Featured Powerlifting 

Burnet powerlifter Smith qualifies for national meet

CAPTION: Burnet senior powerlifter Abby Smith stands atop of the podium while wearing her gold medal. Courtesy photo Burnet High School senior powerlifter Abby Smith won her weight class to qualify for the United States of America Powerlifting High School National Meet. Her competed at the Texas Open Dec. 2-3, which is a sanctioned event of the USAPL. Smith had a squat of 260 pounds, a deadlift of 265 pounds, and a benchpress of 115 pounds while competing in the girls high school weight class of 123 pounds. The event…

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Basketball Featured High School 

Burnet girls basketball continues winning ways

The Burnet High School girls basketball team keeps adding to its impressive list of wins. The Lady Dawgs (15-5) defeated Brownwood 42-27 Dec. 11 on the heels of beating Sulphur Springs 33-18, Palestine 60-38, Gladewater 50-23 and Rusk 50-35 all at the Great East Texas Shootout tournament Dec. 7-9. The lone loss at the event was to Edgewood 40-35. In all, Burnet has won 11 of its last 12 contests. “I think they’re confident in what we’re doing,” head coach Rick Gates said. “They’re going out there and proving that.”…

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Basketball Featured High School 

Burnet girls basketball wins Little River Academy tourney

Photo by Martelle Ludecke/Luedecke Photography The Burnet High School girls basketball team captured the Little River Academy tournament championship thanks to winning five games, none bigger than beating the host 30-27 Dec. 2 in the final. The Lady Dawgs also beat Bosqueville 34-24, Rogers 45-12, Mumfort 55-43 and Milano 57-17. Head coach Rick Gates commended his players for not giving into fatigue. They may have understandably been tired by the time they faced Little River Academy, their second game on Dec. 2. “I thought our girls were tired and gutted…

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Basketball Featured High School 

Burnet girls basketball meets defensive goals in beating Hutto

CAPTION: The Burnet Lady Dawgs enjoy a post Thanksgiving win Nov. 26 when they beat Hutto to start the week. Courtesy photo The Burnet High School girls basketball team defeated Hutto 44-36 Nov. 26 in the Lady Dawgs’ first game back after the Thanksgiving holiday. “It was a little bit of a high-scoring game,” Lady Dawgs head coach Rick Gates said. “We did a wonderful job defensively. We’re trying to get stops right now. We’re playing with different presses depending on who we have on the floor.” The Lady Hippos…

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Basketball Featured High School 

Burnet girls basketball team faces two top 10 opponents

Photo by Martelle Luedecke/Luedecke Photography The Burnet High School girls basketball team lost to Fredericksburg 63-47 Nov. 21 and to Goldthwaite 60-45 Nov. 20. Fredericksburg (7-3) is ranked No. 6 in the latest Class 4A poll of Texas Association of Basketball Coaches, while Goldthwaite is No. 13 in the TABC’s Class 2A poll. “We always try to play a tough non-district schedule,” Burnet head coach Rick Gates said. “Obviously as we’re playing through the season, we want to win games and we want to play good teams. Sometimes you win…

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Basketball Featured Football High School High School 

Ten Highland Lakes Sports Insights

CAPION: The Burnet High School football program’s subvarsity players run on the field at Bastrop Memorial Stadium behind the 2023 varsity. Photo by Martelle Luedecke/Luedecke Photography The 2023 high school football season is officially over for the region now that the Burnet Bulldogs lost in the second round of the playoffs. But a loss on the scoreboard doesn’t take away the greatness of a squad that performed at the high level I thought they could. Let’s examine why. Watch videos on Highland Lakes sports by going to Fierro’s YouTube channel…

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Basketball Featured High School 

Burnet girls basketball beats Smithson Valley for first win

The Burnet High School girls basketball team defeated Smithson Valley 42-40 Nov. 14 for the Lady Dawgs’ first win this season. Burnet (1-2) lost to Stephenville 29-25 Nov. 10 and to Lake Belton 51-48 Nov. 6 to begin the season. “All three games were really close,” head coach Rick Gates said. “We lost to Lake Belton without our volleyball girls.” Against Smithson Valley, Burnet built a 12-5 lead in the second quarter, but Smithson Valley took a 19-18 lead midway through the stanza. Senior forward Sierra Schaefer hit back-to-back 3-pointers…

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Featured Volleyball 

Burnet volleyball team to be remembered for more than wins

Though the Burnet High School volleyball season ended one win short of qualifying for the Class 4A Region III tournament, head coach Crystal Shipley said this team gave her, the staff and the Burnet community more than sound victories. “Not only are they smart and athletic, but they are some of the best leaders that have come through our program,” she said. “They hold teammates accountable, and they make it an environment that so many want to be a part of. We have talked about this crew since they were…

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Basketball Featured Football High School High School 

Ten Highland Lakes Sports Insights

CAPTION: The Burnet Bulldogs, including Sammy Jones (72), Casyn Taylor (54), Jace Haberer (2), Andrew Milum (25), and Khris Kassner (20) sing the school song after beating Somerset for a bi-district championship Nov. 9. Photo by Martelle Luedecke/Luedecke Photography Today’s word is endings. Because that’s what the region experienced thanks to two unexpected conclusions. But we won’t start there. Let’s begin with the one team that’s still playing and continues to perform beautifully. Watch videos on Highland Lakes sports by going to Fierro’s YouTube channel and searching for The Broad…

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Featured Running 

Burnet cross country’s final 2023 race ends at state meet

CAPTION: Burnet junior Victor Aviles is on his way to the finish line of the Class 4A state meet Nov. 4 at Old Settler’s Park. Photo by Martelle Luedecke/Luedecke Photography The Burnet High School cross country girls cross country team and juniors Victor Aviles and Isaias Zarate performed well at the Class 4A state meet Nov. 4. Aviles was 11th in the individual standings of the boys 5K race thanks to finishing in 16 minutes and 5.8 seconds. Zarate completed his run in 16:59.7 for 55th overall. The race had…

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