-
Burnet senior Strat Roy (1) delivers a no-look behind-the-back pass under heavy defensive pressure to teammate Luke Kiser who quickly laid in the bucket. The two seniors combined for 28 points in Burnet’s district win over Gateway, 61-41. Wayne Craig/Clear Memories -
Freshman Bulldog Will Johnson (13) elevates to stuff a shot during the Dawgs district opener versus Gateway on Friday night. The freshman team dropped a heartbreaker, 30-28. Johnson scored four points in the contest. Wayne Craig/Clear Memories
The Bulldog basketball teams began play last week on the road at Gatesville. Burnet’s JV squad came up short 37-26 in their contest. Will Lewis was the team’s leading scorer with six points. He knocked down a pair of two-point field goals and was a perfect two of two from the line. Next on the chart was Lane Murphy with five, followed by Cooper Weeks, four; Jacob Atkinson, three; Moses Solis, two; Hayden Brown, two; Andrew Tyler, two; and Vance Pennington, two.
The varsity boys battled in a close game coming up just a little short to Gatesville. Burnet trailed 18-12 after one but made up some ground in the second outscoring the Hornets 13-9. At the halftime break Gatesville held a slight advantage, 27-25.
Roy Kiser’s crew inched a little closer in the third with a 10-9 period and with eight minutes remaining the Hornet’s lead was shaved down to one, 36-35.
The Dawgs shot well from the floor in the fourth but struggles at the line haunted them. Gatesville only outscored Burnet 18-16 in the fourth and the Dawgs failed to collect on six free-throws during that time. Burnet went seven of 13 from the charity stripe down the stretch and fell short in the game, 54-51.
Joseph Fitzsimmons was Burnet’s leading scorer with 17 points. Most of his work was done from outside the arc as he made good on five three-pointers in the contest. Roy was next on the list with 14 points, followed by Josh Parker, five; Grant Jones, five; Grayson Blair, four; Hudson Bennett, two; and Jesse Bachmayer, two.
District 19-4A play got started on Friday and the Dawgs’ first game was at home versus Georgetown Gateway. Burnet’s JV and varsity teams earned wins in the opener while the freshman fell short in heartbreaking fashion, 30-28. The JV Dawgs defeated Gateway’s Gators 45-37, and the varsity won, 61-41.
Burnet’s freshman fell behind 8-5 after one but fought back for a 16-13 lead at the break. A pair of three-pointers by Jacob Atkinson in the middle of the second helped to put Burnet in the lead.
Points weren’t easy to come by for the freshman in the third. Atkinson made a pair of buckets for four but that was all the offense the Dawgs collected on. Gateway added seven to their total to tie things up with eight minutes to play, 20-20. The Gators went on a run to start the fourth and built a nice lead, but Burnet battled back. Unfortunately, the Dawgs came up two points short, 30-28 in their district opener.
Atkinson led the way offensively for the Bulldogs with 17 points. He was followed by Will Johnson, four; Cayden Cavanaugh, three; Parker Martinez, two; and Jacob Koenig, two.
The JV Dawgs fell behind 11-8 after one, but thanks to the outstanding shooting of Vance Pennington in the second Burnet took a 22-20 lead into the break. The Dawgs outscored the Gators 23-17 in the second half for the 45-37 win.
Lane Murphy led all scorers with 15 points. He was followed by Pennington, nine; Tyler, six; Solis, six; Lewis, five; and Brown, four.
The varsity Dawgs were eager to get district play started and excited to have senior point guard Luke Kiser back on the court Friday following an injury that sidelined him for more than a month. Burnet fell behind 14-12 after one but their rhythm returned in the second which led to a 28-22 lead at the break. Kiser scored eight points in the second period and took advantage of some great assists from teammates including a sweet no-look behind-the-back pass from senior Start Roy.
The Dawgs continued to work in the third. Fitzsimmons got the crowd going with a pair of three-pointers and Burnet built a comfortable 42-28 lead going into the final period.
The Bulldogs closed out the game with 19 points in the fourth leading to a 20-point victory over Gateway in the 19-4A opener, 61-41.
Kiser led the gym with 22 points. Fitzsimmons was next on the chart with 17 points, followed by Lucky, 10; Roy, six; Bennett, four; Syphrett, one; and Jones, one. Blair, Bachmayer, and Parker also contributed to the Dawgs win.
The Dawgs will host Salado this Tuesday and be on the road Friday at Taylor for more district play.
