Burnet girls basketball loses to Jarrell in overtime
CAPTION: Burnet senior athlete MaeSyn Gay scores two of her 19 points during the loss to Jarrell Feb. 2. Photo by Martelle Luedecke/Luedecke Photography
The Burnet High School girls basketball team lost to Jarrell 58-54 in overtime Feb. 2 in District 24-4A play.
That loss means the Lady Dawgs (26-8, 6-1) must beat Lago Vista Tuesday, Feb. 6, to win the district title outright.
A loss to the Lady Vikings coupled with a Jarrell win at Lampasas means the Lady Cougars and Burnet will share the district crown. Both teams then would have to decide who enters the playoffs as the district’s top seed to face China Spring, the fourth-place team in District 23-4A.
Down 51-48 against Jarrell with less than 10 seconds left, the Lady Dawgs had the ball and head coach Rick Gates called his final timeout of regulation. He drew up a play for junior guard Sydney Lough, who had already dropped in two 3-pointers during the quarter. Lough worked her way to the top of the key, caught the pass and buried the 3-pointer before the horn sounded to send the contest into the extra session.
Junior forward Sierra Schaeffer was the only Lady Dawg to score in overtime. Meanwhile, Jarrell made 7 of 8 free throws to seal the win.
Burnet began the contest with a 15-5 lead after the first period. Jarrell responded in the second quarter by outscoring the Lady Dawgs 14-7, though Burnet led 22-19 at the half.
From there, the contest went back and forth with neither team willing to give an inch. At the end of the third period, Jarrell led 37-36, which set up Lough’s dramatic basket.
Jarrell freshman guard Aniya Taylor led with 31 points though she was scoreless in the first quarter. She scored on five 2-pointers, four 3-pointers and was 9 for 11 from the foul line that included hitting all six free throw attempts in overtime. In all, Jarrell connected on eighteen 2-pointers, nine 3-pointers and were 11 of 15 from the foul line.
“Their freshman point guard got hot,” Gates said. “She made several contested shots. We have to give her credit. I thought we played well.”
Jarrell senior Jasmine Benavidez dropped in 12 points and sophomore Kaydyn Edwards finished with 9.
Burnet had eleven 2-pointers, eight 3-pointers and were 8 for 12 from the foul line. Senior athlete MaeSyn Gay led Burnet with 19 points, scoring 11 in the first period, followed by senior center Zaria Solis and Lough with 13 apiece, Schaeffer contributed 6 points, and senior forward Alexis Leatherwood finished with 3.
Gates noted the Lady Dawgs are looking at this setback as a positive.
“That game didn’t make our season,” he said. “Of course we can learn from it — that’s what we’re going to do. We’re going to focus on those deficiencies you have to learn because in the playoffs, your season can be over.”
Watch videos on Highland Lakes sports by going to Fierro’s YouTube channel and searching for The Broad Podcaster. Please like, subscribe and share.
