Lady Cats clinch district title with win over Brownfield Tuesday
The Littlefield Lady Cats’ varsity basketball team clinched the district 3-3A Championship on Tuesday with a home win over Brownfield, 56-41.
With the win, the Lady Cats improve to 20-6 overall, 9-0 in district play.
Arianna Cruz opened the contest with a lay-up off of the screen from Ari Castillo to put the Lady Cats in front, 2-0, but on the other end, Alliey Coffey was fouled on an attempt by Castillo, earning a trip to the line. She converted both free throws to tie the game, but it was short-lived, asAmiah Elizondo responded with a jumper from the right elbow to put the Lady Cats back in front, 4-2, with 5:45 remaining in the opening quarter.
Coffey drove the right side for a lay-up to tie the game, but Kennadi Hanlin took a charge on Coffey on the next play and the Lady Cats followed it up, as Jazmine Rosalez dropped in a lay-up off of an assist from Cruz, pushing their lead to, 6-4. Hanlin picked up a steal in their own end and passed it to Cruz for a quick lay-up, stretching the lead to, 8-4, with 3:50 left to play in the quarter.
On their next possession, Hanlin was fouled on an attempt by Amery Pauda; she converted both shots from the line to make the score, 10-4, but Coffey answered with a three from the top of the key to cut it to, 10-7, with under three minutes to play in the first quarter. Cali Saldana fired right back with a three from the right elbow off of the assist from Rosalez, but the Lady Cubs responded, as Pauda drained a three from the left elbow to make it a three-point game, 13-10.
With 1:07 left to play in the quarter, Castillo was fouled on an attempt by Kayleigh Saldana; she made one-oftwo shots from the line and followed it up with a lay-up to close out the first quarter with the Lady Cats in front, 16-10.
Pauda knocked down a three from the left wing to open the second frame, but Castillo responded with a lay-up off of the assist from Cruz and on the next play, Castillo was fouled on an attempt by Mariah Perez. She split the attempts from the line, making the score, 19-13. The Lady Cubs took a time out with 6:29 remaining in the half to prevent a turnover. Out of the break, Castillo dropped in a lay-up off of an assist from Marysa Saenz and Saenz followed it up with a three from the right wing off of the assist from Hanlin, stretching their lead to, 24-13.
With 3:32 to play in the half, Castillo dropped in a lay-up, as the Lady Cubs took another time out to talk things over. Out of the break, Castillo snagged a steal from Maya Martinez in their own end and dropped in the lay-up to push the lead to, 29-13. Cruz followed it up with a three from the left elbow off of the pass from Rosalez, but Audry Davis and Kyndal Huerta dropped in back-to-back buckets for Brownfield to cut the lead to, 32-17, with 1:21 left to play in the half.
Saenz would knock down a three from to close out the first half with the Lady Cats in front, 35-17.
Martinez opened the second half with a lay-up, but Castillo responded with a lay-up of her own on the other end to make the score, 37-19. Pauda passed the ball into Martinez, who dropped in a lay-up, drawing an andone foul on Elizondo. She converted the free throw, trimming the lead to, 37-22, but Hanlin promptly responded with a three from the right elbow off of the assist from Rosalez, making the score, 40-22.
Littlefield took a time out with 4:15 to play in the third quarter, and out of the break, Cruz dropped in a lay-up off of the inbound play, pushing their lead to 20 points, 42-22. With just under four minutes to play in the third, Huerta dropped in a lay-up off of the inbound pass from Coffey under their own basket and on the defensive end, Martinez took a charge on Cali Saldana to regain possession for the Lady Cubs.
With 2:43 to play in the quarter, Coffey was fouled on an attempt by Castillo; she split the attempts at the line and Castillo answered with a layup on the other end to make the score, 44-25. Davis was fouled on the floor by Castillo, who picked up her third foul of the game. Davis made one-oftwo shots from the line and on the other end, Hanlin drove the lane, drawing a shooting foul on Perez. She too made one-of-two free throws to make the score, 45-26.
Coffey split a pair of free throws after being fouled on an attempt by Rosalez, but Hanlin answered with a lay-up to keep the lead at, 47-27. With time winding down in the quarter, Pauda bounced a pass through traffic to Coffey for a lay-up on the right side to close out the third quarter with the score, 47-29.
Elizondo opened the fourth quarter with a lay-up for Littlefield and Cruz drove to the basket, dumping the ball off to Hanlin, who was fouled on the shot attempt by Perez, who picked up her third foul of the game. Hanlin split the attempts, but Castillo followed it up with a lay-up in transition, stretching the lead to, 52-29. Pauda knocked down back-to-back threes for Brownfield to cut the lead to, 52-35, but on the other end, Rosalez dropped in a lay-up off of a turnover by Huerta, making the score, 54-35, with 4:31 left to play.
Coffey drained a three from the right wing, off of the assist from Huerta, but Castillo answered with a lay-up, making the score, 56-38. Lucy Guzman knocked down a three from the left elbow off of the assist from Coffey, as the Lady Cats went on to take the contest, 56-41.
The Lady Cats were led in scoring by Castillo, who posted a doubledouble with 20 points and 10 rebounds, while adding one steal. Joining her in double-figures scoring was Hanlin, who finished with 10 points, seven steals, four asssits and three rebounds. Cruz added nine points, four rebounds, four assists and four steals.
Saenz chipped in six points, three rebounds, one assist and one block, while Elizondo contributed four points and four rebounds, while Rosalez added four points, two assists, one rebound, one steal and one block and Saldana finished with three points, three rebounds and two steals.
The Lady Cats will be back in action on Tuesday when they travel to Lamesa to take on the Lady Tornadoes.
Tip-off is scheduled for 6:15 p.m.