Monday, December 19, 2016

Lady Mules vs. Littlefield & Idalu (12-12&16-2016)

Lady Mules vs. Littlefield & Idalu (12-12&16-2016)

The Lady Mules split their first two district games of the 2016-2017 district basketball season. The Lady Mules traveled to Littlefield Tuesday evening and defeated the Lady Cats 41-35. But Friday night’s game did not turn out as well for the Lady Mules on their home floor.

The Idalou Lady Cats dropped 54 points on the Lady Mules for a 54-41 win. The Lady Mules are now 1-1 is District 2-3A competition. 

The Lady Mules showed no fear Tuesday night in Littlefield as they attacked the basket. Two good things came from the aggression. The Lady Mules scored 17 points, and they put the Lady Cat scoring machine, Kaylee Edgemon, on the bench with two quick fouls.

Sadie Sudduth started the Lady Mules off with a drive to the hoop with only 45 seconds off the clock. She later added a second hoop and sank a 3-pointer with 20 seconds left in the first quarter. 

Sydnie Sudduth drove twice, and Edgemon fouled her both times. She sank all four free throws. Keely Dunham took over control of the paint. Dunham made an up-and-under move to score her first hoop and then put back a pair of errant shots by teammates.

The Lady Mules led 17-6 at the end of the first period. 

The Lady Cats changed their defensive scheme and held the Lady Mules to five points in the second period while scoring 11. Littlefield trailed the Lady Mules 22-17 at the end of the first half. 

The Lady Mules returned to the floor and added to their lead by outscoring the Lady Cats 8-5 in the third period. Lilly Barrera scored at the game-ending buzzer to break the Lady Mules even in the final period and hold the Lady Cats at bay. 

Sa. Sudduth paced the Lady Mules with 13 points, two rebounds, and two steals. Sy. Sudduth scored nine points; she made one assist, grabbed six rebounds, and made four steals. Dunham dropped in eight points, pulled down six rebounds, and made one steal.

Barrera added six points and grabbed one rebound. Emily Precure had two points, five rebounds, and one steal. Yvonne Diaz also had two points, one assist, and two rebounds. Reagan Reynolds chipped in one point and hauled in four rebounds. 

Friday night everything seemed to be reversed when the Idalou version of the Lady Cats played the Lady Mules. 

Idalou raced out to a 17-6 lead in the opening period and continued to roll in the second quarter by dropping in 21 for a 38-20 lead by the intermission. The Cats sank six treys in the first half. 

Sa. Sudduth nailed the Lady Mules only trey of the first half early in the second quarter. She later added a bucket. Barrera, Diaz, and Dunham each chipped in a basket in the second quarter. Precure sank two free throws and Sy. Sudduth dropped in a charity toss.

The Lady Mules tried to make a run in the final quarter by outscoring the Cats 10-2. 

Sa. Sudduth finished the night with 19 points that included six free throws, four hoops, and one trey. She also grabbed one rebound and made one steal. Sy. Sudduth finished with four points, one assist, and grabbed three rebounds.

Dunham also finished with four points, blocked a shot, and pulled down three rebounds. Precure scored three points, grabbed one rebound, and made one steal. Brittany Mendoza drained a 3-pointer in the fourth quarter. Dunham chipped in two points, blocked a shot, and snagged three rebounds. Barrera also chipped in two points and grabbed one rebound. 

The Lady Mules traveled to Dimmitt Tuesday night to play the Dimmitt Bobbies and then will go to Seagraves December 29 to battle the Lady Eagles. The Lady Mules will begin the 2017 portion of the season January 3 in Slaton against the Tigerettes.

JV Lady Mules @ Farwell Tourny (12-8-10-2016)

JV Lady Mules @ Farwell Tourny (12-8-10-2016)

Look up ‘scrappy’ in your favorite Webster Dictionary, and a team picture of the JV Lady Mules just might be there. The Lady Mules scrapped their way to the Championship game of the Farwell JV Invitational Tournament over the weekend. 

