LADY CATS FINISH FARWELL INVITATIONAL AS RUNNER-UPS

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  • FARWELL INVITATIONAL RUNNER-UPS – The Littlefield Lady Cats went 2-1 at the 2021 Farwell Invitational this past weekend, falling to the host team Farwell Lady Blue, 49-42, in the championship game on Saturday. (Shown L-R): Ellie Lopez, Jazmin Barios, Arianna Cruz, Brookelyn Gau, Leilani Solis, Bri Valdez, Amiah Elizondo, Kennadi Hanlin, Madison McNeese, Ashtyn Parker, Emily Champion and Mahalia Huey. (Submitted Photo)
    FARWELL INVITATIONAL RUNNER-UPS – The Littlefield Lady Cats went 2-1 at the 2021 Farwell Invitational this past weekend, falling to the host team Farwell Lady Blue, 49-42, in the championship game on Saturday. (Shown L-R): Ellie Lopez, Jazmin Barios, Arianna Cruz, Brookelyn Gau, Leilani Solis, Bri Valdez, Amiah Elizondo, Kennadi Hanlin, Madison McNeese, Ashtyn Parker, Emily Champion and Mahalia Huey. (Submitted Photo)
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The Littlefield Lady Cats’ varsity basketball team fell short against the Farwell Lady Blue, 49-42, in the 2021 Farwell Invitational Championship game on Saturday.

They went 2-1 in tournament play for the weekend.

Charlie Trimble opened the contest with a three from the left wing for Farwell, but Arianna Cruz answered with a reverse lay-up for Littlefield, trimming the lead to, 3-2. Jaelyn Smith scored a put-back off of a miss by Landri Richey, making the score, 5-2, as Littlefield took a time out with 6:22 remaining in the opening quarter.

Out of the break, junior, Madison McNeese pulled up for a jumper from the left wing, off of the assist from Cruz, cutting the lead to one point, 5- 4. Trimble buried another three from the left wing, but McNeese answered with a runner in the lane, off of the assist from Cruz, making it a one-possession game, 8-6, with 4:38 remaining in the first quarter.

With 2:13 remaining in the opening quarter, Cruz was fouled on an attempt; she split the free throws, and on the other end, Landri Richey was fouled on an attempt by Cruz. She too split the free throws, stretching the Farwell lead to, 10-7, with just under two minutes to play in the first quarter.

Trimble drained a three from the top of the key, as Littlefield took a time out to talk things over with 1:25 remaining in the quarter. Out of the break, with time winding down in the quarter, senior, Leilani Solis, sank a three from the right wing to cut the Farwell lead to, 13-10, heading into quarter number two.

McNeese opened the second quarter with a lay-up off of a steal, but the Lady Blue quickly answered with a lay-up to make the score, 15-12, with 4:16 remaining in the first half. With just under three minutes to play in the half, sophomore, Kennadi Hanlin, sank a three from the left wing to tie the game, 15-15, but on the other end, Richey was fouled on an attempt by senior, Mahalia Huey. She converted both free throws to regain the lead for Farwell, but it was short-lived, as Cruz answered with a three from the left wing to give Littlefield the lead, 18-17.

Farwell took a time out with 2:37 remaining in the first half, and out of the break, Trimble was fouled on the floor by senior, Brookelyn Gau. She converted both ends of the one-in-one opportunity at the line to give the Lady Blue a one-point lead, 19-18.

Isabella Jaime scored a lay-up off of a turnover for Farwell, but McNeese responded with a put-back off of her own miss to make it a one-point game with time winding down in the half. In the closing seconds, Trimble knocked down another three, this one from the right elbow to send Farwell into the locker room in front of Littlefield, 24- 20.

The Lady Blue opened the second half with a three from the right wing, but McNeese answered with a strong take to the basket for a lay-up to make the score, 27-22. Farwell’s barrage of three’s continued, as Smith added one from the left wing, off of the assist from Trimble, pushing their lead to, 30-22.

Cruz split a pair of free throws and then took a charge on the defensive end to regain possession for the Lady Cats with 3:45 remaining in the third quarter. The Lady Blue knocked down a pair of free throws with 2:36 to play in the quarter, but McNeese closed out the quarter with a jumper from the left side to cut the lead to, 32-25, heading into the final quarter of play.

Farwell took a time out to prevent a five-second call on the inbound play to open the fourth quarter, but the Lady Cat defense, out of the time out, forced the five-second call anyways to gain possession. Huey was fouled on an attempt by Richey; she split the free throws, but McNeese was there for the put-back to cut the lead to, 32- 28, with just under seven minutes to play in the game.

Trimble scored a put-back off of a miss by Richey and a few possessions later, Richey dropped in a lay up to stretch the Farwell lead to, 36- 28. With 5:38 left to play, Solis was fouled on the floor by Smith, earning a one-in-on opportunity at the line. She capitalized, sinking both free throws to trim the lead to, 36-30. The Lady Blue split a pair of free throws, but McNeese answered with a layup, as the Lady Cats quickly called a time out to talk things over, trailing by five points, 37-32, with 5:24 left to play in the contest.

Out of the break, Solis scored a putback off of a miss by Cruz, but Farwell scored a bucket in transition to extend their lead back out to, 39-34. Solis knocked down a deep two from the right wing, but on the other end, the Lady Blue knocked down a pair of free throws, making the score, 41-36, with just over four minutes to play in the game.

Farwell would close out the final four minutes of the game on an, 8-4, scoring run to take the contest, 49-42.

McNeese led the team with 20 points, to go along with eight rebounds and four steals. Solis tallied nine points and three rebounds, while Cruz chipped in seven points, four rebounds, one assist and one steal.

Hanlin contributed three points, four rebounds and one assist, while Parker tallied two points and seven rebounds and Huey added one points and two rebounds. Gau finished with five rebounds, two assists and one steal.

The Lady Cats hosted Farwell on Tuesday. Results were not available at press time. They will continue their season on Friday, as they open district play at Lamesa against the Lady Tornadoes.

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