The Littlefield Wildcats’ varsity basketball team used a second- half surge to pull away from Idalou on Tuesday, taking down the Wildcats, 48-22.
With the win, the Wildcats improve to 19- 11 overall, 9- 4 in district play.
Hunter McClendon opened the contest with a lay- up to put Idalou in front, 2- 0, with 7: 37 to play in the opening quarter. After a dry spell for both teams, Nate Castaneda stepped into a three from the right elbow to give Littlefield the lead, 3-2, with just under four minutes to play in the first quarter.
McClendon dropped in a lay- up to regain the lead for Idalou and Brayshaun Bradford followed it up with a lay-up, drawing an and-one foul on Andrew Davis. He converted the free throw to stretch Idalou’s lead to, 7- 3, with 2: 37 to play in the quarter. Davis responded with a lay- up, off of a long pass from Jayden Barrio, and Sammy Saenz followed it up with a pull- up from the right elbow to tie the game, 7- 7.
With under a minute to go in the first quarter, Saenz dished the ball ahead to Castaneda, who dropped in a lay- up to close out the opening quarter with Littlefield in front, 9- 7.
Saenz hit a cutting Blayton Soliz for a layup to open the second frame, but Bradford answerd with a lay- up in transition to make the score, 11- 9, with 6: 40 to play in the half. Elijah Rodriguez dropped in a put-back off of a miss by Barrio, drawing an andone foul on AJ Huddleston. He missed the free throw, leaving the score, 13- 9.
With 4:33 to play in the half, Barrio was fouled on an attempt by McClendon, his second foul of the game. Barrio split the attempts at the line, making the score, 14- 9. Saenz drove the lane, dumping the ball off to Rodriguez for a layup, as Idalou took a time out with 3: 52 to play in the half, trailing, 16- 9.
Out of the break, Culpepper dropped in a lay- up off of the assist from Bryson Estes, and on their next possession, Estes was fouled on a three- point attempt by Rodriguez, his second of the game. Estes made one- of- three shots at the line, making the score, 16- 12. With under two minutes to go in the half, Saenz drove the left side for a lay- up and Barrio followed it up with a putback off of his own miss, pushing their lead out to, 20-12.
However, Estes would close out the half with a mid- range fade- away from the left side, making the score, 20- 14, going into the locker room at halftime.
Estes was called for a charge to open the second half, and with 5:34 to play in the third quarter, Davis drove the lane, drawing a shooting foul on Estes, his second of the game. Davis sank both free throws, but Idalou answered quickly to make the score, 22-16. With 4: 45 to play in the quarter, Barrio drained a three from the top of the key and on their next possession, Saenz was fouled on an attempt by Bradford, earning a trip to the line. Saenz converted both free throws to push their lead to, 2716.
Saenez drove the middle for a lay- up and Barrio followed it upwith a three from the left wing, off of an assist from Saenz, making the score, 32- 16. With time winding down in the quarter, Saenz buried a three from the left elbow, off of the assist from Barrio, making the score, 35-16, going into the finl quarter of play.
Saenz hit Barrio with an outlet pass for a layup in transition to open the fourth quarter and on their next possession, Davis was fouled on an attempt by Bradford. He split the attempts at the line, making the score, 38-16.
Cooper Hammock-Wilson drove the lane, bouncing a pass to McClendon for a lay-up, but on the other end, Barrio drove the lane, kicking the ball across to Castaneda, who buried a three from the left wing, pushing their lead to, 4118. Saenz followed it up with a three from the left elbow, as Littlefield took a time out to talk things over, leading, 44-18.
Out of the break, Bradford was fouled on an attempt by Jose Payan. He sank both shots at the line, and on the defensive end, Bradford took a charge on Ben Castillo to regain possession for Idalou, with time running out in the contest. Littlefield would get the ball back, as Chase Coronado was fouled on an attempt by Bradford. He made oneof- two shots at the line to extend their lead to, 45-20.
McClendon answered with a lay- up for Idalou, but on the other end, Castillo drew a shooting foul on Huddleston. He made one- of- two shots at the line, making the score, 46- 22. Coronado closed out the game with a put- back, making the score, 48- 22, as Littlefield swept the season series with Idalou.
Saenz led the Wildcats in scoring with 14 points, while Barrio chipped in 11 points and Castaneda added eight points. Rodriguez tallied four points, while Coronado and Davis each added three points and Soliz netted two points. Castillo finished with one point in the contest.
The Wildcats will close out the regular season next Tuesday on the road against Muleshoe.
Tip- off is slated for 6:15 p.m.