Lady Cats clip Lady Owls, 47-37

The Littlefield Lady Cats’ varsity basketball team clipped the Hale Center Lady Owls last Thursday in the semi-finals of the 32nd annual Wildcat Classic Holiday Basketball Tournament, 47-37, to advance to the championship game.

With the win, the Lady Cats moved to 2-0 in tournament play for the week and, 14-5 overall on the season.

Arianna Cruz opened the gmae with back-to-back threes off of assists from Kennadi Hanlin and Ari Castillo, but Mariyah Espinosa answered with a three of her own from the top of the key for Hale Center, as the Lady Owls took a time out, trailing, 6-3, with 5:31 to play in the opening quarter. Out of the break, Kara Franklin dropped in a put-back off of a miss by Jazzlynn Guerra to make it a one-point game, however, on the other end, Hanlin was fouled on an attempt by Kandace Franklin. She converted both free throws to stretch the Littlefield lead to, 85.

Espinosa knocked down a stepback three from the top of the key over Hanlin to tie the game, 8-8, and Jazmine Rosalez was called for a five-second call on an inbound play, turning the ball back over to the Lady Owls with just under four minutes remaining in the quarter. Espinosa drew a shooting foul on Cali Saldana and converted both shots to give Hale Center their first lead of the game, 10-8.

On the other end, Amiah Elizondo was fouled on an attempt by Jaydee Castillo. She made oneof- two shots from the line to make it a one-point game, and on their next possession, Ari Castillo was fouled on a put-back attempt off of her own miss by Kara Franklin. She split the free throws to tie the game, 10-10, with 1:18 to play in the first quarter. Nevaeh Esquibel dropped in a lay-up on the right baseline to regain the lead for the Lady Cats, but it was short-lived, as Espinosa drove to the basket for a lay-up to tie the game, 12-12.

With time winding down in the quarter, Hanlin was fouled on the floor by Espinosa and split the attempts at the line, but Espinosa answered on the other end with a floater from the right elbow to beat the buzzer, putting Hale Center in front, 14-13, as the first quarter came to a close.

Jaydee Castillo dropped in a layup off of an assist from Espinosa to open the second frame, but on the other end, Cruz was fouled on an attempt by Layla Juarez. She converted both shots from the line to cut the lead to one point, 16-15. Littlefield took a time out with 3:32 to play in the half and with just over two minutes to play in the half, Saldana drove to the basket for a lay-up to put Littlefield back in front, 17-16.

Hale Center would answer, as Guerra drained a three from the right wing to make it a one-possession Lady Owls lead, 19-17. With time winding down in the half, Espinosa dropped in a layup to send Hale Center into the locker room at halftime in front of Littlefield, 21-17.

Juarez was fouled on an attempt by Elizondo to start the third quarter; she made one-of-two shots from the line, and on the other end, Ari Castillo was fouled on an attempt by Kara Franklin, who picked up her fourth foul of the game. She made both attempts from the line, making the score, 2219, with 6:54 to play in the quarter.

Guerra drained a three from the left elbow to stretch the lead to, 25-19, but two plays later, Hanlin pulled up for a jumper in the lane, cutting the lead to, 25-21, with 4:20 left to play in the third. Espinosa drained a three from the top of the key, as the Lady Owls quickly took a time out with their lead stretched to seven points, 28-21.

Out of the break, Hanlin drove to the basket for a lay-up and on their next possession, Ari Castillo was fouled on an attempt by Juarez, who picked up her fourth foul of the game. She converted one-of-two shots from the line to make it a two-possession game, 28-24. Jaydee Castillo knocked down a jump-hook in the lane and Chloe Baca scored a lay-up in transition to push their lead to, 32-24, with 2:14 remaining in the third quarter.

With 1:43 remaining in the quarter, Hanlin pulled up for a jumper from the right wing off of the assist from Cruz, as the Lady Cats took a time out with 1:41 to play in the quarter. Out of the break, Ari Castillo picked up a steal in their own end and put it up for an easy lay-up, cutting the lead to, 32-28, as the third quarter came to a close.

Ari Castillo was fouled on an attempt by Kara Franklin to open the fourth quarter, who fouled out of the contest with 7:47 to play. Ari Castillo sank both free throws and followed it up with a put-back off of her own miss on the next possession to tie the game, 32-32. Juarez knocked down a jumper from the left wing, as Hale Center took a time out with 7:13 left to play, leading, 34-32.

Out of the break, Ari Castillo dropped in a lay-up to tie the game, and on their next possession, she was fouled on a put-back attempt by Juarez, who fouled out of the contest with her fifth foul. Ari Castillo split the attempts at the line to give Littlefield a one-point advantage, 35-34. Cruz followed it up with a floater in the lane, and on the next play, she drew a blocking foul on Alyssa Ashby, sending her to the line for free throws.

Cruz converted one- of- two shots from the line to stretch their lead to four points, 38-34. Marysa Saenz was fouled on an attempt by Ashby with 4:27 remaining; she sank both free throws, pushing the lead to, 40-34. Hanlin was fouled on the floor by Espinosa, who picked up her fourth foul, as Hanlin went to the line for free throws. She made one-of-two shots from the line and Elizondo followed it up with a three from the right elbow, making the score, 44-34, with just over two minutes left to play.

Guerra was fouled on a threepoint attempt by Esquibel and converted all three shots to cut the lead to, 44-37, but Saldana answered with a jumper from the left wing and Cruz was fouled by Kandace Franklin, who fouled out of the contest with 42 seconds to play. Cruz made one-of-two shots from the line, as Littlefield went on to take the contest, 47-37.

Castillo led the team in scoring with 13 points, while Cruz tallied 12 points and Hanlin added 10 points. Elizondo and Saldana each contributed four points, while Saenz and Esquibel each finished with two points in the contest.