THE HOME STRETCH
Badger defense stymies Rangers
By JEREMY HEATH Staff Writer

PHOTO BY RICHARD AKRIDGE Senior post Heath Cofield scores two of his 11 points in the Badgers' 46-36 win against Dripping Springs on Friday.

The Lampasas High School boys' basketball team assured its head coach of two things on Friday night: 1) a winning season and 2) it plans to make a strong stretch run despite being out of the playoff race.

Behind a swarming defense and strong effort on the glass, the Badgers (16-12 overall, 4-7 in District 25-4A) handed fourth-place Vista Ridge a 46-36 loss at Bozarth- Fowler Gymnasium.

"I think it just came down to our guys wanting it more," said LHS head coach Scott Harrelson who was assured his first winning season at Lampasas. "The defense was tough. It was an almost perfect game in that we committed very few turnovers and controlled the tempo of the game."

With the win, the Badgers also kept alive their hopes of passing the Rangers (6-5) for fourth place. The Badgers close their season with Dripping Springs, Marble Falls and Burnet -- three teams it has already beaten. The Rangers close with Lake Travis, Connally and Hendrickson -- three teams which have beaten them. The Badgers start their stretch at 8 p.m. today at home against Dripping Springs.

Heath Hopson finished with 15 points and 14 rebounds. Clay Tyner scored 13 points and assisted on five buckets. Heath Cofield added 11 points and four rebounds.

The Badgers missed 11 free throws in a 47-45 loss at Vista Ridge on Jan. 4.

"You always feel like you're the better team," Hopson said.

"We knew we had more heart, and that we wanted it more than them. We're setting our standards high for next year, playing for fourth place and playing for Coach Harrelson."

Marcus Swatzell, who had a key putback in the first period and was sticky on defense, said it was simply a matter of executing.

"We knew we could beat them," Swatzell said. "Dripping Springs had beaten them, and we missed our free throws the first time. This time, we minimized our turnovers and made our free throws."