The Littlefield Lady Cats’ varsity basketball team improved to 2-0 at the Denver City Shootout this past weekend, taking down Midland Classical, 55-31.
The Lady Cats began tournament play Thursday in Denver City, taking down Sundown, 67-57. They won their first game Friday over Midland Classical, before falling to Levelland, 57-50, Friday afternoon. They took down the host team Denver City Fillies in the third-place game on Saturday, 41-29.
Mariah Davis was fouled on an attempt by Cobi Saldana to open the contest for the Lady Knights. She converted both free throws to put them in front, 2-0. With under six minutes to play in the opening quarter, Saldana drained a three from the right elbow to give the Lady Cats a, 3-2, lead and Zalise Davis followed it up with a three from the left wing, off of the assist from Madison Williams, stretching their lead to, 6-2.
Amoni Jefferson kept it going with a lay-up off of the inbound pass from Saldana, as she drew an and-one foul on Calleigh Murphey. She converted the free throw to stretch their lead to, 9-2. With 3:24 to play in the first quarter, Jefferson was fouled on an attempt by Mariah Davis, earning a trip to the line. She sank both free throws to push their lead to, 11-2, but on the other end, McKinlee Miller was fouled on an attempt by Jefferson, sending her to the line for a pair of free throws. She made one- of- two shots from the line, trimming the lead to, 11-3.
Jefferson drew a shooting foul on Maddie Valles and made one-of-two shots from the line, but Malone Crunk answered on the other end, as she drove the left side for a lay-up to cut the lead to, 12-5. With just over a minute to play in the first quarter, Jefferson drove the lane, kicking it out to Madison Williams on the elbow, who buried a three to push their lead to double-digits, 15-5.
Zalise Davis was fouled on a put-back attempt at the buzzer by Miller. She split the attempts at the line, making the score, 16-5, as the first quarter came to a close.
Littlefield came out strong in the second frame, as Jefferson dropped in a putback off of a miss by Zalise Davis and Nia Cleveland followed it up with a lay-up, drawing an and-one foul on Landry Williams. She converted the free throw to stretch their lead to, 21-5, with just under seven minutes to play in the first half.
Jefferson was fouled on an attempt by Valles and split the attempts from the line and she followed it up with a steal on defense, taking it to the hoop for a layup on the fast-break, extending their lead to, 24-5, with 6:19 to play in the half. Mariah Davis ended the scoring drought with a floater from the right side for the Lady Knights, but with 5:15 to play in the half, Madison Williams would deliver a pass through traffic to Saldana for a lay-up in transition, pushing the lead to, 26-7.
Mariah Davis split a pair of free throws for Midland Classical, after being fouled by Aubree Richardson and Valles followed it up with a pull-up jumper from the left elbow, but on the other end, Zalise Davis was fouled on an attempt by Crunk, earning a trip to the line. She converted both shots at the line to extend their lead to, 28-10.
Miller was fouled on an attempt by Cleveland with just over three minutes to go in the half. She split the attempts, as the Lady Knights took a time out with 2:12 to play in the first half, trailing, 28-11. Out of the break, Zalise Davis found Madison Williams for a lay-up in transition and Zalise Davis followed it up with a three from the left wing, off of the assist from Madison Williams to close out the first half with Littlefield in front, 3311.
Jefferson opened the second half with a lay-up, off of the assist from Saldana and Cleveland followed it up with a lay-up, off of an assist from Zalise Davis to extend their lead to, 37-11, with just under five minutes to play in the third quarter. Mariah Davis got the Lady Knights on the board in the second half with a three from the left elbow and Valles followed it up with a three from the right elbow, off of the assist from Mariah Davis, cutting the lead to, 37-17, as Littlefield took a time out with 4:07 remaining in the quarter.
Out of the break, Cleveland dropped in a lay-up, off of an assist from Zalise Davis, making the score, 3917, with 2:26 to go in the third quarter. After another Littlefield time out, Jefferson dropped in a layup off of an assist from Saldana, but Mariah Davis answered with a runner from the right side, making the score, 41-19.
Jefferson would drop in a put-back off of a miss by Saldana, drawing an andone foul on Mariah Davis, her third of the game. She would miss the free throw, making the score, 43-19, going into the final quarter of play.
Valles opened the fourth quarter with a jumper from the top of the key, but Saldana responded on the other end, driving the middle for a lay-up to make the score, 45- 21. Crunk knocked down a jumper from the right side for the Lady Knights, but Cleveland responded with a lay-up for Littlefield, making the score, 47-23, with just over six minutes to play in the game.
Jefferson picked up a steal and took it to the hoop on the fast-break for a layup, but Allie Catalano answered with a three from the left wing, off of an assist from Valles, trimming the lead to, 49-26. Saldana and Jefferson dropped in back-to-back buckets for Littlefield, but with 2:34 to play, Mariah Davis was fouled on an attempt by Jasmine Almance, her second of the game. She made oneof- two shots from the line to make the score, 53-27.
Saldana would drop in a fast-break lay-up, but on the other end, Mariah Davis picked up a steal from Zalise Davis, drawing a foul on Zalise Davis, earning a trip to the line. She converted both shots at the line to trim the lead to 55-29. With under a minute to play, Miller picked up a steal and went coast-to-coast for a lay-up, making the score, 55-31, as Littlefield went on to take the contest over the Lady Knights.
Jefferson led the Lady Cats in scoring against Midland Classical with 21 points. She was joined in double-figures scoring by Saldana, who netted 11 points.
Davis and Cleveland each added nine points, while Williams finished with five points in the contest. The Lady Cats opened district play on Tuesday against Shallowater results were not available at press time. They will be at Muleshoe on Friday to take on the Lady Mules.
Tip-off is scheduled for 6:15 p.m.