Mules vs. Friona & Tulia (1-19 & 22-2016)

Mules vs. Friona & Tulia (1-19 & 22-2016)

Danny Campos delivered 10 points in both the first and third periods as the Mules buried the Friona Chieftains 74-55 Tuesday night in Muleshoe. The Chiefs put up a battle in the first two periods and just trailed the Mules 34-33 at the half. The Mules exploded for 23 points in the third period and dug a hole the Chiefs could not escape.

Beto Diaz played the garbage man in Tulia Friday night as the Mules swatted the Hornets. Diaz provided the inside punch in the final three periods as the Mules crammed 18 points through the hoop in each of those quarters. The Mules defeated the Hornets 65-35.

The two district wins leaves the Mules on top of the district race with a perfect record of 3-0.

Tony Castillo cranked the Mule offense with a baseline drive early in the first period. He then fed Campos the ball on the blocks for an easy hoop. Campos scored four more hoops before the first quarter ended. Dagen Dunham and Donavan Gutierrez each chipped in a basket. The Mules trailed 18-17 after one quarter.

The Mules took a 34-33 lead by the end of the second period. Dunham drained a trey to get the Mules started. Jesse Leal dropped in a 3-pointer from the top of the key and Jason Florez scored from the elbow.

Tony Vasquez drove and battled through a foul to score. He could not convert the three-point play. Dunham added a pair of hoops and Campos put back an offensive rebound and made both ends of a one-and-bonus set of free throws.

The Mules were on fire in the third period. Vasquez set the pace by picking a Chiefs pocket and driving the floor for a lay up. Campos cleaned up the backside with a put back. He then completed a three-point play by converting a free throw. Campos added two more hoops and one free throw.

Vasquez made a put back and drove the floor for a basket. Flores dropped in a trey from the top of the key and Castillo hit a short jumper. Diaz added a pair of free throws. The Mules had out scored the Chiefs 23-8 for a 57-41 lead.

The hung on in the final frame as the Chiefs made a run at them. The Mules converted six of 10 free throws. Dunham made a lay up to start the final period. He added two more baskets before the period ended.

Diaz made two free throws as did Vasquez and Campos. Flores hit from the elbow and Aaryn Ross sank a trey in the final seconds of the game.

Campos led all scorers with 26 points. Dunham finished with 15 points and Vasquez dropped in 10 points. Flores made seven points, Castillo had five points and Diaz scored four points. Ross made three points and Leal and Gutierrez chipped in two points each.

Vasquez drove the lane and laid up the ball with his left hand for the Mules first hoop against Tulia. Flores pulled up a popped the net from 12 feet. Dunham put back an offensive rebound and Campos found his way to the hoop through a crowd. Dunham stepped outside the arc and sank a trey with just seconds remaining in the first period to give the Mules an 11-8 lead after one quarter.

Vasquez scored on a pass from Dunham to begin the second quarter. Diaz went to work in or near the paint. Flores feed Diaz for his first basket. He then converted a three-point play before putting back an offensive rebound.

Castillo went coast-to-coast for a lay up and hit a short baseline jumper. Flores weaved through the defense for a lay up. He also made a pair of free throws. Vasquez added a free throw. The Mules led 29-19 at the intermission.

Dunham scored the Mules’ first basket of the second half the his final hoop of the game. Campos scored on a feed from Leal. Diaz was on fire with a pair of old-fashion three-point plays that sandwiched a lay up and a put back for 10 points.

Ross scored on a feed from Campos and then picked off a pass and drove the floor for a hoop. The third quarter was the second 18 point period for the Mules and they had held Tulia to only four points for a 47-23 Mule lead with one quarter left to play.

The Mules repeated their 18 point period in the final period while holding Tulia to 12 points.

Diaz rang up 21 points to lead all scorers. Flores finished with 11 points. Vasquez, Dunham and Campos scored seven points each. Ross had six points and Castillo made four points and Gutierrez chipped in two points.

The Mules have back-to-back tough district games this week. The Mules traveled to Shallowater Tuesday night for a battle of the undefeated. Both teams were 3-0 entering the game. The Mules return home Friday night to wrap up the first round of district against the Dimmitt Bobcats.