Lady Cats hold ofF Lamesa, 41-32

The Littlefield Lady Cat’s varsity basketball team went into Lamesa and took down the Lady Tornadoes, 41-32, to sweep the season series and play the spoiler on Lamesa’s senior night.

With the win, the Lady Cats improve to 21-6 overall, 10-0 in district play.

Fashaa Edwards knocked down a short jumper from the right elbow off of the inbound pass from Reagan Derington to open the contest for Lamesa and with 5:07 remaining in the opening quarter, Derington took a charge on Kennadi Hanlin to regain possession for the Lady Tornadoes.

With 3:54 left to play in the first quarter, Ari Castillo was fouled on an attempt by Chrisalynn Uresti; she converted one of two shots from the line to get the Lady Cats on the board, making the score, 21. Castillo picked up a steal in their own end and got it to Jazmine Rosalez, who drew a shooting foul on the play. Rosalez converted both shots at the line to make the score, 3-2, in favor of the Lady Cats.

Edwards responded with a layup in transition off of the assist from Savannah Moreno to regain the lead for Lamesa, 4-3, with 2:22 to play in the quarter. Edwards followed it up with another lay-up in transition to extend their lead to, 6-3, but on the other end, Marysa Saenz was fouled on an attempt by Derington, earning a trip to the line. Saenz knocked down both free throws to make it a one-point Lamesa lead, 6-5.

With time winding down in the first quarter, Arianna Cruz was fouled on an attempt by Audrey Rivera; she converted both shots at the line to close out the quarter with Littlefield in front, 7-6.

Lamesa took a 30-second time out with 7:20 to play in the second frame and out of the break, Meagan Hill was fouled on an attempt by Cruz. She sank both attempts from the line to put Lamesa back on top, 8-7. Uresti and Castillo exchanged lay-ups and Cruz followed it up with a three from the right wing off of the assist from Rosalez to put the Lady Cats in front, 12-10.

Cali Saldana drained a three from the right wing off of an inbound on the baseline, and Lamesa took a time out with 1:06 to play in the half, trailing the Lady Cats, 15-10. With 41 seconds remaining in the half, Castillo dropped in a lay-up off of an inbound pass to close out the first half with the Lady Cats in front, 17-10.

Edwards got Lamesa going in the second half with a lay-up, but the Lady Cats responded quickly, as Hanlin hit Castillo in transition for a lay-up to make the score, 1912. With 4:28 left to play in the third quarter, Castillo was fouled on an attempt by Hill. She converted both attempts at the line to make the score, 21-12.

Hanlin picked up a steal on their own end and dropped it in for a lay-up, drawing an and-one foul on Uresti. She converted the free throw, stretching their lead to, 2412, with 3:49 remaining in the quarter. On the other end, Nelly Dominguez was fouled on an attempt by Danica Jouett and sank both shots at the line to trim the lead to, 24-14.

With just over three minutes left to play in the half Bella Barron picked up a steal and got it to Moreno for a lay-up in transition, cutting the lead to, 24-16. With time winding down in the quarter, Castillo was fouled on a put-back attempt by Rivera. She knocked down both free throws, but Derington dropped in a lay-up off of a steal to make the score, 26-18, with under 10 seconds to play in the third.

Nevaeh Esquibel dropped in a transition lay-up to beat the buzzer, as the Lady Cats took a 10-point lead, 28-18, into the final quarter of play.

Castillo was fouled on an attempt by Dominguez to open the fourth quarter; she made one-oftwo shots from the line, but on the other end, Rivera was fouled on an attempt by Castillo, earning a trip to the line. She too made oneof- two shots at the line, trimming the lead to, 29-19, with 7:07 left to play. Moreno dropped in a lay-up for Lamesa, but on the other end, Hanlin hit a cutting Castillo for a lay- up to keep it a 10- point Littlefield lead, 31-21.

Dominguez dropped in a lay-up for the Lady Tornadoes and Moreno grabbed a steal, pushing it ahead to Barron, who dropped in the fast-break lay-up, cutting the lead to, 31-25, as Littlefield took a 30-second time out with 5:35 left to play in the game. Out of the break, Cruz drew a blocking foul on Dominguez and made one-oftwo shots from the line to make it a seven-point game, 32-25.

Littlefield took a full time out with 4:41 remaining, and out of the break, Hanlin took a charge on Moreno. The Lady Cats couldn’t capitalize, as Lamesa regained possession and Derington dropped in a lay-up, making the score, 32-27. With 2:42 to play, Rosalez was fouled on the floor by Hill, earning a trip to the line. She split the attempts at the line, pushing the lead to, 33-27.

With 2:29 remaining, Moreno was fouled on an attempt by Rosalez and made one-of-two shots from the line to make the score, 33-28. Littlefield took a time out to prevent a turnover with 2:16 left to play, and out of the break, Hanlin was fouled on the floor by Barron. She made both shots from the free-throw line, stretching their lead to, 35-28.

With under two minutes remaining, Rosalez was fouled on the floor by Hill and made one-of-two shots from the line, extending the lead to, 36-28. Moreno responded with a three from the left wing to make it a five-point game, 36-31, but Castillo answered with a layup to push the lead back out to, 38-31, with 1:19 left to play.

Edwards and Hanlin each split a pair of free throws to make the score, 39-32, and Saenz knocked down two free throws in the closing seconds to ice the game for Littlefield, 41-32.

The Lady Cats were led in scoring by Castillo, who tallied 14 points. Cruz chipped in eight points, while Hanlin tallied six points, and Rosalez and Saenz each added four points.

Saldana netted three points, while Esquibel finished with two points in the contest.

The Lady Cats hosted Friona on Friday for senior night. Results were not available at press time. They will close out the regular season on Tuesday on the road against Muleshoe.

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