Burnet boys basketball loses to Lampasas
CAPTION: Burnet senior forward Eli Pickens plays at a high intensity every time he steps on the court. Photo by Martelle Luedecke/Luedecke Photography
The Burnet High School boys basketball team lost to Lampasas 56-49 Jan. 23 in District 24-4A play.
The Bulldogs (16-11, 3-3) are in fourth place with two games remaining in the first round.
Burnet trimmed the deficit to two points a couple of times in the final 35 seconds. The Badgers made free throws to keep the advantage and the Bulldogs turned the over on their last possession. The game ended on a dunk by Lampasas senior center Beau Patterson.
“Unbelievably proud of the toughness and the grit and the effort that our kids played with,” assistant coach Carter Carruthers said. “There’s some things that, if you want to win, have to happen; you have to play with great effort and great intensity and great competitiveness, and our kids did all those things. But then also the ball’s going to bounce your way sometimes and it didn’t. We have great respect to our opponents.”
Burnet senior forward Eli Pickens drew the defensive assignment to stay with Patterson. He stood in front of Patterson and received help from his teammates on the backside to double the Badger.
“We challenged Eli with that and we thought maybe Eli might maybe have a harder time scoring just because he was exhausting all his efforts on the other end,” Carruthers said. “But he led us with 20 points. Eli had a heck of a game. We thought we could pose some matchup problems for them on the other end, just because we’re pretty fast in all five positions.”
Patterson had 28 points and 22 rebounds.
“You know Beau is going to get his,” the coach said. “But if you can limit (senior guards Peyton) Sisson and (Aidan) Nuckles, then you have a chance. We did a good job guarding Sisson and Nuckles and their other guys. We did a good job of not letting them get going and get hot and really grow the lead.”
Burnet took a two-point lead after the first quarter and trailed by a point at the half and the end of the third period.
“We’re certainly disappointed because we wanted to win the game and disappointed and upset that we couldn’t find a way to win it,” Carruthers said. “But we’re not disappointed in our kids, their effort and their attitudes, intensity or competitive spirit whatsoever. It was really fun to be a part of that and coach them, and at times just watch them compete. They gave everything they had, every ounce of what they had to give. We are so proud of them.”
The Bulldogs welcome Georgetown Gateway Wednesday, Jan. 28, in a varsity only contest at 5:30 p.m. and Salado Friday, Jan. 30, and travel to Taylor Friday, Feb. 3. Junior varsity one plays at 5 p.m., junior varsity two at 6:15 p.m., and the varsity at 7:30 p.m.
The Salado and Taylor contests are a doubleheader with the Lady Dawgs.
CAPTION: Burnet junior guard Ethan Elmore and the Bulldogs are playing the way that brings pride and honor to their community. Photo by Martelle Luedecke/Luedecke Photography
