Badgers drop home-opener to Class 5A Austin Anderson

Heath Hopson: Junior post led Badgers with 29 points and 16 rebounds.

For three of the four quarters on Friday, the Lampasas boys' basketball team held its own with Class 5A Austin Anderson, but a 20-14 Anderson advantage in the second quarter proved the majority of the difference as Anderson spoiled the Badgers' home-opener with a 71-62 win at Bozarth-Fowler Gymnasium.

The Badgers (1-1) are scheduled to play host to Stephenville tonight at 6:30 p.m.

The game shifted back and forth for the majority of the first two quarters, but the Badgers got in foul trouble late in the second, and Anderson took advantage of the LHS bench to go on a 7-0 run and lead it 32-26 at the break.

Junior Heath Hopson fought through double and triple teams to score a game-high 29 points and pull down 16 rebounds. Senior guard Clay Tyner scored 13 and grabbed five boards. Senior post Heath Cofield had eight points and five rebounds.

The Badgers played even with Anderson for the majority of the second half, but Anderson got some key 3-pointers off the bench to kill four Lampasas rallies.

"We had a great crowd, and it was a great atmosphere to watch a basketball game," LHS coach Scott Harrelson said. "I am very proud of how tough the team played and loved the fan support. I hope the fans enjoyed the exciting, high level of play, and I hope we can eliminate some of our mistakes before district."

Austin Anderson JV 55, Lampasas JV 46: Carlos Cintron and Edwardo Davila each scored 12 points for the Badgers on Friday, but a 20-7 Anderson run in the second quarter put LHS in too deep a hole from which to dig itself out.

"The guys played with a lot of heart," coach Kyle Black said. "The guys got down early, but they never gave up and gave themselves a chance to win."

Anderson 9th 82, LHS 17: Jamaal Harvey scored five points, and Colton Perkins added three as the Badgers fell to 0-2 on the season with a home loss on Friday.