Lady Dawgs’ season ends in regional final
CORPUS CHRISTI — The Burnet High School girls basketball team’s historic playoff run ended with a 58-36 loss to district foe Liberty Hill Feb. 25 in the Class 3A Region IV championship.
It the marked the third time this season the Lady Panthers (33-4) defeated the Lady Dawgs (22-14). Burnet was playing in its first regional final.
PHOTO 1: Burnet High School girls basketball coach Mike Cavender comforts senior forward Hillary Foster after the Lady Dawgs lost to Liberty Hill 58-36 in the Class 3A Region IV final Feb. 25. The Lady Panthers have beaten the Lady Dawgs in five straight meetings. Photo by B.J. Rosow
The Lady Panthers needed a quarter to seize control.
After Liberty Hill took a 3-0 lead, Burnet ended the first period with an 11-2 advantage thanks to baskets from senior post Hillary Foster, senior guards Leah Cotton and Kati Maldonado, and junior post Bryanika Grady.
The Lady Panthers made three of their eight 3-pointers in the second period, including one from senior guard Kourtney Bevers at the horn to end the first half, giving Liberty Hill a 22-18 half-time lead.
The Lady Panthers kept the pressure going in the third and gave up five points, but scored 21 to get the separation they’re known for courtesy of their pressure defense.
The victory is Liberty Hill’s fifth straight over Burnet in a streak dating back to the 2009-2010 season.
Liberty Hill senior guard Lorrie Potts led with 14 points, including four 3-pointers, while senior guard Jessica Green added 12, and Bevers dropped in 11.
Grady led her squad with 11 points followed by Maldonado and Cotton with six each.