Panthers hand Badgers loss in final pre-district tune-up
Waco Midway 78, Lampasas 52
By JEREMY HEATH Staff Writer

PHOTO BY GABE WOLF LHS junior post Heath Hopson scored a game-high 26 points and grabbed nine rebounds in the Badgers' 78-52 home loss against Waco Midway on Tuesday. Hopson, who was named to the all-tournament teams at the Lorena Tournament and the Fort Worth Brewer Tournament, was the only Badger to score in double figures.

The Lampasas boys' basketball team got a wake-up call Tuesday.

In their final tune-up before District 25-4A play begins, the Badgers were handed a 78-52 defeat at the hands of Waco Midway at Bozarth-Fowler Gymnasium.

The Panthers (8-3) scored the first nine points of the game behind a swarming press. They stuck with the back-court press for the duration of the contest, falling back into zones on the defensive end.

Lampasas (9-4) never found a rhythm and allowed the Panthers to dictate the tempo by drawing the Badgers out of their controlled offensive scheme.

LHS is scheduled to open district play at 6:30 tonight at Lake Travis.

"Lake Travis had a coach here, and he certainly got an eye-full," LHS head coach Scott Harrelson. "I'm sure we'll see a lot of full-court press and zone defense on Friday. Lake Travis is the same type of team as Midway without quite as many athletes. They have a lot of good shooters, and they're going to spread the floor."

Midway had four players who scored in double figures, led by senior guard Jay Holmes' 13 points. Most of the Panthers' points came in the transition game. With superior speed, Midway consistently converted LHS turnovers into quick-strike baskets.

"We've got a good defense when we can play defense, if that makes sense," Harrelson said.

"We aren't very good defensively when we have to scramble, so we can't turn the ball over and expect to be successful."

LHS junior post Heath Hopson was the focal point of the Midway defense, but he still scored a game-high 26 points and pulled down nine rebounds. Hopson was coming off an all-tournament selection at the Fort Worth Brewer Tournament, his second such honor in two tournaments this season.

After falling behind 9-0, the Badgers rallied within 13-7 by the end of the first quarter. They went on an 8- 2 run to open the second quarter and appeared poised to give the Panthers a fight when they tied the game at 15 on two Vann Millican free throws with 5:40 remaining in the half. But Midway scored the next 10 points and took a 25-15 lead on Josh Deaton's trey with 3:40 left before the break.

From that point on, the closest the Badgers would get was 32-25 on a Warren Scott 3-pointer in the opening minute of the third quarter.

Senior post Heath Cofield finished with eight points and four assists. Clay Tyner and Scott scored five points apiece, and Marcus Swatzell added four. Millican hit two free throws, and Coleton Lucas and Jacob Maceyra each hit one free throw.

Heading into the season, Harrelson predicted Pflugerville Connally and Pflugerville Hendrickson would be the front-runners in the district, leaving a few other teams fighting for the third spot. Two of those teams will be on the court at Lake Travis tonight.

"I still think this is a playoff team," Harrelson said of his Badgers. "But if we want to go to the playoffs, we need to win at Lake Travis."

MHS 78, LHS 52

Records Lampasas is 9-4, Midway is 8-3.

Impact

The Badgers have lost three of their previous four games entering their District 25-4A opener tonight at Lake Travis.

Key Stat

Four Midway players hit double figures in scoring while only Heath Hopson (26) eclipsed the 10-point mark for Lampasas.

Key Play

Midway's Josh Deaton hit a 3-pointer to give the Panthers a 25-15 lead with 3:40 left in the half, giving Midway a lead Lampasas would never seriously threaten.

Up Next

Lampasas at Austin Lake Travis, Friday 6:30 p.m.