Lady Cats take down Portales, 4442, to finish third at Wildcat Classic

The Littlefield Lady Cats’ varsity basketball team edged out Portales, 44-42, on Thursday to take third place at the 31st annual Wildcat Classic.

With the loss, the Lady Cats finished tournament play 3-1.

Myleigh Banda opened the game with a lay-up in the lane for Portales, but on the other end, Madison McNeese drew a shooting foul on an attempt by Banda; she converted both shots at the line to tie the game, 2-2, with 4:36 to play in the opening quarter. Skyler Massey dropped in a putback off of a miss by Audrey Paden and after a pair of missed free throws from Arianna Cruz, Paden drove the middle for a lay-up to stretch their lead to, 6-2, with 2:44 to play in the first quarter.

Kyndal Edgemon answered with a lay-up off of the assist from Bri Valdez, but two plays later, Angel Ornelas hit Paden in transition for a lay-up to push their lead to, 8-4. With under one minute to play in the quarter, Ornelas picked up a steal and was fouled on the fast-break attempt by Danica Jouett; she made one of two shots at the line to make the score, 9-4.

In the closing seconds of the quarter, Ornelas drove the left side for a lay-up, drawing an and-one foul on Cali Saldana. She converted the free throws to make the score, 12-4, as the first quarter came to a close.

Ornelas took a charge on Kennadi Hanlin to open the second frame and Portales capitalized on the extra possession, as they knocked down a jumper to push their lead to, 14-4. Edgemon was fouled on the other end on an attempt by Ornelas; she converted both free throws to end the scoring drought for Littlefield and on the next play, Hanlin and McNeese forced a 10- second call on Portales, as Ornelas could not get the ball across half court.

Portales took a 30-second time out with 6:27 to play in the first half and out of the break, Edgemon dropped in a lay-up off of a sideline inbound play and McNeese followed it up with a put-back off of her own miss to cut the lead to, 14-10, with 5:58 to play in the half. Portales went on a, 7-0, scoring run, as Littlefield took a time out with 3:28 to play in the half. Out of the break, Edgemon drove the left side for a lay-up, but Brenna Jewell answered with back-to-back buckets for Portales to stretch their lead to, 25-12.

With 1:26 remaining in the half, Edgemon dropped in a thirdchance lay-up, but on the other end, Jewell was fouled on the floor by Cruz, earning a one-in-one opportunity at the line. She made one-of-two shots to make the sore, 26-14. Just a few seconds later, Hanlin was fouled on the floor by Jewell, earning a pair of free throw attempts. She converted both shots to cut the lead to 10 points, 26-16.

With under one minute to play, Ornelas was fouled on the floor by Jazmine Barrios, earning a onein- one opportunity at the line. She made one-of-two shots at the line, but Hanlin dropped a fast-break lay-up to cut the lead to 27-18. In the closing seconds of the half, Edgemon dropped in a lay-up off of an assist from Hanlin to make the score, 27-20, going into the locker room at halftime.

Ornelas banked in a jumper from the right elbow to open the second half, but with 7:10 to play in the third frame, Littlefield forced another 10-second call against Portales, to regain possession. Maerysa Saenz got the ball inside to Edgemon, who was fouled on a shot attempt by Banda. She made one-of-two shots at the line and Edgemon followed it up with a layup off of an assist from Cruz to trim the lead to, 29-23.

Hanlin picked up a steal and got it ahead to Saenz, who knocked down a jumper from the free-throw line to make the score, 29-25, with 6:19 remaining in the third. Portales took a time out with 5:15 remaining in the quarter, and out of the break, Ornelas drew a blocking foul on Hanlin. She converted both shots at the line, but with 3:34 to play in the quarter, Hanlin picked up another steal, taking it herself to the basket for a fast-break layup, slicing the lead to four points, 31-27.

McNeese dropped in a lay-up off of an assist from Kaeleigh Logan and in the closing seconds, Cruz picked up a steal and got it ahead to, McNeese for a lay-up to tie the game, 31-31, heading into the final quarter of play.

Edgemon opened the fourth quarter with a lay-up, drawing an and-one foul on Evannie Fulfer. She missed the free throw, but Portales was called for a lane violation giving her another opportunity at the line. She converted the second-chance try at the line to put the Lady Cats in front, 3431. Portales, though, would answer, as Tya Rippee knocked down a three from the right elbow to tie the game, as they took a time out to talk things over.

Out of the break, Banda dropped in a put-back off of her own miss, but Littlefield would respond, as McNeese sent a long bounce pass through the lane to Edgemon for a lay-up, as she drew an and-one foul on Fulfer. She missed the free throw, leaving the game tied, 3636. McNeese was fouled on a defensive rebound earning a one-inone opportunity at the line with 3:51 remaining in the contest. She sank both free throws as Littlefield took a time out to talk things over.

Out of the break, Kanlin was fouled on a fast-break attempt by Paden; she made one-of-two shots at the line to stretch their lead to three points, 39-36. McNeese drew a blocking foul on Banda, who fouled out of the contest. McNeese converted both shots at the line, but at the other end, Jewell drew a block on Hanlin, who picked up her fourth foul of the game. Jewell sank both of her free throws to make it a one-possession game, 41-38, with 2:20 to play.

With 1:46 remaining, Cruz was fouled on the floor by Paden and made one-of-two shots at the line to make it a four-point game, 4238. Jewell dropped in a lay-up for Portales, and on the next play, Saenz was called for a backcourt violation giving Portales possession with 1:06 to play in the game. Addison Ainsworth was fouled on an attempt by Edgemon with 1:06 remaining, but missed the first shot at the line and they were called for a lane violation on the second, as the ball went to Littlefield.

McNeese was fouled by Ornelas, who picked up her fourth foul of the game. McNeese would sink both free throws to make it a four-point game, 44-40. Jewell answered with a quick lay-up and Portales regained possession with just over eight seconds to play, however a steal from Barrios iced the game for the Lady Cats, as they captured third place in the Wildcat Classic.

Edgemon led the Lady Cats in scoring with 20 points, while McNeese tallied 14 points and Hanlin added seven points. Saenz chipped in two points, while Cruz added one point in the contest.

The Lady Cats resumed district play on Tuesday with a home game against Muleshoe. Results were not available at press time. They will continue their season on Friday when they travel to Denver City to take on the Fillies.

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