LADY CATS TOP DIMMITT, 55-31

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  • MADISON McNEESE - Littlefield Lady Cats
    MADISON McNEESE - Littlefield Lady Cats
  • ASHTYN PARKER - Littlefield Lady Cats
    ASHTYN PARKER - Littlefield Lady Cats
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The Littlefield Lady Cats’ varsity basketball team moved to 3-0 in district play on Tuesday with a home victory over the Dimmitt Bobbies, 55-31.

With the win, the Lady Cats improve to 15-7 overall on the season.

Littlefield’s Madison McNeese opened the game with a steal, getting the ball ahead to Kennadi Hanlin for a quick lay-up and McNeese followed it up with another steal, this time taking it to the hoop her self for a lay-up to make the score, 4-0, with 7:20 to play in the opening quarter.

Ashtyn Parker knocked down a jumper from the right elbow, off of the assist from Hanlin, and McNeese was fouled on a put-back attempt by Sara Loeza, earning a trip to the line. She split the free throws, but followed it up with a lay-up, to make the score, 9-0, with just under five minutes to play in the first quarter.

McNeese buried a three from the left wing, off of the assist from Leilani Solis and followed it up with a layup, off of an assist from Arianna Cruz, pushing the lead to, 14-0. With 3:29 remaining in the quarter, McNeese picked up a steal and pushed it ahead to Emily Champion, who dropped in the lay-up, drawing an and-one foul on Michelle Ontiveros. She converted the free throw to make the score, 17-0.

The Lady Cats kept up the defensive pressure, as Brookelyn Gau snagged a steal and got it ahead to Champion for a lay-up, stretching their lead to, 19-0, with 3:15 left to play in the quarter. Dimmitt took a time out with 3:14 left to play in the first, and out of the break, Jasmine Barios picked up a steal and got it ahead to McNeese for a lay-up, extending their lead to, 21-0.

Mahalia Huey was fouled on an attempt by Milee Thomas and split the free throws, but on the other end, Ontiveros answered with a layup for Dimmitt to end the scoring drought for the Bobbies, trimming the lead to, 22-2. With time winding down in the quarter, Na’Khiyah Porras was fouled on an attempt by Amiah Elizondo; she split the free throws, making the score, 22-3, as the first quarter came to a close.

McNeese opened the second quarter with a lay-up off of an assist from Hanlin and on the next play, McNeese was fouled on an attempt by Porras. She split the free throws, stretching their lead to, 25- 3. Cruz dropped in a lay-up and McNeese followed it up with a layup off of an assist from Champion to make the score, 29-3.

Dimmitt answered with a bucket, but the Lady Cats came right back, as Huey dropped in a lay-up and Solis knocked down a jumper from the right elbow, pushing their lead to, 33-5, with 2:02 left to play in the half. With one minute to play, Solis was fouled on a put-back attempt by Kriselle Ramirez. She made one-of-two shots at the line to make the score, 34-5.

With under one minute to play in the half, Kaylee Lujan knocked down a long two-pointer from the left elbow, but in the closing sec onds, Elizondo split a pair of free throws to send the Lady Cats into halftime in front of the Bobbies, 35- 7.

McNeese scored a lay-up in transition, drawing an and-one foul on Haylee Melendez to open the second half. She converted the free throw to make the score, 38-7. The Bobbies strung together three consecutive scoring possessions, before Hanlin was fouled on an attempt by Thomas. She made one-of-two shots at the line, making the score, 39-13, with 5:39 remaining in the third quarter.

The Bobbies dropped in a layup, but on the other end, McNeese was fouled on an attempt by Ontiveros; she split the free throws, making the score, 40-15. Lujan knocked down a jumper from the right wing, but Solis answered with a trhee from the right elbow, off of the assist from Champion and McNeese closed out the quarter with a steal for a fast-break lay-up, making the score, 45-17, heading into the final quarter of play.

Porras opened the fourth quarter with a jumper from the left elbow and Caitlyn Olmos followed it up with a jumper from the left elbow to stretch the lead to, 45-21. With 6:21 remaining in the game, Porras was fouled on an attempt by McNeese. She missed both free throws, but they were able to get the offensive rebound and draw another foul on Gau, earning a trip to the line. This time they made both free throws to cut the lead to, 45-23.

Dimmitt scored back-to-back buckets in transition, before Huey dropped in a lay-up off of an assist from Solis to end the scoring run for the Bobbies, making the score, 47-27. Champion was fouled on the floor by Ontiveros and made one-of-two shots at the line and after an offensive rebound by the Lady Cats, Solis was fouled on an attempt and sank both shots from the line to stretch their lead to, 50-27.

Ontiveros split a pair of free throws with 2:25 remaining, but McNeese answered with a three from the top of the key to extend their lead to, 53-28. Thomas split a pair of free throws and the Bobbies followed it up with another bucket, but in the closing seconds, McNeese dropped in a pair of free throws, as Littlefield cruised to victory, 55-31.

McNeese led the Lady Cats in scoring with 28 points, to go along with six steals, four rebounds and two assists. Solis tallied eight points, two rebounds, one assist, one steal and one block, while Champion chipped in six points, two steals, one rebound and one assist, and Huey contributed five points, and one rebound.

Hanlin tallied three points, two rebounds and two assists, while Parker chipped in two points, five rebounds, and two steals, and Cruz added two points, two rebounds, one assist and one steal. Elizondo contributed one point one rebound and one assist, while Gau added six rebounds and one steal and Valdez added one assist.

Barios finished with three steals and two rebounds in the contest.

The Lady Cats hosted Brownfield on Friday for their first meeting with the Lady Cubs. Results were not available at press time. They will continue their season on Tuesday with a road game at Friona.

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