Badgers must start playoff run tonight
Jeremy Heath

Jeremy Heath is the Dispatch Record's sports editor. His column appears Fridays. He can be contacted via e-mail at jheath@lampasas.com.

The Vista Ridge boys' basketball team is, right now, almost exactly what Scott Harrelson thought his Lampasas boys team might become when the season began.

With their 47-45 win against the Badgers last Friday, the Rangers (10-11, 4-0) emerged as a playoff contender in District 25- 4A. And they did it by simply taking care of business.

A brutal pre-district schedule sent the Rangers to a 6-11 start, but that tough schedule paid dividends quickly in district as the Rangers had the easiest possible early draw with matchups against Dripping Springs, Marble Falls and Burnet.

The Badgers, on the other hand, had the toughest possible draw with Lake Travis, Pflugerville Connally and Pflugerville Hendrickson.

The Badgers lost all three games but gained some confidence when they played district-favorite Connally down to the wire in a 47-45 road loss on Dec. 21.

So when the Badgers traveled to Cedar Park last Friday, there was, in a sense, little difference between the Rangers' 3-0 district mark against projected bottom feeders and the Badgers' 0-3 mark against projected contenders. It was basically two teams trying to prove themselves. The Badgers were trying to prove they could shake off the 0-3 start, and the Rangers were trying to prove they are for real.

It appears the Rangers are for real. Not only that, but they're in an enviable position. Because of the win against Lampasas, they can close the first half of the district loop with losses to Lake Travis, Connally and Hendrickson and still be in good shape at 4-3. They would be in position to contend for a playoff spot by simply matching their first-half record in the second half to finish at 8-6.

Because of the loss to Vista Ridge, the Badgers can close out the first half with wins against Dripping Springs, Marble Falls and Burnet and still be in a tough spot at 3-4. They'd probably have to go 5-2 in the second half just to stay in contention at 8-6. That would mean season sweeps of Dripping Springs, Marble Falls and Burnet, and two wins against what are now the top four in the district.

The scores at Connally and Vista Ridge certainly indicate it's possible, but it leaves little margin for error.

While poor free-throw shooting -- an almost inexcusable offense -- doomed the Badgers at Vista Ridge, two aspects of the Badgers' game indicated the team is ready to get on a roll.

First, the defense played as well as it's played all season. After a weak defensive effort in a 76-64 home loss to Hendrickson Jan. 2, the Badgers consistently forced Vista Ridge shooters to release the ball from uncomfortable positions. The problem was some of those shooters still found the net.

Second, the Badgers' offense took some shots from the outside, alleviating pressure from the inside play of Heath Hopson and Heath Cofield. Against Hendrickson, there was virtually no outside presence.

Against Vista Ridge, Jordy Carnes shot twice from beyond the arc, with both shots rattling in and out. Hopson was one of two from three-point range, Clay Tyner was 0 of one, and Barry Postell connected on a 3, but it was waived off because of a foul away from the ball.

While one of five from the perimeter might not sound like much, it at least forced the Vista Ridge defenders to step out to the perimeter. The effect was evident in wider lanes to the glass in the fourth quarter.

If the Badgers want to return to playoff contention, they must start by beating their next three opponents. To do that, they must at least present the threat of a second dimension.

*

Lady Badger head basketball coach Mitzi Lancaster and her 10- day-old son, Cash, remain in the neo-natal intensive care unit at Scott & White Memorial Hospital in Temple.

Cash was due in March, but he decided to make an early appear- ance.

LHS Athletic Director Joey McQueen visited Lancaster earlier this week and has maintained contact since.

She informed McQueen the baby is progressing well but probably will be kept in the hospital until he approaches his original due date.

At this point, Cash is doing well, and Lancaster might make an appearance courtside when her team plays at Dripping Springs tonight.

If she does, parents and fans who make the trip to Dripping Springs need to make sure the coach knows the community is thinking about and praying for her and her family.

They also might consider approaching assistant coaches Stuart Beckwith and Jimmie Cain to express their gratitude. Beckwith and Cain have been coaching the varsity, junior varsity and undefeated freshman team for the past 10 days.