Lady Cats widen district lead with with at Dimmitt

The Lady Cats’ varsity basketball team stayed unbeaten in district play on Friday, as they took down the Dimmitt Bobbies, 68-33, to close out the first half of district play.

With the win, the Lady Cats improve to 15-9 overall, 6-0 in district play.

Kyndal Edgemon opened the contest for the Lady Cats with a lay- up and a deflection on the next play by Madison McNeese, led to a quick layup for Littlefield, stretching their lead to, 4- 0. Mariah Marmolejo dropped in a lay-up for the Bobbies, but Edgemon answered on the other end with a lay- up off of an assist from Maerysa Saenz, making the score, 6- 2.

With 4: 44 remaining in the opening quarter, Na’Khiyah Porras was fouled on an attempt by Kennadi Hanlin; she sank both free throws to make it a one- possession game, 6- 4. Caitlyn Olmos dropped in a lay- up in transition for the Bobbies to tie the game and Marmolejo followed it up with a put- back to put the Bobbies in front, 8-6, with 3:41 remaining in the first.

McNeese picked up a steal and was fouled on the fastbreak attempt earning a trip to the line. She made both shots at the line to tie the game, 8- 8. On their next possession, Arianna Cruz was fouled on a put- back attempt by Kriselle Ramirez; she made one-of-two shots at the line to put Littlefield back in front, 9- 8, with 2: 24 to play in the first quarter.

Dimmitt took a time out with 1: 57 remaining in the quarter, and out of the break, Olmos was fouled on an attempt by Cruz; she made one- of- two shots at the line to tie the game, 9-9. With time winding down in the quarter the Bobbies split a pair of free throws to take a one- point advantage, but Hanlin closed out the quarter with a spin to the basket for a lay- up to regain the lead for Littlefield, 11- 10, going into quarter number two.

Edgemon dropped in a layup off of an assist from McNeese to open the second quarter and on their next possession, Saenz was fouled on a put- back attempt by Braylynn Chavira. Dimmitt took a time out prior to the free throws, and out of the break, Saenz sank one- of- two shots from the line to stretch their lead to, 14-10. With 6:18 to play in the half, Edgemon dropped in a lay-up off of an assist from McNeese and drew an and-one foul on Erika Oltivero. She converted the free throw to push their lead to, 17- 10.

Edgemon picked up a steal in the mid court and got it ahead to McNeese for a quick lay- up, making the score, 1910, and Saenz forced a 10-second call on the Bobbies, turning possession back over to the Lady Cats with 5: 51 remaining in the half. McNeese was fouled on a jumper by Olmos; she sank both free thorws to stretch the lead to, 21- 10, and on the other end, she was fouled on a defensive rebound by Ramirez, earning a trip to the line for two free throws. She converted both shots at the line to extend the lead to, 23- 10, with five minutes to play in the half.

Marmolejo was fouled on an attempt by Edgemon; she made one- of- two shots at the line to make the score, 23- 11, but with 3: 45 to play in the quarter, McNeese buried a three from the left wing, off of an assist from Saenz to stretch their lead to, 26- 11. Saenz dropped in a put- back off of a miss by McNeese and with 2:05 to play in the half, McNeese knocked down a deep twopointer from the top of the key to make the score, 30-11.

K’mree Nino knocked down a three from the left elbow and Olmos followed it up with a layup to cut the lead to, 30-16, but with under a minute to play in the half, Jazmine Barrios grabbed an offensive rebound that led to a three from the left elbow by McNeese, stretching the lead to, 33- 16. Olmos was fouled on the floor by McNeese and split the one- inone opportunity to make the score, 33- 18, going into the locker room at halftime.

Edgemon dropped in a layup off of an assist from Cruz to open the second half, but the Bobbies answered with a trhee from the right elbow by Nino, off of an assist from Oltivero, trimming the lead to, 35-21. Edgemon split a pair of free throws for the Lady Cats, and Barrios dropped in a layup in tranisiton, drawing an and- one foul on Olmos. She converted the free throw to stretch the lead to, 39- 21, but Ramirez answered with a layup off of an assist from Nino to cut the lead to, 39- 23, with 5: 18 to play in the third.

Cruz dropped in a lay-up for the Lady Cats and Barrios followed it up with a three from the left elbow, pushing their lead to, 44- 23, as the Bobbies took a time out to talk things over with 4: 31 to play in the third. Out of the break, Chavira was fouled on an attempt by Saenz; she split the free throws and Marmolejo knocked down a jumper from the left elbow off of an assist from Oltivero, trimming the lead to, 44-26.

Hanlin drove to the basket for a lay- up, but the Bobbies again answered, as Porras dropped in a lay-up to make the score, 46-28. Porras was fouled on their next possession and split the free- throws, but with time winding down in the third, Bri Valdez buried a three form the right elbow, off of an assist from Kamryn Meiwes to push their lead to, 49-29, heading into the final quarter of play.

McNeese split a pair of free thorws to open the fourth quarter and on their next possession, a hustle play by Hanlin led to Edgemon drawing a shooting foul on the Bobbies. She converted both shots at the line to make the score, 52-29, with 7:11 to play in the game. Cruz drained a three from the right elbow off of an assist from Saenz and with 6: 25 to play, Edgemon grabbed a defensive rebound, sending the outlet pass down court to Cruz, who was fouled on an attempt by Chavira. Cruz converted both shots at the line to make the score, 57-29.

Hanlin split a piar of free throws for the Lady Cats, but Marmolejo answered with a jumper from the left elbow to trim the lead to, 58- 31. Saenz knocked down a pair of free throws for the Lady Cats and Barrios followed it up with a fast- break lay- up off of a steal to push their lead to, 62- 31, with 3: 50 to play in the game.

McNeese grabbed a steal, taking it to the basket for a lay- up, but Nino answered with a deep two- pointer from the right wing to make the score, 64- 33. McNeese split a pair of free throws and followed it up with a put-back off of a miss by Barrios, and Barrios split a pair from the line to close out the game, as the Lady Cats took the contest over Dimmitt, 68-33.

The Lady Cats were led in scoring by McNeese who netter 24 points. She was joined in double- figures scoring by Edgemon, who finished with 16 points. Barrios tallied nine points, while Cruz chipped in eight points and Saenz added five points. Valdez finished with three points in the contest.

The Lady Cats were at Friona on Tuesday to begin the second half of district play. Results were not available at press time. They will continue their season on Friday at home against the Lamesa Lady Tornadoes.

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