Shots don’t fall for Lady Dawgs
The second-team all-district player and the team’s offensive Most Valuable Player last season dropped in 12 points against Cedar Park. However, a cold spell for the Lady Dawgs led to a long night Nov. 15 on the Burnet campus. The taller Lady Timberwolves ousted Burnet, 50-39, in a non-district contest.
“We couldn’t buy a basket,” said head coach Mike Cavender. “We took 52 shots for the game. Most of those were first-shot possessions with good looks at the basket, so we had enough opportunities to put up big points. It was just one of those games where the ball doesn’t go down enough to win.”
The Lady Dawgs evened their record at 1-1. They compete in the San Saba Tournament this weekend and host Taylor Tuesday at 6:45 p.m.
Cedar Park, a tough District 16-5A foe, gave Burnet fits minutes into the first quarter.
“We dug a hole after the opening tip going down, 10-0, very quickly,” Cavender said.
As the game settled, Burnet trailed by only six, 8-14, at the end of the first quarter. Relying on their forte, unrelenting defense, the Lady Dawgs clawed back, outscoring Cedar Park, 13-10, in the second period.
“We took the lead at 21-20 late in the second quarter,” Cavender said. “From that point it was a very close ball game until the midpoint in the fourth quarter.”
At intermission, the Lady Timberwolves led 21-24 and extended their advantage to 30-36 after three periods. Cedar Park capitalized on Burnet’s Achilles heel — lack of height — to break open a close battle and keep the Lady Dawgs at bay.
“Their major height advantage kept us from getting any second-shot opportunities, but our hustling pressure defense and aggressiveness created numerous turnovers for Cedar Park,” Cavender said.
Junior guard Brooke Rockafellow finished with seven points, followed by sophomore post Jessica Robinson with six.
Kerstyn Towslee, McKinsey Cozart and Shanise Graeter all accounted for four points each.
Junior Eden Sultemeir had two points.