LHS BOYS RALLY TO 25-4A WIN
Badgers score 22 points in fourth quarter to topple pesky Tigers

PHOTOS BY RICHARD AKRIDGE Senior guard Clay Tyner goes up for two of his eight points on Friday.

DRIPPING SPRINGS - There was simply no way around it.

The Lampasas High School boys' basketball team had to beat Dripping Springs on the road Friday night to maintain its playoff hopes.

The Tigers made them earn it, jumping out to a 16- 5 first-quarter lead, but the Badgers' defense stiffened in the remaining frames, setting up a 47-44 victory.

The Badgers (13-9 overall, 1-4 in District 25- 4A) have a bye tonight before returning to the court Friday to play host to Marble Falls. They will close out the first half of the district loop at Burnet on Saturday.

"We will have played five road games in the first half of district, so the second half should favor us," LHS head coach Scott Harrelson said. "I'm hoping for a large turnout in the remaining home games to give us a home-court advantage."

The Badgers trailed 22-19 at the half and 31-25 after three quarters, but they exploded for 22 points in the final quarter.

Senior post Heath Cofield (45) and junior post/wing Heath Hopson helped lead a Badger defense that held the Tigers to 44 points.

"Our offense sputtered in the third quarter, but the defense remained intense and held them to nine points," the coach said.

Heath Hopson, who had a team-high 14 points and eight rebounds, recorded six defensive rebounds in the final quarter. Jonathan VanLiew tossed in two key buckets down the stretch, and Jacob Maceyra recorded key free throws and created Tiger turnovers to help the Badgers maintain momentum.

Senior post Heath Cofield was his steady self, dropping in 10 points and securing seven rebounds, and junior guard Clay Tyner had eight points, three rebounds and four assists.

The Badgers also got a contribution from a potential game-changer. Marvin Mouroum, a German exchange student who is recovering from a knee injury, saw his first action of the season and recorded three rebounds and two points. Mouroum, a player Harrelson has called a difference-maker, looked strong in warm-ups, using both his legs to push off on layups, jumpers and dunks.

Home Game

The Badgers will play host to Marble Falls at 6:30 p.m. Friday.