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Laurcy Bender makes her second three-pointer of Saturday’s win over Academy. JEFF LOWE | DISPATCH RECORD
The Lady Badgers allowed just one field goal in the second half of a 45-31 home victory on Saturday. The varsity girls’ team is off to its first 3-0 start in years.
Payton Tatum led the scoring for a third straight game, but her 10 points were part of a more evenly spread offense than in the previous two games.
“Ten kids scored,” LHS head coach Mark Myers said. “That shows really good balance.”
Laurcy Bender knocked down two three-pointers, Kharis Castaneda had one, and Morgan Lovejoy hit the first three-pointer of her varsity career.
Lovejoy’s three-pointer in the third quarter was one of “the three biggest plays offensively,” Myers said. “Not just making it. It’s the way she caught it in rhythm, and she did not hesitate, and she just took the three just like she does every day in practice.
“Cobie Chandler is just really good at that lefthanded reverse,” Myers said, explaining another one of the top plays. “The pass was a little bit off, and she moved over to catch it and made a lefthand reverse. That was really nice. And then there was one drive by Payton on the right side where we’re running. It’s not necessarily a clearout, but it does clear out for her. And she made the right read and just drove right through and scored.”
Lampasas took a 7-6 lead with Bender’s first three, but the Bees fired right back with a three to make the score Academy 9, Lampasas 7 after one quarter.
Chandler, Taylor Allen and Addison McDonald scored in a 6-0 run to regain the lead, and Lampasas was ahead 25-14 at halftime.
“We fouled too much,” Myers said, but “at least we’re prepping for when we’re behind and we have to foul. We’ll be ready then.”
By halfway through the third quarter, Lampasas had eight fouls in the half, while Academy had just one. But the Lady Badgers’ defense in the field was strong enough to overcome that.
“We’re getting better at blocking out,” Myers added. “This is something we’ve struggled with the first three years.”
Now in his fourth year at Lampasas, Myers has 891 career wins, most of which came in his previous position at Cedar Park. That ranks fourth in the state for career wins by an active coach, although Texas Girls Coaches Association had not updated those rankings online at press time.
Lampasas is scheduled to host Killeen High School at 7 p.m. on Nov. 17.
There was no JV girls’ game on Saturday.
The Lady Badgers’ individual scoring statistics from Saturday include:
Payton Tatum 10
Laurcy Bender 7
Morgan Lovejoy 6
Addison McDonald 6
Cobie Chandler 4
Jamie Ball 3
Kharis Castaneda 3
Kyliegh Ball 2
Taylor Allen 2
Bre Quarles 2