Wildcats hold on for win in Denver City

The Littlefield Wildcats’ varsity basketball team held off a late surge from the Denver City Mustangs on the road on Friday night, 5042, to improve to 2-0 in district play.

Elijah Salazar opened the game with a reverse-lay-up put-back off of a miss by Chip Green, but the Mustangs responded, as Gunner Galvan knocked down a deep two from the right elbow to tie the game 2-2. Erik Escobar followed it up with a put-back off of a miss by Spencer Freeman to give Denver City the lead, but it was short-lived, as Zeke Saenz knocked down a jumper from the left wing, off of the kick out from Q Busby to tie the game, 4-4, as the first quarter came to a close.

Hudson Hemmeline drained a three from the left elbow, but Jeremiah Trevino answered with a euro-step to get to the basket for a lay-up, cutting the Mustang lead to one point, 7-6. Escobar dropped in a put-back off of a miss by Kylen Seeders, but Trevino again answered with a lay-up to keep the Wildcats within one point, 9-8.

With under six minutes remaining in the half, Alijah Barrientes drained a three from the right elbow, but Salazar answered with a three of his own from the right elbow off of the kick out from Ryan Williams to make the score, 12-11. Escobar lobbed a pass into Seeders for a lay-up in transition, but Trevino answered with back-toback lay-ups to put the Wildcats back in front, 15-14, with 3:50 remaining in the half.

Salazar followed it up with a three from the left wing off of an assist from Trevino to stretch their lead to, 18-14. Barrientes drained a three from the right wing to cut the lead to one point, and Ricky Mora lobbed an alley-oop pass to Galvan for a lay-up to put Denver City back in front, 19-18, with 2:12 to play in the half. With under a minute to go in the half, Saenz split a pair of free throws and Martinez followed it up with a lay-up to put the Wildcats in front, 21-19, heading into the locker room at halftime.

Salazar drove the left baseline for a lay-up to open the second half and Trevino followed it up with a steal, using a euro step to get into the lane for a lay-up in transition, pushing their lead to, 25-19, as Denver City took a time out with 6:33 remaining in the third quarter. Out of the break, Ryan Williams went coast-to-coast for a layup and Green followed it up with a lay- up off of an assist from Trevino to push their lead to double-digits, 29-19.

Hemmeline drained a three over Ryan Williams from the right elbow to cut into the lead and Escobar followed it up with a floater over Saenz in the lane to cut the lead to, 29-24, before Salazar knocked down a jumper from the left elbow to make the score, 31-24, with 3:18 to play in the quarter. Denver City continued to cut into the lead, as Galvan drained a three from the left wing, but MJ Randle answered with a jumper in the lane to make the score, 33-27.

Escobar answered with a jumper from the right elbow and Hemmeline followed it up with a three from the right elbow, before Escobar took a charge on Ja’Den Williams with 9.5 seconds remaining in the quarter and the lead sliced to just one point, 33-32. The Wildcats would regain possession after a steal by Salazar, who launched the outlet pass down court to Martinez on the fast-break, who finished off the play with a lay-up to make the score, 35-32, heading into the final quarter of play.

Ryan Williams dropped in a layup off of the assist from Saenz and on the following possession, Trevino was fouled on an attempt by Escobar. He made one-of-two shots at the line to extend their lead to, 38-32. Escobar answered with a lay-up in the paint, but Salazar responded with a steal, getting it ahead to Martinez on the fast-break for a lay-up, to push the lead to, 40-34. Hemmeline answered with a three from the left elbow to make it a one-possession game, as Littlefield took a time out with 3:40 remaining in the game.

Out of the break, Saenz dropped in a lay-up off of an assist from Salazar, drawing an and-one foul on Escobar. He converted the free throw to make the score, 43-37, and the Wildcats took a time out with 2:13 remaining. Out of the break, Martinez and Salazar dropped in back-to-back lay-ups to stretch their lead to, 47- 37. Escobar dropped in a lay-up off of a save for the Mustangs with just over a minute to play, as they took a time out to talk about their strategy. Out of the break, Martinez was fouled on the floor by Nick Yanez. He converted both shots on the onein- one opportunity to push their lead to, 49-39. With under a minute to play, Hemmeline drained a three from the top of the key, as Denver City quickly called a time out with 35.1 seconds to play in the game, trailing, 49-42.

Out of the break, Salazar split a pair of free throws, as Littlefield went on to win the contest, 50-42.

The Wildcats were led in scoring by Salazar, who netted 15 points, and was joined in doublefigures scoring by Trevino who chipped in 11 points and Martinez, who finished with 10 points.

Saenz tallied six points, while Williams chipped in four points and Green and Randle each finished with two points in the contest.

The Wildcats hosted Brownfield on Tuesday for their first meeting with the Cubs. Results were not available at press time. They will continue their season on Friday With a road game against Dimmitt.

Tip-off is scheduled for 7:30 p.m.