Lady Cats capture Bi-district trophy over Kermit

The Littlefield Lady Cats’ varsity basketball team used a fast start in Seminole on Monday night to cruise to a, 69- 27, victory over the Kermit Yellowjackets to claim the Class 3A Bi- district trophy.

With the win, the Lady Cats improve to 22-9 overall on the season.

Sophia Garcia was fouled on an attempt by Kennadi Hanlin, to open the contest. She split the free throws to put Kermit in front, 1- 0. Amiah Elizondo dropped in a lay- up off of an assist from Madison McNeese, but Ebbin Mallory answered with a steal for a quick lay- up to put the Yellojackets back in front, 3-2, with 6: 05 remaining in the opening quarter.

Kyndal Edgemon was fouled on an attempt, earning a trip to the line. She converted oneof- two shots to tie the game, 3- 3, and Hanlin followed it up with a steal for a fast- break lay-up, making the score, 5-3., with 5: 33 to play in the first quarter. Edgemon dropped in a reverse- lay- up on a secondchance opportunity, but Iris Lujan hit a cutting Garcia for a lay- up in the paint to trim the Littlefield lead to, 7-5.

Elizondo buried a three from the left wing and Hanlin followed it up with a steal getting it ahead to McNeese in transition for a lay- up, pushing their lead to, 12-5, with 2:44 to play in the quarter. Kermit took a full time out and out of the break, Jessica Lara was fouled on an attempt by Maerysa Saenz. She made oneof- two shots at the line to trim the lead to, 12- 6.

With 2:02 to play in the quarter, Arianna Cruz hit Hanlin on a back- door cut for a lay- up and with time winding down in the quarter, Saenz scored a layup off of a steal in their own end and Hanlin closed out the quarter with a steal, getting it ahead to Edgemon, who got it to Saenz for a jumper from the left elbow to make the score, 18- 6, heading into quarter number two.

McNeese picked up a steal to open the second frame and scored a fast- break lay- up, drawing an and- one foul on Monika Leyva. She missed the free throw, leaving the score, 20- 6. Edgemon dropped in a lay- up off of an assist from Saenz in transition, but Kermit answered with a bucket in the paint to cut the lead to, 22- 8, with 6: 46 to play in the first half.

Garcia banked in a three from the top of the key, but Littlefield answered with a bucket from McNeese, making the score, 24- 11. Edgemon dropped in a lay- up from the left side off of an assist from Jazmine Barrios, as Kermit took a time out with 4: 31 to play in the half. Out of the break, McNeese drained a deep three from the top of the key off of an assist from Hanlin, making the score, 29-11.

With 2: 34 remaining in the half, McNeese knocked down a pull- up jumper from the top of the key, as Kermit took another time out with 2:18 to play in the half. With 2: 01 remaining in the half, Lujan was fouled on a jumper by Saenz; she split the free throws making the score, 31-12. Edgemon dropped in a lay- up on the left side off of an assist from McNeese and on their next possession, Bri Valdez dished a pass across the lane to McNeese for a lay- up on the right side, pushing their lead to, 35-12.

With time winding down in the half, Danica Jouett picked up a steal and got it to Cali Saldana, who then passed it to Kamryn Meiwes, who dropped in a lay-up to close out the first half with the Lady Cats in front, 37-12.

Garcia sank a jump hook from the right side to open the second half for Kermit, but Hanlin picked up a steal, and McNeese dropped in a putback off of the miss by Hanlin to extend their lead to, 39- 14. Edgemon picked up a steal and took it to the hoop for a fastbreak lay- up and on the next play, McNeese sent an outlet pass down court to Edgemon for a fast- break lay- up, stretching their lead to, 43- 14.

Hanlin knocked down a deep two from the right elbow off of an assist from McNeese and on their next possession, Hanlin took it to the middle for a floater in the lane, off of an assist from Kaeleigh Logan, making the score, 47- 14, with just over three minutes to play in the third quarter. Mallory dropped in a put- back off of a miss by Garcia and Michaela Cazarin knocked down a jumper from the right side to cut the lead to, 47- 18.

Barrios nailed a three from the right elbow, but Cazarin answered with a take up the middle for a lay- up, trimming the lead to, 50- 20, to close out the third quarter.

Edgemon dropped in a layup off of an assist form Elizondo to open the final quarter and McNeese followed it up with a three from the right elbow off of an assist from Cruz, pushing their lead to, 5520. Garcia knocked down a runner in the lane, but Elizondo answered with a three from the left elbow to make the score, 58-22.

Leylani Quiroz dropped in a lay-up off of a steal in their own end for Kermit, but Edgemon hit a cutting McNeese for a lay- up on the other end to stretch the lead to, 60- 24. Zenia Florez was fouled on an attempt by Elizondo and split the free throws to cut the lead to, 60-25, with 5:08a remaining, but Hanlin answered with a three from the left wing to make the score, 63-25.

Elizondo dropped in a lay-up on the left side off of an assist from Saenz and she followed it up with a jumper from the top of the key. With 2: 57 to play, Kermit dropped in a bucket, but with time winding down in the game, Saldana knocked down a jumper in the lane off of an assist from Meiwes, as Littlefield went on to take the contest, 69-27.

The Lady Cats were led by McNeese, who finished with 20 points. She was joined in double- figures by Edgemon, who netted 15 points, Elizondo, who chipped in 12 points and Hanlin, who added 11 points.

Saenz tallied four points, while Barrios contributed three points and Saldana and Meiwes each finished with two points in the contest.

The Lady Cats will take on Childress in Floydada on Thursday for the Area Championship.

Tip- off is scheduled for 6 p.m.