Lady Cats sweep season series with Friona

The Littlefield Lady Cats’ varsity basketball team swept their season series with the Friona Squaws on Tuesday, taking their second meeting on the road, 67-32. With the win, the Lady Cats improve to 16-9 overall, 7-0 in district play. Madison McNeese opened the game with a put-back off of her own miss and Kennadi Hanlin followed it up with a steal, taking it to the hoop for a lay-up, drawing an and one foul on Jacee Burney. She missed the free throw, leaving the score, 4-0, with 6:47 remaining in the opening quarter.

Kitzy Welch knocked down a short jumper from the right side to get Friona on the board, but Kyndal Edgemon answered with a put-back off of a miss by Arianna Cruz to extend their lead to, 6-2. McNeese followed it up with a jumper from the free-throw line off of an assist from Hanlin and Hanlin kept the rally going on their next possession, hitting a cutting Maerysa Saenz for a lay-up, pushing their lead to, 10-2, with just under five minutes to play in the first quarter.

McNeese knocked down a jumper in the lane off of an assist from Hanlin, forcing Friona to take a 30-second time out trailing the Lady Cats, 12-2, with 3:20 left to play in the quarter. Out of the break, Cruz drained a three from the left elbow off of the assist from McNeese and Cruz followed it up with a lay-up off of a Friona turnover to stretch their lead to, 17-2.

A steal by Hanlin was dished ahead to McNeese, who got it to Amiah Elizondo in transition, who dropped in a lay-up to finish off the play, extending their lead to, 19-2, with 2:27 remaining in the quarter. Cruz scored a fast-break lay-up off of a steal and in the closing seconds of the quarter, Jazmine Barrios sank a three from the top of the key, making the score, 24-2, as the first quarter came to a close.

Edgemon opened the second frame with a lay-up off of an assist from McNeese and on their next possession, Saenz was fouled on a put-back attempt by Anna Jo London. She made one-of-two shots at the line, stretching their lead to, 272. Friona’s Ivory Shelby dropped in a reverse lay-up to end the scoring drought for the Squaws, but Edgemon answered with a short jumper from the left wing to make the score, 29-4, with just over six minutes remaining in the half.

McNeese picked up a steal from Shelby, getting it ahead to Cruz on the fast-break for a lay-up, and McNeese followed it up with a three from the left elbow to stretch the lead to, 34-4. McNeese kept the rally going with a jumper from the freethrow line off of an assist from Hanlin, but Welch knocked down a jumper in the lane for Friona to trim the lead to, 36-6.

McNeese dropped in a put-back off of a miss by Edgemon, but Friona answered again, as Lylianna Martinez dropped in a lay-up off of the assist from London, making the score, 38-8. With 2:14 remaining in the half, Danica Jouett was fouled on an attempt by Martinez; she made one-of-two shots at the line to extend their lead to, 39-8.

Reyna Arias dropped in a reverse lay-up for Friona and on their next possession, Martinez was fouled on an attempt by Bri Valdez. She made one-of-two shots at the line, cutting the lead to, 39-11. With time winding down in the half, Barrios drove the lane for a lay-up, making the score, 41-11, going into the locker room at halftime.

London dropped in a lay-up to open the second half for Friona and Shelby followed it up with a three from the top of the key to cut the lead to, 41-16, but Edgemon answered with a lay-up off of an assist from Saenz, making the score, 43-16, with six minutes remaining in the third quarter. Welch was fouled on an attempt by Edgemon; she sank both free throws for the Squaws, but McNeese answered with a lay-up to make the score, 4518, with just over five minutes to play in the quarter.

McNeese knocked down a jumper in the lane, but the Squaws answered with a bucket to make the score, 47-20, but on the other end, Barrios took the outlet pass from McNeese and was fouled on a shot attempt by Shelby. She made oneof- two shots at the line, making the score, 48-20.

Hanlin buried a three from the left wing, but Shelby answered with a lay-up on the other end, drawing an and-one foul on Hanlin. She converted the free throw to trim the lead to, 51-23, but with 1:30 remaining in the quarter, Jouett dropped in a putback off of a miss by Edgemon. Friona, again, would answer, but with under a minute to play, Edgemon was fouled on a fastbreak attempt by Jacquelyn Falcon; she made both shots at the line and Jouett split a pair of free throws to close out the quarter with Littlefield in control, 56-25.

Edgemon knocked down a jumper and dropped in a lay-up off of assists from McNeese to open the fourth quarter of play, but on the other end, Shelby was fouled on a put-back attempt by Kamryn Meiwes. She made both attempts at the line, trimming the lead to, 6027. With just over four minutes remaining in the game, Valdez drained a three from the left wing, off of an assist from Elizondo, making the score, 63-27.

Shelby dropped in a lay-up, drawing an and-one foul on Valdez; she converted the free throw and Martinez followed it up with a layup off of a steal from Barrios to make the score, 63-32, with just under three minutes to play in the game.

Valdez drove to the basket for a lay-up and with under a minute to play, Barrios knocked down a pair of free throws to make the score, 67-32, as Littlefield took down Friona on the road.

McNeese led the Lady Cats in scoring with 17 points, while Edgemon joined her in double-figures scoring with 14 points. Cruz chipped in nine points, while Barrios contributed eight points, and Valdez and Hanlin each netted five points.

Jouett tallied four points, while Saenz added three points, and Elizondo finished with two points in the contest.

The Lady Cats hosted Lamesa on Friday for their second meeting of the season. Results were not available at press time. They will continue their season next Friday with a road game against Muleshoe.

Tip-off is slated for 6:15 p.m.