The Littlefield Wildcats’ varsity basketball team resumed district play on Friday with a road game against Friona, where they took down the Chiefs, 6833 With the win, the Wildcats improve to 2-2 in district play on the year.
The Wildcats came out fast to open the contest, as Jayden Barrio scored a quick lay-up off of the tipoff and followed it up with a steal for a fast-break layup, making the score, 4-0. Barrio and Nate Castaneda forced a 10-second call on Friona and Andrew Davis followed it up with a lay-up to push their lead to, 6-0.
With 5:43 remaining in the opening quarter, Davis hit Castaneda under the basket for a lay-up and on their next possession, Barrio drove the left side for a lay-up to extend their lead to, 10-0. Sammy Saenz kept it going with a steal, driving to the basket and dumping the ball off to Elijah Rodriguez for a lay-up, stretching their lead to, 12-0, as Friona took a time out to talk things over with 4:56 left to play in the first quarter.
Out of the break, Maddox Ashlock dropped in a layup to get the Chiefs on the board, but on the other end, Ben Castillo passed the ball to Barrio, who drove to the basket and drew a shooting foul on Nathaniel Padilla. He made one-of-two shots from the line to extend their lead to, 13-2.
Barrio dropped in a reverse lay-up off of the assist from Saenz, but Friona responded, as Mason Ramos picked up a steal in their own end and dropped it in for a lay-up, making the score, 15-4. With 2:11 to go in the quarter, Barrio dropped in a lay-up, and on the defensive end, Jose Payan took a charge on Jalond Rejino, regaining possession for the Wildcats, as the first quarter came to a close.
Rejino opened the second frame with a drive and dump to Brice Jeter for a lay-up, but on the other end, Saenz was fouled on an attempt by Rejino, his second foul of the game. Saenz sank both free throws and Barrio followed it up with a three from the top of the key, off of an assist from Saenz, making the score, 22-6.
With 6:31 to play in the half, Barrio scored a quick lay-up off of a Friona turnover and Rodriguez followed it up on their next possession with a put-back off of a miss by Saenz, extending their lead to, 26-6. With 5:28 to play in the half, Saenz was fouled on an attempt by Rejino, his third of the game. Saenz made one-oftwo shots at the line to push their lead to, 27-6.
Ramos took a charge on Saenz, but the Wildcats would regain possession, as Barrio was fouled on an attempt by Nathan perez; he sank both shots at the line to stretch their lead to, 296. Barrio kept it going for the Wildcats, as he hit Saenz with an outlet pass for a fast-break lay-up, but on the other end, Marcelo Leon dropped in a lay-up to trim the lead to, 31-8.
Davis responded with a put-back off of a miss by Chase Coronado and on their next possession, he drove the lane and delivered a no-look pass to Coronado for a lay-up, making the score, 35-8, with under a minute to play in the half. Blayton Soliz would knock down a pair of free throws to close out the half, with the Wildcats in front, 37-8.
Barrio opened the second half with a lay-up, off of the assist from Davis, but Padilla answered with a three from the left elbow to trim the lead to, 39- 11. Rodriguez got called for a charge and Friona capitalized on the turnover, as Padilla dropped in a floater from the right side to make the score, 39-13.
Barrio answered with a three from the right wing, off of the assist from Castaneda, but Friona fired right back, as Jeter knocked down a three from the right wing, making the score, 4216, with 4:35 to play in the third quarter. Rodriguez dropped in a lay-up off of an assist from Barrio and Castaneda followed it up with a dish to Davis, who dropped in a floater in the lane, extending their lead to, 46-16.
With 2:44 to play in the quarter, Jeter banked in a three from the left elbow, but Soliz would bury a three from the right wing, off of the assist from Davis, as Littlefield took a time out with 2:21 to play in the third quarter. Out of the break, Ramos banked in a floater in transition and Leon followed it up by knocking down a pair of free throws, after being fouled on the floor by Payan. Jeter closed out the third quarter with a turnaround jumper from the left side, making the score, 49-25, going into the final quarter of play.
Castaneda opened the fourth quarter with a lay-up off of the inbound pass from Barrio, and he followed it up with a three from the left elbow, off of an assist from Davis, making the score, 5425. Saenz kept it going with a steal, drawing a shooting foul on Padilla, his second. Saenz converted both shots at the line to extend their lead to, 56-25.
Davis picked up a steal and got it to Rodriguez for a lay-up and Castaneda followed it up with a lay-up, off of an assist from Rodriguez, making the score, 60-25. Ramos dropped in a lay-up, drawing an and-one foul on Saenz, his fourth. The free throw was no good, leaving the score, 60-27, with 5:14 left to play.
Saenz responded with a lay-up and Castaneda followed it up with a three from the left wing, off of the assist from Barrio, making the score, 65-27. Rodriguez dropped in a lay-up off of an assist from Saenz, and on their next possession, Castillo was fouled on an attempt by Ashlock. He made one- of- two shots from the line, but Ashlock would answer with a lay-up off of the assist from Nathan Perez and Jeter drained a three to close out the game, as Littlefield took down Friona in their first meeting, 68-33.
The Wildcats were led by Barrio, who poured in 23 points, to go with five rebounds, fours teals and three assists. Castaneda joined him in double-figures scoring with 12 points, four rebounds, one assist and one steal, while Rodriguez chipped in 10 points, six rebounds and one steal.
Saenz contributed eight points, four steals and one assist, while Davis tallied seven points, three rebounds, two assists and two steals, and Soliz added five points and six rebounds. Coronado tallied two points, two rebounds and one steal, while Castillo finished with one points, four rebounds, one steal and one block.
The Wildcats hosted Dimmitt on Tuesday. Results were not available at press time. They will continue district play on Friday when they travel to Idalou.
Tip-off is slated for 7:30 p.m.