OLTON FILLIES FALL SHORT AGAINST FARWELL, 44-34

The Olton Fillies’ varsity basketball team fell short of a comeback on Friday in Farwell, as they fell to the Lady Blue, 44-34.

With the loss, the Fillies fall to, 11-11 overall, 2-3 in district play.

Chloe Whitten was fouled on an attempt by Jasmine Reyna to open the contest; she made one-of-two shots at the line and Presley Agee followed it up with a drive to the basket for a lay-up on their next possession, as the Fillies called time out to talk things over with 6:09 remaining in the opening quarter.

Out of the break, Jaelyn Smith dropped in a lay-up in transition for Farwell, but junior, Karla Arriola answered with a spin to the basket for a layup, making the score, 5-2. Whitten responded with a layup and Deavyn Bradley followed it up with a three from the to of the key to stretch their lead to, 10-2, with 4:08 to play in the first quarter.

With 1:39 left to play in the first quarter, Zavayia Benoit dropped in a lay-up off of an Olton turnover, pushing the Farwell lead to, 12-2. Olton answered, as junior, Celestte Ramirez, banked in a jumper from the left elbow, but the Lady Blue responded, as Benoit dropped in a put-back to close out the quarter with Farwell in front, 14-4.

Arriola opened the second quarter, going three-for-four from the foul line, but Charlie Trimble scored a lay-up in transition to make the score, 16-7. With just under six minutes to play in the first half, Jaelyn Smith drained a three from the left wing off of the assist from Valeria Ruiz, pushing the lead to, 19-7.

Sophomore, Makenly Smith, knocked down a jumper from the right elbow for Olton, but Agee answered with a lay-up, making the score, 21-9. Makenly Smith and Ramirez dropped in back-to-back layups to cut the lead to, 21-13, as Farwell took a time out with 3:20 left to play in the half.

Out of the break, sophomore, Kylee Noack, drained a three from the right elbow, off of the assist from sophomore, Olivia Cox, to make it a five-point game, 21-16. Benoit drove the left side of the basket for a layup, but on the other end, Arriola was fouled on an attempt by Trimble. She made one-of-two shots at the line, making the score, 23-17, going into the locker room at halftime.

Jaelyn Smith and Whitten opened the second half with back-to-back lay-ups and with 3:31 remaining in the third quarter, Whitten was fouled on an attempt by Trimble. She split the free throws, stretching the lead back out to, 28-17.

Cox drove the left baseline for a lay-up, but Deavyn Bradley knocked down a jumper and Trimble scored a lay-up in transition to push the Farwell lead out to, 32-19, as the Fillies took a time out with 2:23 remaining in the quarter.

Out of the break, Cox picked up a steal and took it the other way for a fast-break lay-up. With under one minute to play in the quarter, Makenly Smith dropped in a lay-up off of the inbound pass from Cox, but on the other end, Bradley knocked down a corner three from the right side at the buzzer, making the score, 35-23, heading into the final quarter of play.

Jaelyn Smith sank a three from the left elbow off of the assist from Ruiz, but Makenly Smith answered with a putback off of a miss by Noack, making the score, 38-25. Jaelyn Smith hit another three from the right elbow, but on the other end, Ramirez was fouled on an attempt by Agee. She converted both free throws, making the score, 41-27, with 4:22 left to play.

Arriola spun to the basket for a lay-up and the Lady Blue took a time out with 3:33 remaining in the game. Out of the break, Cox dribbled up to the left elbow and buried a three to cut the lead to, 41-32.

Jaelyn Smith split a pair of free throws, but Cox answered with a lay-up off of the assist from junior, Shaylee Leathers, in transition, making the score, 42-34. Whitten knocked down a pair of free throws in the closing seconds to close out the game, with Olton falling to the Lady Blue in their second meeting of the season , 44-34.

Cox led the team in scoring with nine points, while Smith and Arriola each tallied eight points and Ramirez chipped in six points. Noack also had three points in the contest.

The Fillies hosted Bovina on Tuesday. Results were not available at press time. They will continue their season on Tuesday with a road game against Vega.

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