PHOTOS BY RICHARD AKRIDGE Senior Heath Hopson handles the ball during Friday's loss to Dripping Springs. A momentary lapse in concentration can change everything.

It is a lesson the Badgers are learning the hard way.

After taking a two-point lead into the fourth quarter and bumping it up to three moments later, Lampasas lost focus, committing costly turnovers and allowing Dripping Springs to go on a 15-0 run en route to a 56-48 victory inside Bozarth-Fowler Gymnasium Friday night.

It is a problem head coach Scott Harrelson is seeing far too often of late.

"We gave up three quick baskets off turnovers and then, all of a sudden, we're down eight and fighting to get back," Harrelson said. "It's happened over and over again where we'll lead the whole way and then do that.

"But I have to give [Dripping Springs] credit. I thought they played very well; they played better than us."

The Badgers took a 44-41 advantage following a Jordy Carnes layup early in the final period, but did not tack another point onto the scoreboard until Heath Hopson hit a pair of free throws with 28.6 seconds remaining in the contest.

Jordy Carnes (5) dishes the ball off to Heath Hopson (4). An offensive rebound and a successful putback at the buzzer gave Hopson game-high scoring honors with 29 points to go with eight rebounds.

Carnes complemented Hopson by going four-of-four from the floor to finish with nine points, but the remainder of the squad connected on just four-of-17 attempts.

"They are all playing hard," Harrelson said. "I cannot fault them for the intensity they play at, but there comes that little span [when they lose focus].

"Jordy made a couple of really nice plays and hit a couple of crucial baskets, but we need more guys doing that. We need more guys stepping up if we are going to be successful."

In the fourth quarter, Carnes and Hopson combined to score all eight of the Badgers' points.

Lampasas (7-14) is rapidly running out of time to correct its problems with just a single game separating it from a districtopening date against state powerhouse Lake Travis, currently ranked No. 2 among 4A schools.

Guard Colton Perkins goes all out, diving on the floor for a loose ball. "We've got one more at Brownwood, and we're just trying to have a good [showing] going in [to district play]," Carnes said. "Lake Travis is just going to do the same thing Dripping Springs did, so we've got to keep our heads up and be strong."

The Badgers travel to Brownwood tonight for a 7 p.m. tip.

*** After playing to a 44-44 tie at the end of regulation, the Badgers' junior varsity squad overcame a four-point deficit in overtime to win 51-48 against Dripping Springs.

The Tigers rushed out to a 48-44 lead in the extra period before freshman Brandon Scott triggered a 7-0 run with a pair of successful free-throw attempts.

Leading by three points with under a minute remaining, the Tigers had several opportunities to tie the contest with a 3-pointer but could not connect. Their final chance came at the buzzer, but Scott blocked the straight-on attempt to preserve the three-point victory.

The Badgers' freshman squad gave Dripping Springs a fight but fell by three points, 38-35.