Burnet boys basketball beats Gateway, loses to Salado
CAPTION: Burnet senior forward Eli Pickens protects the ball as he makes a move to the basket. Photo by Martelle Luedecke/Luedecke Photography
The Burnet High School boys basketball team defeated Georgetown Gateway 56-44 Jan. 27 and lost to Salado 53-41 Jan. 30 in District 24-4A play.
The Bulldogs, who led 19-9 after the first stanza, beat the Gators by creating a game plan based off the results from the 63-42 loss to Gateway Jan. 9.
“It was really pretty,” assistant coach Carter Carruthers said. “In reviewing it, they had nothing to fix, and we had everything to fix. If they did everything that they did the first time and we just fixed what we did wrong the first time, it was going to be tough for them. When you win by 20 you’re like, ‘Oh there’s no reinventing of the wheel, we’re going to go do the exact same thing.’ But your opponent is going to have to change what they do.”
Gateway was successful in scoring in transition in early January, which Burnet took away in the rematch. That forced the Gators to set up their half-court offense. But Gateway couldn’t hit its outside shots either unlike the first game.
“We defended them a lot better,” Carruthers said. “Just keep the ball in front of you, don’t let the dribble drive happen. If the dribble drive happens and we get beat, that’s when bad things happen, because we have to help and they can (pass it out) or they can dish to their bigs. That is why we got on them and ended up having success.”
Though Burnet led, Gateway began making a comeback and cut it to a six-point deficit. But every time the Gators hit a long bomb, Burnet senior guard J.J. Whigham answered.
“J.J. got hot,” the coach said. “And when J.J. gets hot, it’s really nice because he’s hitting shots and helping grow your lead. J.J. hit five 3-pointers. J.J. hit back to back after they cut it to six, and he got it back to 12 just like that.”
Against Salado the first time, the Bulldogs made sure to know where sophomore shooting guards KeKoa Rose and Kiam Wilcox were. Neither connected on a 3-pointer. But senior forward Bryson Byers scored around 20 points off high-percentage shots and offensive rebounds. In the rematch, Burnet stayed on Byers, who finished with two points. But the outside shooters found their rhythm.
The Bulldogs have four games remaining beginning with a road trip to Taylor Tuesday, Feb. 3, with junior varsity one playing at 5 p.m., junior varsity two playing at 6:15 p.m. and the varsity at 7:30 p.m.
Burnet will take a bye Friday, Feb. 6, then face a three-game stretch that begins with a road trip to Lampasas Tuesday, Feb. 10, with junior varsity one playing at 5 p.m., junior varsity two playing at 6:15 p.m. and the varsity at 7:30 p.m. in a double header with the Lady Dawgs.
The Bulldogs will then host the Marble Falls Mustangs Friday, Feb. 13, with the subvarsities playing at 5 p.m. and the varsity at 6:15 p.m. in an evening they’ll honor their seniors.
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