The Lady Aggies came to Lytle on Tuesday and the Lady Pirates sent them back with their 10th district loss. Still in first place, but tied with Poth, the Lady Pirates need to win both of their games next week against Cotulla on Tuesday and Poth on Friday to win the district. Their last district game will be in Dilley on February 8th. As of Monday night, Lytle and Poth sat at 12-1 and Karnes City is in third place with a 9-4 record.
The game started off with the Lady Pirates working their offense until Cadee Martinez found an opening. The next three Lytle points would come from free-throws. C. Martinez found herself under the basket for an easy shot. Katara Whitfield earned the next two baskets and Lytle was up 11-4. Lytle’s defense pushed Poteet away from their basket and Calyssa Sevier took a rebound all the way down court where she was fouled while shooting. Sinking both of her free-throws she made a lay-up on the next Pirate possession, 17-4. Arianna Garcia found herself at the line where she sank one free-throw and the quarter ended 18-6.
To start the second quarter, Poteet had seven fouls to Lytle’s two. Poteet started the quarter with the ball but could not convert it into points. On Lytle’s first possession, Fizz Hutton passed back to Whitfield for the basket and then Poteet called a time out. Lytle continued to press and mess with all of the Aggies passes. On one possession, the Aggies were called for 10 seconds trying to make it down court, but every pass had a Pirate there to interfere. Fighting for the rebound, Whitfield won to turn and sink the basket. Hutton knocked the ball out of the air on an Aggie pass to recover it for the lay-up. The Aggies frustration started to show more with the wild shot they took. Leading by 20, the Lady Pirate Sevier stole the ball and faced down two Aggies to make the shot. The half ended 35-13.
After halftime, the Lady Pirates were scoreless in the first minute and their dry spell was broken by Sevier with two free-throws. Running a full-court press, Lytle continued to interrupt the Aggies offense and capitalize on the turn overs. Sevier stole the ball and made a quick pass to Whitfield for the basket. Now 41-15, Amelia Martinez sank her first free-throw and then went to the ground fighting over the rebound. Deep in their third, C. Martinez passed to Sevier for the three-pointer and to end the third 50-17.
Nearly every time the Lady Pirates set up and ran their offense it ended in points, either from a basket or from drawing the foul. After sinking her first C. Martinez missed her second but the rebound ended with a basket from Whitfield with the foul. She sank her free-throw and put Lytle up 54-18. Driving to the basket with three defenders, C. Martinez was fouled but sank her free-throws. The Lady Pirates would continue to press and keep the Aggies from the basket to win the game 63-22.
“We scored on all 29 turnovers Poteet made, scored 32 points in the paint and had 17 steals. At the half we were up 34-13 and did a great job coming out in the 3rd and scoring 15. We had been struggling the last few games in the 3rd quarter. The one thing we have to do a better job of is shooting free throws. The girls all got great minutes that will definitely help as we prepare for two big games next week! We need both wins to REPEAT as District Champs! This Friday we have our bye week so we will not be in action until Tuesday as we travel to Cotulla to face a good squad,” added Coach Lori Wilson.
Stats: Katara Whitfield had a double-double 19 points, 12 rebounds, 1 assist, 2 deflections, 1 steal. Cadee Martinez had 18 points, 5 rebounds, 1 assist, 3 deflections, 4 steals, 1 block. Calyssa Sevier had 17 points, 7 rebounds, 3 assists, 3 deflections, 5 steals. Fizz Hutton had 4 points, 2 rebounds, 1 assist, 3 deflections, 4 steals. Arianna Garcia had 3 points, 4 rebounds, 1 block. Amelia Martinez had 1 point, 2 rebounds, 1 assist, 2 deflections. Kaylee Diaz had 1 point, 2 rebounds, 1 block. Nicole Godines 1 rebound, 3 assists, 3 deflections, 2 steals, 1 block. Sofia Hutton 5 rebounds, 1 assist, 1 deflection, 1 steal. Rose Scotello 2 rebounds. Lunna Reyes 1 rebound.
By Dicy Chambers
Sports Writer