The Badgers’ eighth-grade Blue team simply could not get on the board in the first half and it cost them.

After scoring just seven point in the opening half, Lampasas bounced back to score 23 in the second half, but it was not enough as Marble Falls won by 20 points, 50-30.

“We started the game very slow and nervous,” head coach Aaron Nuckles said. “Marble Falls did a great job of running their full-court press early in the game which took us out of our offensive rhythm.

“When we broke the press, we got layups. When we did not break the press, they got layups.”

Blake Lolato led the Badgers offensively, scoring eight points while grabbing three rebounds and dishing out a team-high three assists. He also recorded two of the squad’s six steals.

Despite the slow start, Nuckles saw some things he liked in the second half.

“We did a good job of hanging tough and playing through adversity,” the coach said. “Cutter Estep (7 reb) had a good game on the boards, and Lolato hustled the entire game and ran the point [guard] position nicely.

“Chism Carpenter also played good defense down low.”

Carpenter was the team’s secondbest scorer as well, chipping in six points. Estep scored four points, while Nick Van Hook and Shon Howard each added three points.

As a team, Lampasas blocked six shots and stole the ball six times.