The Littlefield Wildcats’ varsity basketball team went on the road on Friday and took down the Dimmitt Bobcats, 62-40, to sweep the season series.
With the win, the Wildcats improve to 18-11 overall, 84 in district play.
Kaden Carpio drove the right side for a lay-up off the glass to open the game for Dimmitt, and Justin Saenz followed it up with a three from the top of the key, stretching their lead to, 5-0, with just under six minutes to play in the opening quarter.
Jayden Barrio hit Nate Castaneda on a cut to the basket on the inbound play for a lay-up, but Frankie Cortez answered with a three from the right elbow, pushing the Bobcat lead to, 8-2, with under five minutes to play in the first quarter. Andrew Davis was fouled on a put-back attempt and sank both shots at the line to trim the lead to, 8-4.
On the other end, Carpio dished a no-look pass back to Rudy Fuentes under the basket for a lay-up, but the Wildcats would answered with a bucket to make the score, 10-6, with 3:43 to play in the first quarter. Elijah Rodriguez dropped in a put-back off of a miss by Davis and Sammy Saenz followed it up with a drive on the left side for a lay-up to tie the game, 10-10, with 2:30 to play in the quarter.
Davis kept it going with a drive through the middle for a lay- up and with time winding down in the quarter, Barrio was fouled from behind by Fuentes, earning a trip to the line. He split the free throws, pushing their lead to, 13-10, as the first quarter came to a close.
Jose Payan dished a pass through traffic to Ben Castillo for a lay-up, and Barrio followed it up with a three from the right elbow, off of the assist from Sammy Saenz, stretching the lead to, 18- 10, as Dimmitt took a time out with 6:24 to play in the first half. Out of the break, Cortez knocked down a jumper in the lane for Dimmitt, and on their next possession, Cortez was fouled on an attempt, earning a trip to the line. He converted both free throws to make it a two-possession Littlefield lead, 18-14.
With just over five minutes remaining in the half, Cortez picked up a steal and took it the other way for a fast-break lay-up, but Barrio responded with a three from the right elbow, off of the assist from Payan, pushing the lead back out to, 2116. With 3:27 remaining in the half, Sammy grabbed a steal, driving to the basket, he dumped the ball off to Barrio who was fouled on an attempt by Benny Navarro. He sank both shots at the line to stretch their lead to, 23-16.
Sammy Saenz dropped in a floater from the left side and followed it up with a steal on defense, taking it to the hoop for a fast-break lay-up, extending their lead to, 27-16. He kept it going with a three from the left wing, off of an assist from Barrio, as Dimmitt took a time out with 2:18 to play in the half. Out of the break, Sammy Saenz drove the left side for a lay-up, but on the other end, Carpio answered with a quick lay-up, drawing an and-one foul on Sammy Saenz. He converted the free throw to trim the lead to, 32-19.
Rodriguez dropped in a lay-up for the Wildcats, but Cortez answered with a fade-away over Castaneda in the lane for Dimmitt and Gaquorie Chatham followed it up with a spin on the left side, getting to the basket for a lay-up, drawing an and-one foul on Rodriguez. He converted the free throw to make it a 10-point game, 34- 24. With time winding down in the half, Barrio knocked down a three from the left elbow, off of an assist from Payan, pushing their lead to, 37-24, going into the locker room at halftime.
Cortez drove the middle for a lay-up to open the second half for Dimmitt and Carpio dropped in a floater in the lane off of an assist from Justin Saenz, trimming the lead to, 37-28, with just over five minutes to play in the third quarter. Carpio hit a cutting Cortez on the right side for a lay-up, as Dimmitt took a time out with 4:26 to play in the third, and the lead cut to, 37-30.
Out of the break, Castaneda drained a three from the right elbow, off of the assist from Sammy Saenz and Sammy Saenz followed it up with a fastbreak lay-up on the next play, drawing an and-one foul on Carpio. He converted the free throw to push their lead back out to, 43-30.
With 1:33 to play in the quarter, Cortez took a charge on Davis, but the Wildcats would regain possession, as Barrio hit a cutting Payan for a lay-up on the inbound play, making the score, 45-30. With time winding down in the quarter, Barrio picked up a steal and took it the other way for a fast-break lay-up, and in the closing seconds of the quarter, Payan picked up a steal and got it ahead to Barrio for a fast-break layup, pushing the lead out to, 49-30, heading into the final quarter of play.
Barrio drove the lane, kicking it across to Payan for a lay-up, but Keenan Hernandez answered with a steal, dishing it ahead to Cortez for the fast-break lay-up, trimming the lead to, 51-32. Littlefield took a time out with 5:19 to play in the game, and out of the break, Sammy Saenz knocked down a jumper in the lane and on their next possession, Barrio drove the lane, kicking it out to Castaneda, who buried a three from the left wing, making the score, 56-32, with 4:35 to play in the game.
Barrio drove the left side for a lay-up, drawing an and- one ful on Benny Navarro. He sank the free throw, pushing the lead to, 59-32. On their next possession, Sammy Saenz was fouled on an attempt by Cortez, earning a trip to the line. He made one-of-two shots from the line, making the score, 60-32.
Justin Saenz knocked down a jumper in the lane for Dimmitt and Cortez followed it up with a steal from Sammy Saenz at half court, taking it to the hoop for a fast-break lay-up, making the score, 60-36. Chatham dropped in a put-back off of his own miss, but Sammy Saenz answered with a layup off of the assist from Castaneda, making the score, 62-38.
Justin Saenz split two pairs of free throws to close out the game, as Littlefield took the contest, 62-40.
Barrio led the way for the Wildcats with 21 points, six assists and three rebounds, while Saenz tallied 19 points, seven steals, five rebounds and two assists. Castaneda chipped in eight points, eight rebounds, two assists and one steal, while Davis contributed four points, four rebounds, two assists and two steals and Rodriguez added four points and four rebounds.
Payan chipped in four points, three steals and two assists and Castillo finished with two points and two rebounds.
They hosted Idalou on Tuesday for senior night. Results were not avaialble at press time. They will close out the regular season next Tuesday, when they travel to Muleshoe to take on the Mules.
Tip-off is scheduled for 6:30 p.m.