Mules vs. Friona & Shallowater (1-30&2-2-2018)

Mules vs. Friona & Shallowater (1-30&2-2-2018)

The Mules pulled one out of the fire Tuesday evening. The Mules defeated the Friona Chieftains 47-46. Friday the Mules fell to the league-leading Shallowater Mustangs 68-40.

Romeo Reyes served notice early that the Mules were ready to play when he sank a trey from the right wing. He later took a feed from Brady Martinez for a layup. Martinez used a screen from Reyes to reach the free throw line for a jump shot. He later chipped in a free throw.

Ethan Villa scored from the near the blocks. Luke Leal dropped in a 3-pointer from the top of the key just before the buzzer sounded. The Mules and Friona were tied at 13-13 after one quarter.

Izaiah Perez scored from the blocks to open the second period. Wyatt Parker made a move on the blocks to score on a short jumper. Martinez drove the lane for a hoop. Reyes put back an offensive rebound, and Israel Vasquez scored just before the half ended. The Mules trailed 22-21 at the intermission.

The Mules and Friona battled to a dead heat in the third frame. Reyes made back-to-back layups and later sank a 3-pointer. Raul Sierra dropped in a pair of jump shots. Izaiah Hurtado drove to the hoop for a layup. The Mules trailed 36-35 with one period left to play.

Vasquez sank a 3-pointer from the top of the arc to open the final period. He later added a basket from the paint.  Reyes chipped in a free throw to tie the game at 42-42. Martinez sank a trey from the left wing. Jacob Kettner made two-of-four free throws. Sierra made the Mules final point with a free throw.

Reyes led the Mules with 15 points. Martinez finished with eight points, and Vasquez added seven points. Sierra finished with five points. Leal and Kettner made three points each. Villa, Hurtado, and Parker chipped in two points each.

The Mules played an inspired first quarter against the Shallowater Mustangs Friday night. Leal nailed a 3-pointer from the top of the key just before the period ended to cut the Shallowater lead to 11-10. 

Luke Del Toro dropped in a 15-foot jump shot and completed the three-point play by making the free throw. Vasquez made a short jumper from the baseline, Martinez scored from the free throw line before Leal sank his trey.

Shallowater took over the second quarter to score 21 points. Reyes hit a jump shot from the free throw line. Vasquez battled contact that was seldom called during the game. He made a 10-foot baseline jumper and converted one free throw. Del Toro scored from 15-feet and chipped in a free throw. The Mules trailed Shallowater 32-18.

Martinez, Villa, and Reyes each scored a basket after the half. Vasquez finished a fast break and sank a 3-pointer from the left wing. The Mules trailed Shallowater 55-29.

Jacob Barron nailed a 3-pointer from the right wing to start the final period. Leal drove the lane for a hoop. Vasquez converted a pair of free throws. Del Toro scored from eight feet. Izaiah Perez was fouled twice, with no call from the officials, in the final minute of play before he was able to score the Mules final basket.

Vasquez led the Mules with 12 points, and Del Toro finished with eight points. Leal had five points. Martinez and Reyes had four points each. Barron made three points, and Villa chipped in two points.

The Mules hosted the Roosevelt Eagles Tuesday evening. The Littlefield Wildcats will visit the Mules Friday evening. The Mules will close out their season in Idalou February 13 when they play the Wildcats.