:31 to play in the quarter.
Hanlin drove the left side of the basket for a lay-up and Castillo followed it up with a spin move to the basket for a lay-up on the right side, extending their lead to, 15-7. Saldana was fouled on an attempt by Roberts and converted both shots at the line , but with time winding down in the first quarter, Rodriguez drew a blocking foul on Hanlin, earning a trip to the line. She sank both free throws to cut the Littlefield lead to, 17-9, as the first quarter came to a close.
Marysa Saenz opened the second quarter with a jumper from the right wing off of assist from Castillo and Arianna Cruz followed it up with a three from the left elbow off of the assist from Rosalez, making the score, 22-9, as Denver City took a time out with 5:15 remaining in the first half. Out of the break, Castillo dropped in a lay-up, but Rodriguez answered with a three from the right elbow to cut the lead to, 24-12. Saldana responded with a putback off of a miss by Nevaeh Esquibel and she followed it up with a lay-up on the left side to stretch their lead back out to, 2812, with just under two mintues to play in the half.
Esquibel dropped in a lay-up, drawing an and- one foul on Rodriguez. She missed the free throw leaving the score, 30-12. On the other end, Rodriguez drew a shooting foul n Saenz, earning a trip to the line. She converted both shots at the line and followed it up with a fast-break lay-up to cut the lead to, 30- 16. However, Saldana pulled up and drained a deep three from the right elbow to push the Lady Cats’ lead to, 3316, going into the locker room at halftime.
Carmona opened the second half with a lay-up, but Hanlin answered on the other end with a lay-up of her own for the Lady Cats, making the score, 35-18, with 4:26 to play in the third. With under three minutes to play in the third, Carmona picked up a steal from Saldana and took it the other way for a fast-break lay-up, as the Fillies called for a time out with 2:57 to play in the third, trailing, 35-20. Out of the break, Natalie Garcia drained a three from the left wing, but Castillo dropped in a lay-up off of an assist from Cruz to make the score, 37-23, going into the final quarter of play.
Castillo was fouled on an attempt by Garcia to open the fourth quarter and made one-of-two shots from the line, making the score, 38-23, as Denver City took a time out with 6:41 remaining. Out of the break, Roberts knocked down a jumper from the left elbow, and Saldana and Rodriguez exchanged threes from the elbow to make the score, 41-28, with 3:53 to play.
Denver City took a time out with 3:51 left to play and out of the break, Hanlin was fouled on the floor by Carmona, who picked up her fourth foul of the game. Hanlin sank both shots from the line and on the next play, Cruz was fouled on an attempt by Julissa Granados. Cruz made the first shots and missed the second, but Saenz was able to gather the offensive rebound with the score, 44-28.
With under two minutes remaining, Hanlin was fouled on the floor by Katherine Macias and sank both attempts from the line, pushing their lead to, 46-28. On their next possession, Hanlin hit Saldana in transition for a lay-up, pushing their lead to 48-28. Denver City answered with a three, but Hanlin was fouled on the fllor by Amber Carter, sending her to the line for free throws. She missed both attempts, but a lane violation on the Fillies gave Hanlin a third try, which she was able to convert, as the Lady Cats took down the Fillies, 49-31.
Saldana led the team in scoring with 17 points, to go along with one rebound and one steal, while Hanlin joined her in double-figures scoring with 11 points, five assists, two steals, one rebound and one block.
Castillo tallied nine points, eight rebounds, two steals and one asssit, while Cruz chipped in four points, six rebounds, two assists and two steals, and Elizondo contributed three points and one rebound. Saenz tallied two points, two steals and one rebound, while Esquibel added two points and three rebounds, and Rosalez finished with one points, two rebounds and two assists.
The Lady Cats were at Dimmitt on Friday for their second meeting with the Bobbies. Results were not available at press time. They will continue district play on Tuesday with a home game against Brownfield.
Tip-off is scheduled for 6:15 p.m.