PHOTOS BY RICHARD AKRIDGE Senior Eduardo Davila weaves his way through a group of St. Stephens’ defenders as he heads to the hoop. Davila led the Badgers offensively with 16 points but was one of several key players to find himself sidelined with fouls during critical stretches. It was simply too much for any team to overcome.

Plagued by foul troubles and cursed by their own miscues, the Badgers were fighting an uphill battle in the second half against St. Stephens Tuesday evening.

It was one they would not win.

Key players Eduardo Davila, Brandon Scott, Ethan Byers, Astin Murray and Aaron Reyna found themselves sitting on the bench at critical moments of the game with personal fouls, and Lampasas never found its rhythm. The team lost by 21 points, 64-43.

Things did not go much smoother when the quintet was on the court, however.

The group accounted for 27 of the team’s 39 turnovers, and their fouls helped guide the Spartans to the free-throw line 33 times. St. Stephens connected on 20 attempts, including 13 of 21 in the second quarter.

Ethan Byers attempts a shot during Lampasas’ home loss to St. Stephens Tuesday. The senior recorded two points, two assists, two blocks and a steal. “They scored 26 points in the second quarter, and only a few points [came] from the floor. The majority of the points came from the free-throw line,” head coach Scott Harrelson said. “We had [too many] turnovers and gave up 16 offensive rebounds. Those are our points of emphasis [this season], and we still have not taken care of these two areas.

“It is costing us dearly.”

Despite a shaky start, Lampasas was in the game for most of the first half.

The Badgers were called for traveling on their first three possessions of the game. In fact, the first shot of the contest -- a 3- pointer from guard Colton Perkins -- was negated due to traveling.

But Davila made up for it by hitting all five of his shots in the quarter, scoring 10 of his team’s 12 points in the period. The senior was six-of-six from the field to start the game en route to scoring a team-high 16 points. No other Badger scored more than six points.

The teams battled to a 27-27 tie late in the first half, but the Spartans, aided by their trips to the free-throw line, closed the quarter with a 12-0 run.

With foul troubles already creeping in, Harrelson had to manipulate his lineup for the entire second half.

“We were in foul trouble throughout the game,” the coach said. “We did have some bright spots with 15 steals and 11 offensive rebounds. In addition, we had everyone on the team score during the game.”

Scott recorded a team-high four steals and grabbed three of his seven rebounds off the offensive glass. Junior Gabe Myles and senior Reyna posted three steals apiece.

Forward Manny Lopez played just seven minutes but made the most of each one as he pulled down five rebounds, including four offensive, and hit both his free throws.

“He really stepped up,” Harrelson said.

The Badgers (0-5) are in Lorena this weekend for the Vicki Mitchell-Lauren Timmons Fifth Annual Memorial Basketball Tournament.

Lampasas then travels to Burnet Tuesday for a rematch with the Bulldogs. Burnet recently defeated the Badgers in Lampasas by eight points, 46-38,