The Lady Mules squared off against the host Farwell Lady Blues Saturday evening. 

The Lady Mules shocked the Blues with a full-court press and a quick fast-break offense. The Blues never recovered from the high-speed press and fast-break offense by the Lady Mules. The Lady Mules were up 17-7 by the end of the first period. 

But the Lady Mules had so many fouls Farwell was in the double bonus by the end of the first quarter. But free-throw shooting was not the Blues long suit. 

The Lady Mules backed off the press but continued to play tough half-court defense that continued to hold the Blues down. The Lady Mules led 25-14 at the intermission. Twelve of the 14 Lady Mules scored in the contest. 

Maddison Price led the Lady Mules with seven points and Alyssa Wheeler dropped in six points. Citali Vargas, Reina Regalado, Kyndal Miller, and Melody Moran added four points each. Noa Rojas and Valarie Ambriz finished with three points apiece. Kayla Torres, Natali Elizalde, and Brianna Barron scored two points each.

The Lady Mules traveled to Littlefield Tuesday night to open district against the Lady Cats and return home Friday, December 16, to host the Idalou Lady Cats.

Mules vs. Denver City & Farwell Tourny (12-6&8-10-2016)

Mules vs. Denver City & Farwell Tourny (12-6&8-10-2016)

The Mules week may have started in Denver City with an easy, 55-39, win. The Mules also got an easy win, 62-37 against the Morton Indians to start the Farwell Invitational Tournament. But life became tougher in games two and three at Farwell. 

The Mules never led the Texico Wolverines in game two until Dagen Dunham tipped a Texico pass to Jason Florez. Florez drove the floor and made the layup to give the Mules a 65-64 lead with just 10 seconds left in the game. 

A turnover by Texico gave the Mules the ball back, and Kevin Gonzales was fouled bringing the ball down the floor. He made one free throw to seal the 66-64 win to send the Mules to the Championship finals against the host Farwell Steers.

The Mules fell behind the Steers by ten points in the third quarter before mounting a charge. The Mules had trimmed the Farwell lead to 49-44 by the end of the third period. 

The Steers started the final eight minutes with a stall. Donovan Gutierrez ripped his first of two treys to ignite the Mules with just 30 seconds gone in the final frame. The Mule defense stymied the Farwell offense. 

Mario “Boo” Flores was fouled making a defensive rebound and made his first free throw and then added the bonus for a 59-58 lead that put the Mules ahead to stay. There was just 2:02 left in the game. Jesse Leal took a charging foul with a minute left. 

Leal immediately went to the other end and laid the ball up gently on the glass to give the Mules a 61-58 cushion with 40 seconds left in the game. Beto Diaz made a free throw for the final point of the contest. 

Florez led the Mules with 18 points against Farwell. Dunham dropped in 17 points that included three treys. Gutierrez finished with eight points that included the two treys in the final quarter. Diaz added seven points; Leal made all four of his points during the last quarter, and Flores also made four points. Javy Perez and Tre Villa chipped in two points each. 

Dunham led the Mules against Texico with 23 points. He also had five rebounds, four assists, four steals and two pass deflections. Florez finished the night with 22 points, four rebounds, two assists, and six steals. Diaz dropped in eight points; Kevin Gonzales made seven points, and Gutierrez had six points. 

Dunham paced the Mules against Morton with 21 points, five rebounds, seven assists, five steals, and blocked four shots. Diaz scored 17 points, made two steals, two rebounds and blocked one shot. Gonzales pumped in 10 points and made three rebounds. 

Leal finished with seven points, three assists, and five steals. Florez also made seven points, four rebounds, two assists, and five steals. Flores dropped in six points and pulled down seven rebounds. Perez, Gutierrez, and Eric Herrera chipped in two points each. 

Dunham started the week in Denver City against the Mustangs with 15 points and eight rebounds. Gonzales pumped in 12 points, Perez and Florez added eight points each. Flores finished with six points; Villa made four points, and Diaz chipped in two points. 

