The Littlefield Wildcats’ varsity basketball team, grinding out a victory on the road over the Friona Chieftains, 53-37, in their first meeting of the season.
With the win, the Wildcats improve to 16-6 overall, 5-2 in district play.
Jayden Barrio was fouled on an attempt to open the contest for Littlefield. He sank both free throws to give the Wildcats a brief lead, but Justen Trevino answered with a jumper from the left elbow to tie the game, 2-2. Ryan Williams responded hitting Chip Green in transition for a lay-up and Nate Castaneda followed it up with a put-back off of a miss by Barrio to make the score, 6-2, with 4:46 to play in the opening quarter.
Littlefield kept it going with another bucket and on the next play, Green was fouled on an attempt, earning a trip to the line. He made one-of-two shots from the line, pushing their lead to, 9-2. Andrew Davis dropped in a put-back off of a miss by Barrio, but Friona knocked down a three from the right wing, trimming the lead to, 11-5.
The Chieftains took a charge on Davis to regain possession, but the Wildcats ended the first quarter in front, 11-5.
Green opened the second frame with a three from the right elbow and Williams dropped in a floater on the baseline off of the assist from Green, pushing their lead to, 16-5, but Rafael Rocha answered with a three from the left elbow for Friona to cut the lead in half, 16-8. Brice Jeter followed it up with a lay-up, drawing an and-one foul on Jose Payan. He was called for an illegal shot on the free throw leaving the score, 16-10.
With 3:06 to play in the half, Green buried a three from the left elbow off of the assist from Barrio, but Jeter answered with a three from the left wing to make it a sixpoint game, 19-13. With just over a minute left to play in the half, Barrio hit a cutting Williams in the middle for a lay-up, and with under a minute to play in the half, Williams was fouled on an attempt by Trevino, his second. He converted both shots at the line and Green closed out the half with a three from the left elbow off of the assist from Castaneda, making the score, 26-13, going into the locker room at halftime.
Friona opened the second half on a, 12-0, scoring run to slice the lead to, 26-25, as Littlefield took a time out to talk things over with 4:32 to play in the half. Out of the break, Barrio was fouled on a jumper in the lane by Trevino, his third. Barrio converted one-of-two shots from the line, and Green followed it up with a three from the right wing off of the assist from Williams, pushing the lead back out to, 30-25.
Green hit Williams for a lay-up on the next play, as he drew an and-one foul on the play. He converted the free throw, but Friona answered, as Damian Sanchez dropped in a floater from the elbow to trim the lead to, 33-27. With under a minute to go in the quarter, Green drained a three from the left elbow and followed it up with another three from the left wing off of the assist from Williams, stretching the lead to, 39-27, as the third quarter came to a close.
Green kept it going with a three from the left elbow off of the assist from Williams to open the final quarter and on their next possession, Davis hit a cutting Barrio for a lay-up on the left side to extend their lead to, 44-27. Rocha knocked down a jumper from the left elbow to stop the bleeding for Friona, but with just under five minutes to play in the game, Green grabbed a defensive rebound and went coast-to-coast for a fastbreak lay-up, drawing an and-one foul on Rocha. He missed the free throw leaving the score, 46-29.
Friona answered with back-toback buckets, but Green responded with a three from the left elbow, making the score, 49-33, with 2:50 to play in the game. The Wildcats kept the offense going, as Williams picked up a steal and was fouled on the offensive end, earning a trip to the line. He converted both free throws and on the next play, he picked up a steal at mid court and took it to the hoop for a fast-break lay-up, stretching their lead to, 53-33.
Trevino knocked down a bucket for Friona and after a Chieftains time out, Sanchez dropped in a layup off of a steal, as Littlefield went on to take the contest, 53-37.
Green led the Wildcats with 29 points, four rebound, one assist and one steal, while Williams tallied 11 points, nine rebounds, six assists and three steals, and Barrio chipped in five points, five rebounds, three steals and two assists.
Castaneda contributed four points, eight rebounds and one assist, while Davis added two points, six rebounds and one steal and Coleman finished with two points in the contest.
The Wildcats hosted Slaton on Tuesday for a huge district matchup. Results were not available at press time. They will continue their season on Friday with a road game against Shallowater.
Tip-off is scheduled for 7:30 p.m.