The Taylor Ducks varsity boys’ basketball team fell to the Burnet Bulldogs, 48-39, on Friday, Jan. 10, marking their third consecutive district loss. The defeat dropped the Ducks to 10-9 overall and 1-3 in district play.
Taylor started strong, taking an early 9-6 lead, but Burnet responded with a 5-0 run to pull ahead 11-9. Both offenses stalled briefly, but two three-pointers from the Bulldogs extended their advantage to 17-9.
The Ducks fell further behind after giving up two layups and another three-pointer, trailing 24-11 at halftime.
Taylor mounted a comeback in the fourth quarter, going on a 24-14 run to cut the deficit to just three points. However, Burnet’s defensive intensity ultimately proved too much
to overcome. Offensive struggles continued to plague the Ducks, who shot just 35% from the field. Senior guard TJ Whybrew led the team with 11 points on 5-of-11 shooting and added eight rebounds, the only Duck to score in double figures.
Taylor has now shot below 40% in three consecutive games, averaging just 45 points per game during that stretch. Junior guard Kadrien Dreary contributed nine points on 4-of-12 shooting, while senior forward Eli Laurence chipped in seven points on 3-of-10 shooting, along with six rebounds.
The Ducks will look to end their slump in two pivotal matchups this week, which could impact postseason positioning.
Taylor travels to Marble Falls on Tuesday, Jan. 14, before hosting Salado on Friday, Jan.
17, at 7:30 p.m.