The Mules hosted the Levelland Lobos Tuesday night and will travel to Portales December 16 before starting district December 20 when the Mules host the Dimmitt Bobcats.    

Lady Mules vs. Denver City & Farwell Tourny (12-6 & 8-10-2016)

Lady Mules vs. Denver City & Farwell Tourny (12-6 & 8-10-2016)

The Lady Mules got off to a bit of a bumpy start this past week when the Denver City Fillies defeated the Lady Mules 42-29 Tuesday night. But the week got better for the Lady Mules as they thumped the Plains Cowgirls 69-24. 

The Texico Lady Wolverines eliminated the Lady Mules from the winners' bracket Friday 42-51. The Lady Mules brought home the Consolation trophy by defeating the Friona Squaws 63-51.

The hoop in the Denver City gym seemed to avoid the Lady Mules shots. Sadie Sudduth paced the Lady Mules with 13 points. Yvonne Diaz finished with six points, and Keely Dunham added four points. Emily Precure and Sydnie Sudduth each made a 3-pointer.

Sy. Sudduth powered the Lady Mules against Plains with 16 points, three rebounds, and four steals. Sa. Sudduth provided 13 points, four assists, one rebound and one steal. Dunham scored seven points, made two assists, pulled down five rebounds, and made one steal.

Diaz added eight points, seven rebounds and made three steals. Brittany Mendoza also scored eight points and made four steals. Reagan Reynolds dropped in six points, Cassidy Cage made four points, grabbed two rebounds, and made one steal. Liliana Barrera also made four points, dragged down three rebounds and made two steals. 

Sa. Sudduth made nine-of-ten free throws to lead the Lady Mules with 16 points against Texico. She grabbed four rebounds and made two steals. Diaz finished the night with 10 points, seven rebounds, and three steals. Precure scored seven points and pulled down two rebounds. 

Sy. Sudduth made five points, four assists, and four rebounds. Barrera chipped in two points and grabbed three rebounds. Dunham also chipped in two points, two rebounds, and one steal.

Sa. Sudduth exploded with 30 points against Friona. She also grabbed three rebounds and made three steals. Barrera scored 12 points and pulled down three rebounds. Sy. Sudduth finished with eight points, six rebounds, and two steals. Diaz was four-for-four from the free-throw line, pulled in four rebounds, and made two steals. 

Precure hit a trey in the opening period. Reynolds chipped in two points, grabbed seven rebounds, and made one steal. Mendoza chipped in two points and made two rebounds. Dunham finished with two points, two rebounds, and one steal. 

The Lady Mules opened district action Tuesday in Littlefield against the Lady Cats. The Lady Mules return home Friday, December 16, to host the Idalou Lady Cats.    

JV Mules vs. Denver City (12-6-2016)

JV Mules vs. Denver City (12-6-2016)

The JV Mules made the long trip to Denver City to play the Mustangs. The Mules were victorious by defeating the Mustangs 40-31.

Luke Leal had the hot hand in the first period and made back-to-back-to-back three-point shots to give the Mules a running start. Tight Mule defense anchored the Mustangs to a single point. The Mules led 13-1 after one-quarter. 

Leal was all but silent the rest of the game, but other Mules picked up the banner. 

Leal led the Mules with 11 points and Jacob Kettner heated up in the second half to finish the night with 10 points. Louie Franco dropped in seven points. Raul Sierra, Israel Vasquez, and Luke Del Toro added four points each. 

The Mules hosted the Levelland Lobos Tuesday night and will travel to Portales Friday, December 16, to tangle with the Rams. The Mules will open district December 20 when they host the Dimmitt Bobcats.

8th Lady Mules vs. Friona (12-5-2016)

8th Lady Mules vs. Friona (12-5-2016)

The eighth-grade Lady Mules held the Friona Maidens scoreless until the final quarter Monday evening. The Maidens finally got on the board after half of the last period had expired. 

