The Littlefield Wildcats’ varsity basketball team suffered their second loss of district play on Friday, as they fell on the road to the Brownfield Cubs, 43-38.
With the loss, the Wildcats fall to 15-12 overall, 7-2 in district play.
Elijah Salazar dropped in a put-back off of a miss by Ryan Williams to open the first quarter, but Malik Mason answered with a lay-up off of an assist from Jeron Lawrence to tie the game, 2-2. Mason dropped in a put-back off of a miss by KJ Carroll to put the Cubs in front, 4-2, but it was short-lived, as Jeremiah Trevino dropped in a putback to tie the game, 4-4, with under five minutes to play in the opening quarter.
Jojo Carrillo dished a no-look pass to Mason, who was fouled on an attempt by Ryan Williams earning a trip to the line. He converted both free throws to give Brownfield a brief lead, but Zeke Saenz answered with a jumper from the left elbow off of the assist from Salazar, drawing an andone foul on Mason. He converted the free throw to put the Wildcats in front, 7-6.
With 1:39 to play in the first quarter, Ja’Den Williams took a charge on Mason and MJ Randle followed it up with a steal, taking it to the hoop for a fast-break lay-up to extend their lead to, 9-6, as the first quarter came to a close.
Ja’Den Williams dropped in a tip-in off of a miss by Omar Martinez and on the defensive end, Martinez took a charge on Carrillo, to regain possession for the Wildcats with 6:37 left to play in the half. Salazar rattled home a three from the right elbow, but Tristen Martinez answered with a three from the left wing, off of an assist from Lawrence, making the score, 14-9.
With 4:33 to play in the half, Martinez picked up a steal and took it the other way on the fast-break, as he was fouled on the shot attempt by Kaden McPherson. He converted both free throws to stretch their lead to, 16-9. Pedro Rordiguez dropped in a tip-in off of a miss by McPherson, but Chip Green answered with a three from the left elbow off of an assist from Randle, pushing the lead to, 19-11, with 2:27 to play in the half.
Martinez dropped in a lay-up off of a steal for the Wildcats, but Logan Shrimpton answered with a three from the right wing to cut the lead to, 21-14, going into the locker room at halftime.
Salazar banked in a three from the right elbow to open the second half, but Lawrence answered with a three of his own from the left elbow and Carrillo followed it up with a lay-up off of an assist from Lawrence to make the score, 23-19, with 6:27 to go in the third quarter.
Ryan Williams knocked down a jumper from the right elbow and followed it up with a drive in the middle for a lay-up to push their lead back out to, 27-19, but Lawrence answered with a lay-up for the Cubs to make it a six-point Littlefield lead, 27-21. Saenz was fouled on a put-back attempt by Mason, who picked up his third foul of the game. He made one-of-two shots at the line, making the score, 2821, with just over three minutes remaining in the quarter.
Q Busby dropped in a tip-in off of a miss by Martinez, but Lawrence answered with a jumper from the top of the key to make it a seven-point game, 30-23, with 2:01 remaining in the quarter. Trevino drove the middle of the lane for a lay-up, but Lawrence answered with a lay-up to close out the quarter with Littlefield in front, 32-25.
Lawrence was fouled on a threepoint attempt by Martinez to open the fourth quarter and made two-of-three shots from the foul line, as Littlefield took a time out with 6:45 to play in the game. Out of the break, Lawrence spun to the basket for a lay-up on the left side, drawing an and-one foul on Salazar. He converted the free throw to make it a one-possession game, 32-30, as Littlefield took another time out with 4:51 to play in the game.
Out of the break, Carrillo was fouled on the floor by Trevino; he made both shots from the line to tie the game, and Mason followed it up with a three from the left elbow off of the assist from Carrillo to put Brownfield in front, 35-32, as the Wildcats took another time out with three minutes remaining in the game.
Out of the break, Martinez dropped in a floater in the lan to cut the lead to one point, but on the other end, Lawrence was fouled on the floor by Salazar, earning a one-in-one opportuntiy at the line. He missed the free throw, but Mason was there fo the putback to make it a three-point Cubs’ lead, 37-34. Martinez dropped in a quick lay-up from the left side and on the defensive end, Busby took a charge on Mason, who fouled out of the contest.
Littlefield took a time out with 2:06 remaining and with under a minute to play, Carrillo was fouled on the floor by Randle, who fouled out of the contest. Brownfield took a time out and out of the break, Carrillo knocked down both free throws to make it a three-point Brownfield lead, 39-36.
Carrillo picked up a steal and took it in for a fast-break lay-up with 20.5 seconds remaining, but Martinez answered with a lay-up to make the score, 41- 38, as Littlefield took a time out with 8.1 seconds remaining in the contest. Out of the break, Rodriguez was fouled on the floor by Ryan Williams and went to the line for two free throws. He converted both shots at the line, as Littlefield fell to the Cubs, 43-38.
The Wildcats were led in scoring by Martinez who netted 10 points and Salazar, who tallied seven points. Ryan Williams, Trevino and Saenz each chipped in four points, while Green added three points and Randle, Busby and Ja’Den Williams each finished with two points.
The Wildcats hosted Dimmitt on Tuesday for senior night. Results were not available at press time. They will continue their season on Friday with a home game against Friona.
Tip-off is slated for 7:30 p.m.