Mules vs. Dimmitt & Littlefield (2-17&20-2015)

Mules vs. Dimmitt & Littlefield (2-17&20-2015)

Despite three Mules reaching double figures and one just a point away the Mules could not keep the Dimmitt Bobcats under control and dropped the final regular season game 59-53. The win gave the Bobcats sole possession of second place in the district.

The Mules dropped into a three-way tie for third place. The Mules won the flip for the bye in the seeding tournament and Littlefield was pitted against Friona in the opening game. Littlefield defeated the injury laden Chieftains and faced the Mules Friday.

The Mules vs. Wildcats game was nip-and-tuck through the first three quarters and six minutes of the final frame. The Mules separated themselves from the Wildcats in the final two minutes for a 52-45 win. It was the third time during the season the Mules had defeated Littlefield.

Wes Clarkson sank a trey to start the game from near the corner to put the Mules on top early. Jason Florez kept up the attack and dropped in a 3-pointer from the top of the key. He added two more baskets before the period ended.

Florez got the assist when he fired a pass down the lane to Blayne Shipman working in the paint for a hoop. Danny Campos chipped in a free throw and the Mules led 13-10 after one period.

 Clarkson opened the second quarter with his second 3-pointer of the game. The Mules made nine of 13 free throws in the period with Dagen Dunham dropping in five of six from the charity line and he put back an offensive rebound for seven points.

Tony Vasquez and Florez chipped in a free throw each and Beto Diaz dropped in two from the charity line. Tony Castillo put back an offensive rebound. The Mules had dropped behind 32-29 by the half.

The Mules came up with only eight points in the third period. Florez, Dunham, Campos and Castillo each made a hoop. Dimmitt had increased their lead to 49-37.

The Mules tried to climb back in but ran out of time in the final period. Campos drove the baseline for a hoop, made a pair of free throws and put back two offensive rebounds for hoops. He scored eight of his 11 points in the final period.

Clarkson dropped in his third trey of the game. Dunham made two baskets and Florez chipped in a free throw.

Dunham led the Mules with 13 points. Florez and Campos finished with 11 points each. Clarkson added nine points and Castillo dropped in four points. Shipman and Diaz made two points each and Vasquez chipped in one point.

The Wildcats jumped out to a 5-0 lead in the first period before Dunham scored in the paint. He added a second basket and a free throw and canned a 3-pointer as the first period ended.

Florez picked off a pass and drove to the hoop. He added a hoop before the period ended. Campos continued as the garbage man and cleaned up other Mule misses and put the ball in the hoop twice. The Mules trailed 18-16 after one quarter.

The Mules managed to reverse the table on the Wildcats in the second period. Flores drove for a hoop and dropped in a 3-pointer. He finished the quarter with a pair of free throws.

Clarkson gave the Mules a 21-19 lead with a 3-pointer from the corner. He scored inside the arc later in the period. Diaz scored a he fell to the floor. The Mules led 30-28 at the intermission.

The Mules only managed four points in the third period and Dunham scored them all. He made a pair of free throws and made a hoop from the baseline. The Mules held Littlefield to seven points and only trailed 35-34 with eight minutes left to play.

The Mules out ran the Wildcats 18-10 in the final frame for the win. The difference could have been more but the Mules left eight points on the table with missed free throws.

Castillo made a driving hoop and Campos continued to clean the glass with two hoops. Florez made four free throws, a trey and a basket.

Florez led the Mules with 20 points and Dunham finished with 15. Campos had eight points and Clarkson made five. Diaz and Castillo chipped in two points each.

The win made the Mules the third seed in the district and faced the Spearman Lynx for Bi-District in the Tascosa Rebel Gym Tuesday evening. The winner of Tuesday night’s game in Amarillo will play the winner of Kermit vs. Slaton in the Area round of the Playoffs.