Burnet girls basketball beat Lampasas for another district victory

CAPTION: Burnet sophomore guard Journey Denton challenges Lampasas junior guard Chloe Thorp for the ball. Photo by Christopher A. Miles/Christopher A. Miles Photography

The Burnet High School girls basketball team defeated Lampasas 50-38 Jan. 9 to improve to 2-0 in District 24-4A play.

The Lady Dawgs (21-7) led 15-12 after the first period, and head coach Rick Gates had one message during the minute in between quarters.

“Fifteen on our side is good,” he recalled saying, “but 12 for them is too much.”

The Lady Dawgs got the message and displayed their strength in the second quarter by outscoring the Lady Badgers 16-2 for a 31-14 advantage at the intermission.

Burnet came out of the locker room and pushed the lead to 20. Lampasas responded by equally the 13 points the Lady Dawgs scored to ensure a 17-point deficit.

Since Burnet led 44-27, Gates substituted freely in the final stanza.

“I never like it when teams cut into the lead,” he said. “I felt like Lampasas shot the ball really well. Some of that was on us because we kind of had some lapses on defense. The key for us was forcing turnovers and beating them on the boards.”

Burnet junior center Cydney Robison led with 11 points followed by senior center Zaria Solis with 10, junior forward Sierra Schaefer contributed 9, senior forward MaeSyn Gay added 8, senior guard Journey Denton dropped in 6, junior guard Sydney Lough scored 5, and senior forward Alexis Leatherwood scored 1.

By putting in reserves, it allows the starters to get rest and stay fresh, while also rewarding everyone who is challenged to compete at a high level every day.

“We want the team out on the floor to go 100 percent,” Gates said. “I want to be able to rest those starters so when they go back on the floor, they feel 100 percent. And I want to get reserves quality minutes. Our expectation is they go in there and do an outstanding job for us. It doesn’t always have to be scoring. It’s can be rebounding, assists and playing solid defense. Those are other things they can contribute.”

He commended his players for staying focused, not getting caught up in a rivalry contest, and sticking to the objective, noting many know members of the opposing team.

“There were a lot of people in the stands on both sides,” the coach said. “It was also our middle school night as well. (My players) wanted to perform well and play well. I think our team has a really good understanding of what they need to do on the floor.”

Burnet is the only unbeaten team in the district and will take a bye Friday, Jan. 12, before facing Jarrell Tuesday, Jan. 16.

“It feels great,” Gates said. “We’ve won two home games and have off Friday. We have a home game against Jarrell. Then the road games are huge. We’ll take them one at a time.”

Watch videos on Highland Lakes sports by going to Fierro’s YouTube channel and searching for The Broad Podcaster. Please like, subscribe and share.

CAPTION: Burnet junior center Cydney Robison and the Lady Dawgs add another slash mark to the win column to remain unbeaten in District 24-4A play. Photo by Martelle Luedecke/Luedecke Photography