The Lady Mules defeated Friona 43-5 to improve their season record to 7-1.

Anahi Barrera led the charge for the Lady Mules with 16 points. Jordan Zapata added seven points, Tatum Hasley and Daniella Moran dropped in six points each. Destiney Florez finished with four points, and Grace Leal chipped in two points. 

The eighth-grade B-Team Lady Mules advanced to 4-1 by defeating the Friona Maidens 42-13. Heather Chavez and Nevaeh Herrera led the Lady Mules with 10 points each. Alondra Nunez dropped in eight points in the win. 

The Lady Mules traveled to Shallowater to face the Fillies Monday evening before taking the Christmas break. The Lady Mules are back in action January 2 when they travel to Lubbock Roosevelt to play the Lady Eagles. 

7th Lady Mules vs. Friona (12-5-2016)

7th Lady Mules vs. Friona (12-5-2016)

The seventh-grade Lady Mules totally dominated the Friona Maidens Monday evening with pressure defense and a fast break offense. They Lady Mules held the Maidens to just three points in the game. 

The Lady Mules took the night 51-3. 

Natalie Ambriz provided the punch for the Lady Mules with 10 points in the first quarter. She went on to finish the game with 21 points. Paige Parker scored 12 points while also dealing the ball to a variety of teammates. 

Kylee Villa dropped in eight points. Kayla Soto and Mykayla Toscano added four points each. Araceli Hernandez chipped in two points.

The Lady Mules traveled to Shallowater Monday evening to battle the Fillies to wrap up the 2016 portion of the season. The Lady Mules will open the 2017 season on the road at Lubbock Roosevelt January 2.  

Monday, December 5, 2016

All-District Football (12-5-2016)

All-District Football (12-5-2016)
 
When the Muleshoe Mules and Littlefield Wildcats were eliminated from the Texas State Football Playoffs the 2016 District 1-3A Division I All-District Team could be revealed. Nineteen Mule players received honors.
 
Dagen Dunham, Dominik Hasley, and Jason Florez were chosen to both the First Team Offense and First Team Defense. Beto Diaz was picked to the First Team Offense while Mario Flores made the First Team Defense.
 
Carlos Meza, Romeo Reyes, and Trey Villa were chosen to the Second Team Offense. Cesar Olvera, Donovan Gutierrez, and Javy Perez were picked to the Second Team Defense.
 
Fidel Mendoza, Yoel Reyes, Michael Lozano, Issac Mendoza and Moises Vasquez were named as Honorable Mentions.
 
Florez was a unanimous choice the offensive team as a receiver. He had 76 receptions for 1409 yards during the regular season and caught 21 touchdown passes. Florez also rushed the ball nine times for 131 yards and scored one touchdown.
 
Florez was also a unanimous choice to the defensive team as a defensive back. He made 41 tackles with one being on special teams and made one tackle for a loss. Florez broke up two passes, made six interceptions, and returned one for a touchdown.
 
Hasley was a unanimous choice as an offensive lineman as well as a defensive lineman. He made 56 tackles, one special teams tackle, and three tackles for losses. Hasley also recorded four sacks and hurried the quarterback twice.
 
Dunham was a first pick on both offense as a tight end and defense as a defensive end. He made eight receptions for 121 yards and two touchdowns during the regular season. He also rushed the ball one time for four yards.
 
Dunham recorded 81 tackles, with 10 being for losses. He made six sacks, three big hits, and 22 quarterback hurries. He also broke up one pass, caused or recovered two fumbles, and blocked a punt.
 
Diaz was chosen as first team quarterback. He rushed with the ball 123 times for 692 yards and scored 10 touchdowns during the regular season. Diaz completed 211 of 311 pass attempts for 3252 yards. He was intercepted seven times and passed for 35 touchdowns.
 
