The varsity Bulldog basketball team entered the 2013 UIL state playoffs as the number two team after dropping their last Tuesday match against Gatesville. The loss tied Burnet and the Hornets at 7-3 in District 8-3A, but the Bulldogs won a coin flip to represent as the second place team.

On Tuesday night Burnet traveled to Waco to face Alvarado in the Bi-District match. Following a Jai Patel three point shot Burnet took a 5-4 lead with five minutes to play in the first quarter but the Indians quickly answered and regained control. Burnet struggled to get rebounds and Alvarado kept one step ahead of them for the rest of the game. Eventually the Dawgs were eliminated from post season play with a 76-59 loss to the Indians. For a more complete story including game stats pick-up next Wednesday’s Burnet Bulletin.

The Lady Bulldogs began post season play last Tuesday night facing Alvarado in the Bi-District round of the state playoffs.

Burnet fell behind 13-16 after one and trailed 29-28 at the halftime break.

The Lady Indians brought a good team to the court and Burnet had some early trouble breaking their full-court press. Sloppy passes turned into several turnovers that limited the Lady Dawgs scoring opportunities in the first half.

The second half was a whole different ball game. With just over three minutes left in the third quarter Burnet was trailing 32-30 when Riana Bond set her feet just outside of the arc and drained a three-point bucket that gave the Lady Dawgs their first lead of the night.

Bryanika Grady followed that with a steal and quick lay-up. She was fouled on the shot and after her free-throw Burnet was up 38-32.

Pick-up Wednesday’s Burnet Bulletin to read more about the Bi-District game as well as Friday’s Area game.

The varsity Bulldogs played their final regular season game on Tuesday night at Gatesville and will begin their playoff run early next week.

As of Tuesday morning’s presstime Burnet was sitting in second place with a 7-2 district record, just one game behind Liberty Hill at 8-1, and one game ahead of Gatesville at 6-3.

Last week on Tuesday, Feb. 5 Burnet traveled to Lampasas and lost their second district game of the year, 40-26.

Burnet held a 19-16 lead at the break but a low-scoring second half allowed the Badgers to take the lead and the game.

Cory Cavender scored Burnet’s only bucket from the field in the third, while Chase Mardis added a pair of free throws and Derek Kiser hit one from the line for five in the period.

Burnet’s offense continued to struggle in the fourth and the team only added two to their score off a Kiser shot.

Kiser finished as Burnet’s leading scorer with seven in the game. He was followed by Jai Patel, six; Clayton Baumgart, five; Mardis, four; Jordan Barnard, two; and Cavender, two.

For complete results pick-up Wednesday's Burnet Bulletin.

The Lady Bulldog basketball team finished regular season play last Tuesday night in Lampasas and for the fifth straight season they advanced to the playoffs. This year the girls finished with a 7-3 district record and the 8-3A second place representative. They are 18-12 on the season.

The last couple of week’s have been an up and down battle for coach Mike Cavender and the Lady Dawgs. Several of the girls have been battling illness and practices have been a little off due to missing players.

On Friday Burnet starter Riley Scott was out and did not make the trip to Lampasas for the season finale. The Lady Badgers took an early 9-5 lead over Burnet and increased that to 21-13 by the half-time break.

To read more on the Lady Dawgs see Wednesday's Burnet Bulletin.

Fall sports are coming to an end with the exception of varsity football who earned a spot in the playoffs Friday night with a win over Lampasas.

Sub-varsity and middle school football ended on Thursday night and middle school volleyball came to a close on Monday.

Joe Parker ran in the season’s final cross country race which was the State Championship meet on Saturday bringing that sport to an end as well.

If you can’t get enough of Burnet sports, don’t worry, it’s time to lace up the basketball shoes and take to the courts. All of Burnet’s basketball programs are looking forward to some great things during the 2012-13 season.

The middle school teams will play their first games on Nov. 19. The Lady Pups will host Brownwood starting at 5 p.m. and the boys will be on the road at Brownwood also starting at 5 p.m.

Coach Roy Kiser and Mike Cavender have already begun their season at the high school level. You can catch the boys at home on Friday, Nov. 16 against Veritas Academy, and the girls will host Wimberley on Tuesday, Nov. 20.

To read interviews with Coach Cavender and Coach Kiser pick-up Wednesday’s Burnet Bulletin.