The Littlefield Wildcats’ varsity basketball team dropped a heart-breaker at home to the Dimmitt Bobcats, 42-40.
With the loss, the Wildcats fall to 11-8 overall, 4-3 in district play.
Kobe Carpio knocked down a jumper from the top of the key to open the contest for Dimmitt, but senior forward, Chris Brown, came right back down the floor and answered with a three off the bank from the left elbow to put Littlefield out in front, 3-2.
With 5:25 remaining in the opening quarter, senior forward, Tyree Jones, drove the baseline for a reverse lay-up to stretch their lead to, 5-2. Dimmitt called for a time out with 4:45 remaining in the opening quarter, and out of the break, Jones hit Brown for a lay-up to extend their lead to, 7-2.
Acqtavian Baty found Ivan Moreno for a corner three from the right side to cut the lead to, 7-5, and Gabriel Ontiveros took a charge on junior guard, Jordan Trevino, to close out the first quarter, with the Wildcats up two, 7-5.
Senior point guard, Jeremiah Salazar, went coast-to-coast to open the second quarter, drawing a shooting foul on Moreno. He split the attempts at the line, but on the next play Ontiveros picked up a steal and took it the other way for a fast-break layup, cutting the Littlefield lead to just one point, 8-7.
Salazar answered with a double-pump lay-up, drawing an and-one foul on Moreno. He missed the free throw leaving the score, 10-7, with just under seven minutes remaining in the half.
Junior wing, Ethan Garcia, picked up a steal and went coast-to-coast for the lay-up, extending their lead to, 12-7, but Anthony Rodriguez answered with a three from the top of the key for Dimmitt, making the score, 12-10, with 6:14 to play in the half. Rodriguez buried another three from the left corner to give Dimmitt the lead, 13-12, as Littlefield took a time out to talk things over with 5:41 remaining in the half.
Senior guard, Joseph Salinas, knocked down a jumper from the right elbow and Jones followed it up with a lay-up off of the assist from Salinas, putting the Wildcats back in front, 16-13. With 2:49 remaining in the half, Salinas hit Trevino on a backdoor cut for a lay-up and Jones followed it up on their next possession with a lay-up off of the inbound pass from Trevino, pushing their lead to, 20-13 with 1:34 left to play in the half.
Moreno drained a three from the left elbow and followed it up on their next possession with a drive and dump to Baty for a layup, cutting the lead to, 20-18. But, with time winding down in the half, Brown dropped in a third-chance lay-up to beat the buzzer, making the score, 22-18, going into the locker room at halftime.
CJ Willey knocked down a jumper from the right elbow to open the second half for Dimmit, but Jones answered with a dump to Brown for a lay-up, making the score, 24-20.
Moreno drove to the basket and kicked the ball out to Baty, who knocked down a jumper from the left wing and Ontiveros followed it up with a drive on the left baseline for a lay-up, tying the game, 24-24.
With 4:19 to play in the third quarter, Ontiveros was called for a technical foul, sending Salazar to the line for free throws. He converted both attempts at the line to put Littlefield back in front, 26-24.
Jones found Brown for a layup and the followed it up with a lay-up of his own to stretch the lead to, 30-24, with just under three minutes to play in the quarter. Dimmitt responded with a lay-up, as the Wildcats took a time out with 2:33 remaining in the quarter, leading, 30-26.
Out of the break, Willey dropped in a floater in the lane, but on the other end, Salazar was fouled on an attempt by Carpio. He converted both free throws to extend their lead to, 32-28. But, with time winding down in the quarter, Baty dropped in a lay-up to make it a one-possession game, 32-30, heading into the final quarter of play.
Jones hit a cutting Brown on the baseline to open the fourth quarter, but Dimmitt answered with a three from the left wing from Willey to make it a onepoint game, 34-33, as the Bobcats called a time out to talk things over.
Out of the break, Brown knocked down a jumper from the left elbow off of the assist from Garcia, but on the other end, Carpio was fouled on an attempt by Salazar. He converted both free thorws to make the score, 36-35, with just under six minutes to play in the game.
Jordan Garcia drained a three from the top of the key to give the Bobcats the lead, but it was short-lived, as Jones tipped in a miss by Brown to tie the game, 38-38. The Wildcats took a time out with 3:17 left to play in the game, and out of the break, Jones euro-stepped to the basket for a lay-up to put the Wildcats on top, 40-38.
Jordan Garcia buried another three from the right elbow to put the Bobcats up one point, 41-40, as they called a time out with 2:47 left to play. Out of the break, Ontiveros was fouled on an attempt by Salinas. He split the attempts at the line, making the score, 42-40.
Littlefield held for one final shot, but was unable to get it to fall, as they fell to Dimmitt for the second time this season, 42-40.
Brown led the Wildcats in scoring with 15 points, while Jones joined him in double-figures scoring with 12 points. Salazar chipped in seven points, while Salinas, Garcia and Trevino each finished with two points.
The Wildcats were at Denver City on Friday for their first meeting of the season with the Mustangs. Results were not available at press time. They will continue their season on Tuesday with a road game against Friona.
Tip-off is scheduled for 7:30 p.m.