Flores was chosen to the first team defense. He made 137 tackles with three being for losses, made two sacks and hurried the quarterback once. Flores broke up two passes, caused or recovered seven fumbles, and intercepted two passes.
R. Reyes was chosen to the second team offense as a receiver. He made 20 receptions for 286 yards and scored two touchdowns. Villa made the second team offense as a running back. He rushed 50 times for 299 yards and scored twice. Villa made 33 receptions for 337 yards and scored four times.
 
Meza was chosen as second team offensive lineman.
 
Olvera made the second team defense as a lineman. He recorded 37 tackles, with one being for a loss, and made two sacks. Gutierrez was picked to the second team defense as a linebacker. He made 141 tackles, with four being for losses, made one sack, hurried the quarterback four times and caused or recovered one fumble.
 
Perez made the second team defense as a defensive back. He made 53 tackles, six special team tackles, made four sacks, and hurried the quarterback 12 times.
 
The following Mule players were named as Honorable Mentions. F. Mendoza was named as offensive lineman. Y. Reyes was picked as a receiver. He made 26 receptions for 380 yards and scored two touchdowns.
 
Lozano was named as a running back. He rushed 39 times for 433 yards and three touchdowns and made 13 receptions for 219 yards and two touchdowns.
 
I. Mendoza was chosen as a linebacker. He recorded 74 tackles, 10 special teams tackles, two tackles for losses, and made one sack. He also made two big hits, one quarterback hurry, broke up one pass, caused or recovered one fumble, and made two interceptions.
 
Vasquez was named as a defensive end. He made 47 tackles, seven special team tackles, six tackles for losses, and made four sacks, and hurried the quarterback 12 times.  

Lady Mules vs. Hale Center & NazarethTourny (12-29&8-10-2016)

Lady Mules vs. Hale Center & NazarethTourny (12-29&8-10-2016)
 
It was a busy week for the Lady Mules. They traveled to Hale Center Tuesday night and slammed the Lady Owls 54-29. Thursday the Lady Mules defeated the Plainview Christian Academy 46-29 in the first round of the Nazareth Tournament.
 
Friday and Saturday did not go as well for the Lady Mules. The Stratford Lady Elks dealt the Lady Mules a 48-34 defeat on Friday. The Lady Mules got off to a very slow start in the first two periods against the Bushland Lady Falcons in the third-place finals. Bushland won the game 57-40.
 
The Lady Mules leaped out to a 6-0 lead in the first two minutes against Hale Center and had opened an 18-11 advantage by the end of the first period.
 
Sydnie Sudduth finished with 10 points, four assists, three rebounds, and three steals. Keely Dunham also scored 10 points, blocked one shot, seven rebounds and made one steal.
 
Marilyn Melendez, Emily Precure, and Brittany Mendoza scored seven points each. Melendez blocked one shot and pulled down two rebounds. Precure made three rebounds and one steal. Mendoza had one rebound and one steal.
 
Yvonne Diaz scored six points blocked one shot, dragged down seven rebounds, and made one steal. Sadie Sudduth finished with four points, one assist, one rebound and one steal. Reagan Reynolds dropped in two points and made one steal. Lilly Barrera chipped in one free throw and made one steal.
 
Diaz led the charge for the Lady Mules against Plainview Christian Academy with 12 points. She made one assist, grabbed ten rebounds and made three steals. Sa. Sudduth dropped in seven points, made three assists and three deflections. Sy. Sudduth also dropped in seven points and made one steal.
 
Reynolds scored eight points, made one assist, six rebounds, and one steal. Barrera added four points, two rebounds and made one steal. Mendoza made three points, two rebounds, and one steal. Precure hit a 3-pointer, made one assist, and two rebounds. Dunham chipped in two points, made two blocks, four rebounds, and one steal.
 
Dunham was on fire against Stratford and finished with 11 points, and she grabbed six rebounds. Sa. Sudduth dropped in nine points, pulled down four rebounds and made three steals. Precure also scored nine points and had three rebounds.
 
Sy. Sudduth dropped in two points, made six rebounds, and made one steal. Diaz also dropped in two points, pulled down three rebounds and made one steal. Barrera chipped in one point. 
 
