The Littlefield Wildcats’ varsity basketball team got back into the win column on Tuesday night a home, as they downed the Friona Chieftains, 71-45.
With the win, the Wildcats improve to 9-16 overall, 3-5 in district play.
Omar Martinez dropped in a layup off of the assist from Tyrel Norman to open the contest for Littlefield, but on the other end Kaden Jeter knocked down a short jumper from the left side on a second-chance opportunity for Friona to tie the game, 2-2, with 7:20 left to play in the opening quarter. With 6:55 remaining in the first quarter, Jordan Trevino picked up a steal and drove to the basket, dumping it off to Martinez for the lay-up to put the Wildcats back in front, 4-2.
Jaron Cabello followed it up with a lay-up, but Jeter answered on the other end with a put-back to make the score, 6-4, with 5:21 left to play in the quarter. Chip Green hit Martinez in transition for a layup, but Jeter again answered on the other end with a jumper from the free-throw line to make the score, 8-6.
Norman dropped in a lay-up for the Wildcats, and with 3:01 remaining in the first quarter, Cabello was fouled on an attempt by Jared Rejino. He made one-of-two shots at the line to stretch their lead to, 11-8. MJ Randle took a charge on Jose Saucedo, but Friona was able to regain possession, as Bryan Chavira was able to knock down a jumper from the right wing, cutting the lead to one point, 11-10. With time winding down in the quarter, Ty’Jae Chambers dropped in a lay-up to push their lead back out to three-points, 13-10, heading into quarter number two.
Cabello opened the second quarter with a three from the top of the key off of the assist from Martinez and Green followed it up with a steal and pulled up for a jumper from the free-throw line to stretch their lead to, 18-10, with 6:08 remaining in the first half. Jeter was fouled on an attempt by Ryan West. He missed both attempts at the line, but Jacob Bautista was there for the offensive rebound and put-back on the right side to make the score, 18-12.
With 4:45 remaining in the second quarter, West was fouled on a third-chance try by Steph Ally. He converted both shots at the line to make it an eight-point Littlefield lead, 20-12. Rejino was fouled on the floor by Martinez and made both attempts at the line, but Green answered with a three from the left elbow, off of the assist from Randle, making the score 23-13.
Jeter dropped in a put-back for Friona, but Jeremiah Trevino responded, using a euro-step to get into the lane for a floater to stretch their lead to double-digits, 25-15. With three minutes remaining in the half, Bautista was fouled on the floor by West and split a one-in-one opportunity at the line, but Cabello answered with a three from the right elbow, off of the assist from Jeremiah Trevino to make the score, 28-16.
With under two minutes remaining in the half, Bautista dropped in a lay-up in transition, but West answered with a euro-step to get to the basket for a lay-up, pushing the lead to, 30-18. Green followed it up with a three from the right elbow, off of the assist from Jeremiah Trevino and then knocked down a jumper from the left elbow, stretching their lead to, 35-18. Chavira, though, would close out the half with a lay-up to cut the lead to, 35-20, going into the locker room at halftime.
Norman opened the second half with a lay-up, drawing an and-one foul on Rejino. He converted the free throw to make the score, 38-20. Rejino answered with a lay-up, but Norman came right back with a put-back off of his own miss to stretch the lead to, 40-22, with 6:47 remaining in the third quarter. Jeter knocked down a jumper from the right wing and two plays later, Jordan Trevino was fouled on an attempt by Rejino, who picked up his fourth foul of the contest. He converted one-of-two shots at the line to make the score, 41-24.
Jordan Trevino followed it up with a drive to the basket for a layup and on their next possession, he was fouled on an attempt by Chavira. He split the free throws, making the score, 44-26, with 4:55 remaining in the quarter.
Chavira dropped in a floater in the lane, but Martinez answered with a drive to the left side of the basket for a lay-up, making the score, 46-26. With 3:30 remaining in the quarter, Green drained a three from the top of the key, off of the screen by Chambers to push their lead to, 49-26. Chambers took back-to-back charges on Chavira and Saucedo, before dropping in a lay-up, off of the assist from Jeremiah Trevino, making the score, 51-26.
With under two minutes to play in the quarter, Chavira split a pair of free throws and Saucedo followed it up with a floater from the right elbow to cut the lead to, 51-29. Chambers dropped in a lay-up with under one minute to play, but on the other end, Chavira was fouled on an attempt by Chambers; he split the free throws, making the score, 53-30.
With under one minute to play in the quarter, Jeremiah Trevino dropped in a lay-up off of the assist from Elijah Salazar and Ethan Garcia scored a put-back off of a miss by Salazar to close out the third quarter with the Wildcats in front, 57-30.
Norman split a pair of free throws to open the fourth quarter and Jordan Trevino followed it up with a lay-up on the right side to push their lead to, 60-30. Jeter responded with a lay-up off of the assist from Bautista and on the next play, Norman was called for an over the back foul, as he fouled out of the contest, sending Jeter to the line for a one-in-one opportunity. He missed the free throw, as Littlefield went the other way with it. Jordan Trevino drove the lane, dishing the ball off to Cabello, who dropped in a lay-up, drawing an and-one foul on Chavira. He converted the free throw to extend the lead to, 63-32.
Jordan Trevino split a pair of free throws, but Bautista answered with a floater in the lane to make the score, 64-34. Green buried a three from the top of the key and Martinez dropped in a put-back off of a miss by Jordan Trevino and Chambers followed it up with a put-back off of a miss by Green to stretch their lead to, 71-34. Friona would close out the game on a 9-0, scoring run, as they fell to the Wildcats, 71-45.
The Wildcats were led in scoring by Green, who netted 16 points, and was joined in doublefigures by Cabello, who chipped in 12 points and Martinez, who finished with 10 points in the contest.
Norman and Chambers each tallied eight points, while Jordan Trevino netted seven points, Jeremiah Trevino and West each added four points and Garcia finished with two points.
The Wildcats were at Brownfield on Friday. Results were not available at press time. They will continue their season on Tuesday with a home game against Muleshoe.
Tip-off is scheduled for 7:30 p.m.