The Littlefield Lady Cats’ varsity basketball team made it back-to-back district victories on Friday, as they took down the Denver City Fillies, 43-27, in their second meeting of the season.
With the win, the Lady Cats improve to 19-9 overall, 7-2 in district play.
Arianna Cruz opened the game with a lay-up, off of the assist from Brookelyn Gau and followed it up with back-to-back threes off of assists from Kennadi Hanlin, pushing their lead to, 8-0, with 5:53 remaining in the opening quarter.
Denver City would get on the board, as Sydney Roberts was fouled on an attempt by Jazmine Barios. She sank both free throws to trim the lead to, 8-2, with 3:47 remaining in the first quarter. On the other end, Barios was fouled on a put-back attempt by Alyssa Jimenez. She made the first shot and missed the second, but Gau was their for the offensive rebound, which led to a jumper from the left wing by Cruz, off of the assist from Hanlin, stretching their lead to, 11-2.
Denver City took a time out with 2:30 remaining in the first quarter, and out of the break, Melissa Soto was fouled on an attempt by Ashtyn Parker. She split the free throws and followed it up with a lay-up to cut the lead to, 11-5, as the first quarter came to a close.
Littlefield’s defense forced a five-second call on the inbound play to open the second quarter, but the Fillies followed it up with a three from the left wing by Bella De la rosa, cutting the lead to, 11- 8. Littlefield took a 30-second time out with 3:38 remaining in the first half. Out of the break, Cruz dropped in a runner in the lane, but on the other end Soto was fouled on the floor by Parker, earning a one-in-one opportunity with under one minute to play in the half. She converted both free throws to make the score, 13-10.
Littlefield, though, would close out the half on a, 7-0, scoring run, as Bri Valdez drained a three from the right wing, off of the assist from Emily Champion. Hanlin and Valdez dropped in back-to-back lay-ups to make the score, 20-10, going into the locker room at halftime.
Cruz was fouled on an attempt by De la rosa and split the free throws to open the second half, making the score, 21-10, as the Fillies took a time out with 5:53 remaining in the third quarter. Out of the break, Gau dropped in a putback off of a miss by Champion and on the next play, Cruz picked up a steal and was fouled on the fast-break by Roberts. She split the free throws, stretching the lead to, 24-10, with 4:51 remaining in the quarter.
Hanlin buried a three from the right elbow, off of the assist from Mahalia Huey, but Soto answered with back-to-back jumpers for Denver City to cut the lead to, 27- 14, with 1:50 remaining in the quarter. With under one minute remaining in the quarter, Gau dropped in a put-back, but Soto answered with a jumper from the right wing to close out the third quarter, with the Lady Cats in front, 29-14.
Denver City opened the fourth quarter with back-to-back buckets, but Gau answered with a lay-up, off of the assist from Parker, mak ing the score, 31-18. Gau dropped in a lay-up off of an assist from Cruz and followed it up with another lay-up, off of an assist from Hanlin, as she drew an and-one foul on Jimenez. She converted the free throw to extend their lead back out to, 36-18, with 4:44 remaining in the game.
Rocio Rodriguez dropped in a lay-up off of the assist from Soto and Roberts followed it up with a runner, drawing an and-one foul on Hanlin. She converted the free throw, making the score, 36-23, with 3:25 remaining in the contest. Gau drove to the basket for a layup and Soto split a pair of free throws for the Fillies to trim the lead to, 38-24.
Both teams exchanged lay-ups and with 1:38 remaining in the game, Champion was fouled on the floor by Roberts, earning a one-in-one opportunity at the line. She split the free throws, making the score, 41-26. Victoria Rodriguez was fouled on an attempt by Parker and split the free throws, but on the other end, Amiah Elizondo split two pairs of free throws to close out the contest, as Littlefield downed the Fillies, 43-27.
Cruz led the team in scoring with 14 points, to go along with four rebounds and three steals, while Gau posted a double double with 13 points and 13 rebounds, to go along with three steals, one block and one assist.
Hanlin tallied five points, four rebounds and three assists, while Valdez chipped in five points and one rebound and Elizondo finished with four points and three rebounds. Champion tallied one point, three rebounds, three assists and three steals, while Barios added one point and four rebounds and Parker finished with five rebound, one assist and one block. Huey added one assist and one block in the contest.
The Lady Cats hosted Friona on Tuesday. Results were not available at press time. They will continue their season on Friday with a road game against Brownfield.
Tip-off is scheduled for 6:30 p.m.