BURNET — The Taylor Ducks boys varsity basketball team fell 43-39 to the Burnet Bulldogs on Tuesday, Jan. 28.
Senior guard TJ Whybrew led the team with 16 points, but the Ducks struggled to find additional scoring as no other player reached double digits.
Taylor started fast, jumping out to a 9-1 lead in the first quarter. However, Burnet responded with a 7-0 run to cut the deficit to 9-8. The Ducks regained control and carried a 16-12 lead into the second quarter. Taylor once again opened strong, going on an 8-0 run to extend the lead to 24-12, but Burnet answered with an 8-0 run of its own, making it 24-20. The Ducks held a slim 26-23 advantage at halftime.
Burnet took its first lead of the game in the third quarter after back-to-back 3-pointers made it 29-28. Taylor briefly regained the advantage at 32-29 after a couple of baskets, but both teams continued to trade leads throughout the second half. Burnet ultimately hit a late 3-pointer to secure the victory.
The Ducks struggled at the free-throw line, making just 3 of 8 attempts. Senior forward Eli Laurence finished with seven points and six rebounds, while sophomore Brandon Follman added six points.
With the loss, Taylor falls to 2-7 in district play and will need to win out while receiving help from other teams to keep its postseason hopes alive. The Ducks sit sixth in the district standings, with Marble Falls holding the fourth and final playoff spot at 4-4.
Taylor will have a chance to gain ground when it faces the Mustangs on Friday, Jan. 31, before traveling to Salado on Tuesday, Feb. 4, at 8 p.m.
