The Littlefield Wildcats’ varsity basketball team got off to a fast start on Tuesday and never looked back, as they took down the Floydada Whirlwinds in non-district play, 74-30.
With the win, the Wildcats improve to 8-4 overall on the year, 0-1 in district play.
Jayden Barrio drove the left side, drawing a shooting foul on Brody Hughes. He converted one-of-two shots from the line to put the Wildcats in front, 1-0. Jimmy Castillo answered, as he got a finger-roll lay-up to fall, but Elijah Rodriguez dropped in a put-back off of a miss by Barrio on the other end, making the score, 3-2.
Floydada took a time out to prevent a turnover with 5:20 to play in the opening quarter, and out of the break, Rodriguez dropped in a lay-up off of an assist from Ben Castillo, pushing their lead to, 9-2. Jeriah Jimenez dropped in a layup for the Whirlwinds, but Rodriguez hit Barrio for a lay-up to stretch their lead to, 11-4.
With 4:20 remaining in the quarter, Casamiro dropped in a floater in the lane, but Sammy Saenz answered with a lay-up, and Rodriguez followed it up with a no-look pass to Castillo for a layup, pushing the lead to, 156. Casamiro dropped in another lay-up, but Blayton Soliz would pick up a steal, dishing it ahead to Barrio for a lay-up, making the score, 17-8.
With 2:21 to play in the quarter, Rodriguez grabbed a steal, getting it to Jose Payan, who hit Zack Trevino in transition for a lay-up, making the score, 19-8. Barrio drove the left side for a lay- up and Rodriguez followed it up with a drive on the right side, spinning to the basket for a lay-up, extending the lead out to, 23-8.
Casamiro knocked down a turnaround jumper from the right side for Floydada, but with time winding down in the quarter, Barrio got to the basket with a euro step, dropping in a floater in the lane to make the score, 2510, as the first quarter came to a close.
Saenz got the second frame going with a steal, drawing a shooting foul on Jimenez. He converted both shots at the line to make the score, 27-10. Saenz would follow it up with a drive and dump to Castillo, who finished the play with a layup, pushing the lead to, 2910, with 6:17 remaining in the first half.
Saenz knocked down a jumper from the elbow off of an assist from Castillo and Trevino followed it up with a lay-up off of an assist from Chase Coronado, stretching their lead out to, 33-10, with just over five minutes remaining in the half. Floydada took a time out with 5:04 to play in the second quarter, and out of the break, Casamiro was fouled on an attempt by Payan. He made one-oftwo shots from the line, trimming the lead to, 33-11.
With 2:46 to go in the half, Saenz dropped in a floater from the left side and on the next play, Soliz followed it up with an outlet pass to Saenz, who finished the break with a lay-up, drawing an and- one foul on Jerald Henderson. He converted the free throw to push their lead to, 38-11. With just over a minute to play in the half, Rodriguez picked up a steal and dished the outlet pass to Saenz, who finished off the play with a floater from the right side to extend the lead to, 40-11.
Jimenez knocked down a jumper from the left elbow, but Saenz closed out the half with a lay-up, to put the Wildcats in front, 42-13, going into the locker room at halftime.
Out of the break, Soliz opened the second half with a bucket for the Wildcats, and Barrio followed it up with a steal from Enrique Hartline, drawing a shooting foul on the fast break on Hughes, his second of the game. Barrio converted both shots at the line and followed it up with a lay-up on their next possession to stretch their lead to, 48-13.
Hartline dropped in a layup for Floydada, but Soliz answered on the other end with a lay-up of his own to push the lead to, 50-15, with 5:10 to play in the game. With 4:33 to play in the third quarter, Jimmy Castillo was fouled on a fast break by Barrio. He made one-oftwo shots at the line, trimming the lead to, 50-16. Barrio answered with a layup, but on the other end, JT was fouled on an attempt by Saenz, earning a trip to the line. He split the free throws and Brandon followed it up with a three from the left wing, cutting the lead to, 52-20.
With 2:27 remaining in the quarter, Payan took a charge on Henderson, giving him his second foul of the game. Barrio would drive the lane, dishing a nolook pass to Soliz for a layup, but on the other end, Brandon was fouled on an attempt by Soliz, his second of the game. He converted both shots at the line, making the score, 54-22, with under a minute to go in the third.
Payan dished the ball to Trevino, who was fouled on an attempt by Luke, earning a trip to the line. He made one-of-two shots at the line, but Brandon would close out the third quarter with a lay-up, making the score, 55-24, going into the final quarter of play.
Saenz drove the lane and dumped the ball off to Rodriguez for a lay-up, but Luke answered with a jumper from the left wing, making the score, 57-26. Saenz would respond with a three from the left elbow, off of an assist from Payan, and Payan would follow it up with a drive, dumping the ball off to Castillo for a layup, stretching the lead to, 6226, with 6:46 to play.
Rodriguez dove for a loose ball getting it to Saenz, who dished the outlet pass down court to Payan for a quick lay-up, as Floydada took a time out with 5:29 to play in the game. Out of the break, Casamiro dropped in a lay-up, but Saenz answered with a lay-up and on their next possession, Ben Castillo was fouled on an attempt by Jimmy Castillo. He split the attempts at the line, making the score, 67-28, with just over four minutes remaining.
Saenz knocked down a pair of free throws, after being fouled on an attempt by Hartline, as Floydada took another time out, trailing, 69-28. Out of the break, Trevino buried a three from the right elbow and Saenz knocked down a pair of free throws to push their lead to, 74-28. Jimenez would close out the game with a floater, as Littlefield took the contest, 74-30.
The Wildcats were led in scoring by Saenz, who netted 24 points, as one-ofthree players in double-figures. Barrio chipped in 15 points, while Rodriguez tallied 14 points. Trevino contributed eight points, while Castillo added six points, and Soliz chipped in six points. Payan finished with two points in the contest.
The Wildcats were at Roosevelt on Friday to take on the Eagles, as district play resumed. Results were not available at press time. They will be at home against Slaton on Monday to take on the Tigers.
Tip-off is slated for 7:30 p.m.