JV Lady Mules vs. Tulia (2-9-2016)

JV Lady Mules vs. Tulia (2-9-2016)

The JV Lady Mules closed out their 14-9, 6-4 basketball season Tuesday evening on a high note with a 46-32 win over the Tulia Lady Hornets. They saved the best to last to out score the Hornets 16-8 in the final period of the season.

Noa Rojas opened the game for the Lady Mules with a 15-foot jumper from the wing. Lillie Barrera made a pair from the charity line and Melody Moran scored from near the elbow. Brianna Velasquez made the Lady Mules final two hoops. The two teams had battled to the end of the period and Tulia led 11-10.

Cassidy Cage led a fast break to open the second period. Brianna Barron scored a hoop on a drive and later added a free throw. Moran took the assist from Barron for a hoop. Val Ambriz hit a short jumper and Rojas ended the half with a hoop. The Lady Mules had the lead at 21-16 after holding the Hornets to only five points in the second period.

Tulia was more inspired in the third period but the Lady Mules matched them point for point plus one. Barron was fouled going to the hoop and made one of her free throws to start the third period. Barrera scored from the blocks with 5:40 remaining in the third quarter.

Marilyn Melendez took over after that for three consecutive hoops. She put back an offensive rebound, finished a fast break and scored in the paint just prior to the buzzer. The Lady Mules had added one to their lead at 30-24 with one period remaining in the season.

Barron caught fire in the final quarter. She opened with a steal and a drive for a lay up, then scored on an in bound play and hit a short jumper. Cage zeroed in from the arc and sank a 3-pointer. Barrera scored in the lane and Karla Bustillos sank an 18-foot jump shot. Ambriz scored a final hoop.

Barron paced the Lady Mules with 10 points. Barrera added seven points, Melendez added six points and Cage finished with five points. Velasquez, Rojas, Ambriz and Moran scored four point each. Bustillos chipped in two points.

“This is the time of year that always has conflicting feelings for me,” said Lady Mule coach Edie Niblett. “I am sad that our basketball season has come to an end but excited for new opportunities for the girls in their other sports.”

“Congratulations to our Varsity girls for making the playoffs again and to the Freshmen team for their remarkable season. Thanks to my JV girls for working so hard and continuing to make improvement and support each other every day. The days are going by way to fast so girls you need to enjoy every second.”