LADY CATS NOTCH FIRST WIN OF SEASON

The Littlefield Lady Cats’ varsity basketball team picked up their first win of the season on Saturday with a home victory over Hale Center, 46-37.

With the win, the Lady Cats are 1-2 overall on the season.

Jadydee Castillo dropped in a lay-up off of the assist from Layla Juarez to get the first quarter underway for Hale Center, but on the other end, Littlefield answered, as sophomore, Kyndal Edgemon, knocked down a jumper to tie the game, 2-2, with 6:29 left to play in the opening quarter.

With 5:40 remaining in the quarter, junior, Madison McNeese, picked up a steal and drove to the basket, hitting senior, Emily Champion, with a bounce pass for a layup to put the Lady Cats in front, 4- 2. Hale Center took a time out with 5:24 remaining in the first quarter and out of the break, Edgemon took a charge on Keyaira Mata, to give the Lady Cats possession.

On the other end, Edgemon drove the left baseline and dropped in a lay-up, drawing an and-one foul on Castillo. She converted the free throw to make the score, 7-2, with just under four minutes remaining in the quarter. Hale Center answered with a three from the right wing by Juarez, but on the offensive end for Littlefield, senior, Leilani Solis, missed a three, but followed her shot getting an offensive rebound and kicking it out to McNeese at the top of the key, who buried a three to extend their lead to, 10-5, with just under three minutes remaining in the quarter.

Lorena Espinosa knocked down a jumper from the right wing, but Solis answered on the other end with a three from the left wing for Littlefield, off of the inbound pass from Jasmine Barrios, pushing the lead to, 13-7, as the first quarter came to a close.

Mariyah Espinosa hit a runner from the right side to open the second quarter, but on the other end, Edgemon was fouled on an attempt by Chloe Baca. She split the attempts at the line, making the score, 14-9, with 7:17 remaining in the first half. Mariyah Espinosa continued to cut into the Littlefield lead, as she knocked down another runner from the right side to make it a three-point game, 14-11, but the Lady Cats continued to have the answer, as Parker knocked down a jumper in the lane to make the score, 16-11.

Champion scored a lay-up off of a steal, drawing an and-one foul on Mariyah Espinosa. She missed the and-one try, leaving the score, 18-11, with 6:25 to play in the second quarter. Castillo dropped in a lay-up on the left side for Hale Center and on their next possession, Juarez was fouled on an attempt by Mahalia Huey, earning a trip to the line. She converted both free throws to cut the lead to, 18- 15, with 4:46 to play in the half.

With 4:21 to play in the half, Castillo was fouled on a rebound by Edgemon, earning a one-in-one opportunity at the line. She made the first shot, but missed the second, however the Lady Owls would regain possession, and Castillo dropped in a lay-up, drawing another and-one foul on Edgemon. She missed the free throw, leaving the game tied, 18- 18.

McNeese answered with a three from the left elbow on the other end for Littlefield and followed it up with a put-back off of a miss by Cruz, to push their lead back out to, 23-18. With under two minutes to play in the half, Champion dropped in a lay-up off of the assist from Barrios to make the score, 25-18. Cruz was fouled ona take to the basket by Mariyah Espinosa and sank both free throws to stretch the lead to, 27-18, but with time winding down in the half, Mata dropped in a lay-up in transition to make the score, 27-20, heading into the locker room at halftime.

Edgemon drove the left baseline for a lay-up to open the second half for the Lady Cats and Cruz was fouled on their next possession by Laurel Benson. She converted both free throws to stretch their lead to double-digits, 31-20. Castillo got the Lady Owls going in the second half with a put-back and Mariyah Espinosa followed it up with a steal, passing the ball to Baca in transition for a lay-up, cutting the lead to, 31-24, with 5:30 remaining in the third quarter.

Parker dropped in a put-back off of a miss by Cruz, as Hale Center took a time out with 2:55 to play in the quarter, trailing Littlefield, 33- 24. Out of the break, Jazz Guerra dropped in a lay-up off of the inbound pass from under the basket, trimming the lead to, 33-26. the score would stand, heading into the final quarter of play.

Baca opened the final frame with a three from the left elbow for Hale Center to cut the lead to, four points, but, with 6:10 left to play, McNeese picked up a steal and Cruz scored a put-back off of the miss by McNeese, making the score, 35-29.

Makayla Espinosa scored a putback in the lane for Hale Center, but on the other end, Cruz was fouled on a put-back attempt by Juarez. She converted both free throws to make the score, 37-31, with 4:44 left to play in the game. Parker was fouled on a shot attempt by Castillo and split the free throws to stretch the lead to, 38- 31, and the Lady Cats took a time out with 3:42 remaining in the contest.

Out of the break, Edgemon dropped in a lay-up on the right side, off of the assist from Champion, but Castillo answered with a lay-up for the Lady Owls to trim the lead to, 40-33, with 2:34 remaining in the game. Champion was fouled on the offensive end by Makayla Espinosa and converted both free throws and later in the quarter, McNeese scored a transition lay-up to extend their lead to, 44-33.

With 1:35 remaining, Mariyah Espinosa dropped in a runner from the right side and with time winding down, Castillo was fouled on an attempt by Champion; she converted both free throws to trim the lead to, 44-37. Cruz would knocked down a pair of free throws in the closing seconds for Littlefield to put the game away, as they took down Hale Center, 46-37.

The Lady Cats had three players finish in double-figures scoring, as McNeese, Cruz and Edgemon each finished with 10 points. Champion tallied eight points, while Parker chipped in five points and Solis finished with three points.

The Lady Cats were at Levelland on Tuesday to take on the Loboettes. Results were not available at press time. They will continue their season on Friday with a home game against Tahoka.

Tip-off is scheduled for 6:30 p.m.