Badgers' rally comes up short in 25-4A game
Vista Ridge 47, LHS Boys 45
By JEREMY HEATH Staff Writer

Clay Tyner: Senior guard registered eight points, eight rebounds and six assists.

CEDAR PARK -- A fourth team emerged as a potential playoff contender in District 25-4A on Friday.

And it wasn't Lampasas.

Cedar Park Vista Ridge (10-11 overall, 4-0 in district) proved its previous district wins against Marble Falls, Burnet and Dripping Springs were not just a case of it beating up on weak teams when it held off the Badgers, 47-45.

The Rangers, who have yet to play Lake Travis, Pflugerville Connally and Pflugerville Hendrickson, did provide themselves some cushion as they prepare to play three straight against those teams.

Lampasas (12-9, 0-4) needed a victory to interject the team into the playoff conversation, but missed free throws doomed that prospect. The Badgers connected on just 8 of 19 free throws in the game, including a 1-of-6 stretch in the third period.

The teams traded buckets in the first period, finishing the frame tied at 10-10. After seesawing points to a 14-14 tie, the Rangers exploded for nine unanswered points to take a 23-14 advantage. They would lead 25-17 at the intermission.

Heath Hopson: Junior post scored eight of his game-high 21 points in the fourth quarter.

"After a strong first quarter and a half, we started turning the ball over and took some poor shots to fall behind by eight," LHS head coach Scott Harrelson said. "(Heath) Hopson again showed he was the player to stop. He had some big baskets early and in the final few minutes. He hit a 3, and made some key free throws to give us life."

Hopson, a junior post, led Lampasas with 21 points and nine rebounds. He scored eight of those points in the fourth quarter as the Badgers outscored the Rangers 17- 12 to cut the final deficit to two.

Senior post Heath Cofield was held to two points in the first half, but he came alive down the stretch to finish with 12.

Senior guard Clay Tyner had eight points, eight rebounds and six assists but was 0 of 3 from the charity stripe.

Vista Ridge had three players in double figures. Dylan Taylor, Quinton Dailey and Glen Goeloe each scored 10.

VRHS 47, LHS 45

Records

Lampasas is 12-9, 0-4; Vista Ridge is 10-11, 4-0.

Impact

The Badgers will probably need to beat Dripping Springs, Burnet and Marble Falls to get back in the playoff race.

Key Stat

The Badgers missed on 11 of 19 free-throw attempts.

Key Play

With the Rangers up 20-14 in the second period, Vista Ridge's Glen Goeloe drained a 3-pointer to give the Rangers a nine-point lead.

Up Next

Lampasas at Dripping Springs, Friday at 6 p.m.