GIRLS BASKETBALL: MULESHOE 41, SPRINGLAKE-EARTH 27

Derek Lopez

SUDAN CORRESPONDENT

The Muleshoe Lady Mules took down the Springlake-Earth Lady Wolverines on Saturday afternoon, 41-27.

With the win, the Lady Mules improved to 3-3 overall on the season, while the LadyWolverines fell to 2-2 on the year.

Springlake-Earth senior Carsann Baker dropped in a layup off of the assist from junior Sayler Beerwinkle to open the scoring in the first quarter. On the other end, Natalie Ambrizwas fouled on an attempt by Beerwinkle, earning a trip to the line. She converted both free throws to tie the game, 2-2, with 5:43 left to play in the opening quarter.

Grace Leal drew a shooting foul on sophomore Halee Toscano with 5:13 remaining in the first quarter. She sank both free throws to put the Lady Mules out in front, 4-2. But on the other end, Beerwinkle drew a shooting foul on Makayla Toscano. She made one out of two at the line to make it a one-point game, 4-3.

Ambriz faked a pass to her right to move the defense, as she got to the basket for a layup to extend the Muleshoe lead back out to 6-3. The Lady Wolverines called a time out to talk things over with 3:02 to play in the quarter.

Out of the break, Ambriz dropped in a layup off of the assist from KyLee Villa, and Villa followed it up with a runner in the lane on their next possession to stretch their lead out to 10-3.

With time winding down in the quarter, sophomore Kani Holmes drained a three from the top of the key off of the assist from freshman Taytum Goodman to cut the lead to 10-6 as the first quarter came to a close.

Araceli Diaz opened the second quarter with a layup for Muleshoe, and she dropped in a putback with 5:22 left to play in the first half to extend their lead to 14-6. Baker got the Lady Wolverines on the board in the second quarterwith a layup, but on the other end, Ambriz dropped in a layup, drawing an andone foul on Baker. She converted the free throw to make the score 17-8 with 4:39 remaining in the half.

Freshman Sydney Furr dropped in a layup off of the assist from Halee Toscano to make it a 7-point game, 17-10. With under fourminutes to play in the half, Makayla Toscanowas fouled on an attempt by Baker. She split the free throws to make the score 18-10.

With 2:47 remaining in the half, Beerwinkle was fouled on an attempt by Makayla Toscano. She converted both free throws to make it a twopossession game, 18-12, but Muleshoe answered, as Aaliyah Sanchez drove the right side for a layup and Ambriz followed it up with another layup, stretching the lead out to 22-12.

Goodman buried a three from the right elbow with 1:31 left to play in the half, but on the other end, Kristina Arzola was fouled on an attempt by Beerwinkle. She made 1-of-2 at the free-throw line, extending their lead to 23-15 with just over a minute remaining in the half.

Sanchez knocked down a jumper from the left elbow, and after Beerwinkle split a pair of free throws for Springlake-Earth, Amrbiz dropped in a layup in the closing seconds of the quarter to make the score 27-16 heading into the locker room at halftime.

Leal drove the lane and kicked the ball out Sanchez, who knocked down a jumper from the left wing. The Lady Mules called a time out with 4:41 to play in the third quarter. Out of the break, Beerwinkle was fouled on an attempt by Ambriz; she converted both free throws to make the score 29-18.

Villa dropped in a layup for Muleshoe, and with 2:28 to play in the game, Arzola was fouled on an attempt by Holmes. She split the free throws, stretching the lead out to 32-18.

With 1:42 left to play in the half, Ambriz used a Eurostep to get around juniorMahalia Delgado for a layup and followed it up on the defensive end, taking a charge on Beerwinkle for her fourth foul of the game as the third quarter came to a close.

Sanchez knocked down a jumper from the left wing to open the fourth quarter for Muleshoe, but Delgado answered with a putback off of the miss by Holmes, trimming the lead to 36-20.

Muleshoe took a time out with 5:31 remaining, and out of the break, Baker knocked down a jumper from the right elbow, trimming the lead to 36-22.

The Lady Mules called for another time out with 3:25 remaining, and out of the break, Makayla Toscano dropped in a putback to make the score 38-22.

With 2:56 remaining, Ambriz was fouled on an attempt by Baker. After the play, Springlake-Earth Head Coach Jeri Goodman was called for a technical foul. Ambriz converted both of her free throws, and Leal split the technical free throws, pushing their lead to 41-22.

Springlake-Earth took a time out with 1:43 remaining in the game. Out of the break, Holmes dished the ball to Beerwinkle, who drew a shooting foul on Kayla Soto. She split the free throws, and on their next possession, Beerwinkle again earned a trip to the line, drawing a foul on Diaz. She converted both free throws to cut the lead to 41-25.

With time winding down, Goodman hit Baker for a layup, as the Lady Wolverines fell to the Lady Mules, 41-27.

The Lady Mules were led by Ambriz, who finished with a game-high 17 points, while Sancehz tallied 8 points, and Diaz finished with 4 points. Leal and Toscano each finished with 3 points, while Arzola added 2 points in the contest.

Beerwinkle led the Lady Wolverines in scoring with 11 points, while Baker chipped in 6 points, and Goodman and Holmes each finished with 3 points.

The Muleshoe Lady Mules, smothered the Springlake-Earth Wolverines for a 41-27 win on Saturday.