The Lampasas Middle School basketball teams were grabbing wins hand over fist prior to the holiday break.

Like eager kids on Christmas morning, the Badgers and Lady Badgers snatched up victories like they were presents under a tree.

The LMS seventh-grade girls led the way, winning either the championship or consolation championship in all three tournaments in which they participated.

With three consecutive victories in its home tournament, the "B" team earned first-place honors on its own court by defeating Burnet in a nail-biter, 25-24, for the championship.

After dropping its opening-round contest, the Lampasas "C" team also beat Burnet and gained top honors in the consolation bracket.

The "A" team traveled to Gatesville and won the consolation championship.

On the boys' side, the seventhgrade "C" team won four of six contests.

The Badgers knocked off Marble Falls 29-19 behind a team-high six points from Jack Conner. Ryan Allendar tallied five points in the win, and Trey Combs finished with four.

Conner again led the way against Burnet's "B" team in tournament play, scoring eight points in a 20- 19 victory.

Cullen Lockburn posted four points, and four other Badgers netted two points apiece.

Lampasas then fell in back-toback games versus Copperas Cove and Copperas Cove Lee "B" teams.

It did not take long for the Badgers to bounce back, however, as they traveled to Burnet and beat the home "C" team by 18 points at 39-21.

Conner took team scoring honors with a dozen points, while Zane Green put up six and Lucas Moncus netted five.

Combs, Allendar and Lockburn all scored four points for the Badgers.

Lampasas won the rematch at home easily, 35-23, as Mason Tabor posted 10 points. Kwentien Joseph and Conner finished with six each.

"This is a really good group of young men who are working hard and getting better each day," head coach Jim Burks said.

The eighth-grade "C" team won its second consecutive game with a 24-20 victory over the Bulldogs at home.

The Badgers rushed out to a 14-5 lead in the opening quarter before Burnet rallied to threaten LMS late in the contest.

Jeremy Cantu led Lampasas with seven points, edging out Riley Tedford as the team's top offensive performer.

Arex Clark (4 pts.) and Aaron Cuffie (3 pts.) also were productive for the home team. Dallas Brooks and Jameson Varnado tallied a field goal apiece.

After getting blown out by Hill Country 52-19, the eighth-grade "A" team responded with a 38-21 victory over Cameron in the first round of the Gatesville Tournament.

"We started with the best game we have played all season and were able to roll past Cameron," head coach Aaron Nuckles said. "I thought our team defense was very solid in the game.

"We did not give Cameron very many fast-break opportunities, and they really had trouble running any offensive sets against our defense."

Mason Murray (9 pts.), Cullen Singleton (8 pts.), and Bryce Perkins (8 pts.) combined for 25 points, 14 rebounds, six assists and eight steals in the win.

The Badgers ran into host team Gatesville in the second round and fell into an early nine-point hole before clawing their way to within one-point in the closing moments.

Unfortunately, Lampasas could not get any closer and lost 26-25.

Point guard Murray recorded team-highs with 10 points and six steals, while Perkins pulled down eight of LMS' 15 rebounds.

"I was proud to see the guys continue to fight throughout the game and give themselves a chance to win it at the end," Nuckles said. "It is too bad we played so poorly in the opening minutes of the game."

In the third-place game, the Badgers faced Waco Robinson and lost by 22 points, 36-14, giving them a 3-5 record heading into the break.

The eighth-grade "A" team returns to the court Jan. 8, kicking off its district schedule with a road game at Lake Travis.