Sa. Sudduth caught fire in the final period to score ten of her 20 points to lead the Lady Mules against Bushland. Sy. Sudduth finished with eight points. Dunham and Barrera scored four points each. Diaz and Cassidy Cage chipped in two points each.
 
The Lady Mules will take the hardwoods December 8-10 in the Farwell Invitational Tournament.

8th Lady Mules vs. Slaton & Lamesa Trny (11-28 & 12-1&3-2016)

8th Lady Mules vs. Slaton & Lamesa Trny (11-28 & 12-1&3-2016)
Anahi Barrera proved to be an unstoppable force when the Lady Mules hosted the Slaton Tigerettes in a regular season game. She finished the night with a game-high 29 points. The Lady Mules took the night 47-33.
The Lady Mules had their six-game winning streak broken Saturday morning when the Colorado City team defeated the Lady Mules for the tournament championship.
The Lady Mules beat the Brownfield Lady Cubs 35-24 to open the Lamesa Tournament. Midland Greenwood fell to the Lady Mules Thursday evening 41-34. Colorado City defeated the Lady Mules 41-23.
Daniella Moran finished the night with six points. Grace Leal and Katelyn Kelley dropped in four points each. Tatum Hasley and Jordan Zapata chipped in two points each.
“What an exciting game,” said Lady Mule coach Jalissa King. “Through all the excitement, these girls pulled together and worked hard to get the win. Katelyn Kelley had six rebounds and four steals. Anahi Barrera had seven rebounds, four steals, and four assists. The girls worked hard and it paid off in the end.”
The B-Team Lady Mules fell to Slaton 22-21. Anzley Rodriguez led the Lady Mules with 16 points and Clarissa Rejino dropped in three points.
“The game went back-and-forth the entire time,” continued Coach King. “Unfortunately at the end, we were shy the two points we needed for the win. These girls played hard from the beginning to the end, and I appreciated it immensely.”
Barrera scored 15 points against Brownfield. Moran finished with six points. Leal and Hasley chipped in four points each.
“We had a slow start but got everything clicking by the end of the game,” said Coach King. “Brownfield was a good team and our girls met their challenge.”
Later on Thursday evening, the Lady Mules met the Greenwood Lady Rangers. Barrera led the scoring charge with 21 points. Kelley finished with seven points. Moran and Leal added four points each.
The Lady Mules had jumped in front 16-12 after one period but gave the lead back by halftime. The game was tied at 19-19 at the intermission. The two teams battled through the second half to end the game tied at 31-31. The Lady Mules won the overtime period 10-3.
“As the stats indicate, this was a very exciting overtime game,” continued Coach King. “These girls played their hearts out and worked every minute of the match. Tatum Hasley had seven steals, and Danielle Moran had eight rebounds. Tonight was a big win for us.”     
Colorado City opened a 16-8 lead in the first quarter of the finals, and the Lady Mules could never close the gap.
Barrera finished with 17 points, and Hasley added three points.
“Playing good teams makes you better,” concluded Coach King. “Colorado City is a good team that came out prepared to play. This game, as well as the other games in this tournament, were great learning experiences that will help us to improve in the long run.”

The Lady Mules hosted the Friona Maidens Monday evening and travel to Shallowater December 12 before taking the Christmas break. The Lady Mules return to action January 2 at Lubbock Roosevelt.

7th L. Mules vs. Slaton (11-28-2016)

7th L. Mules vs. Slaton (11-28-2016)
 
The seventh-grade Lady Mules blew away the Slaton Tigerettes 37-20 Monday night. Natalie Ambriz took over the game in the first period with eight points. She added eight additional points in the third period.
 
Ambriz paced the Lady Mules with 21 points in the game. Paige Parker finished the night with six points. Alina Elizaraz, Kayla Soto, and Kyla Sierra chipped in two points each.
 
The Lady Mules hosted Friona Monday afternoon and will travel to Shallowater December 12 before taking Christmas break.