Basketball

Lake Travis keeps rolling, beats rival at home for first time since 2015

By Michael Adams
Austin Sports Journal

It’s been a long time coming.

The last time a Lake Travis men’s basketball team beat Westlake in the Cavalier Dome, the seniors were in second grade.

That streak ended Tuesday as the Cavaliers delivered a spectacular performance to defeat Westlake 67-50, extending their winning streak to six games. It was also the first time Lake Travis defeated the Chaparrals at home since Feb. 3, 2015.

The Cavaliers (15-16, 6-3 District 26-6A) are the hottest team in the Greater Austin Area and have “found their groove” at the right time with three games left in the regular season.

“You know, we were missing two starters for the first three games, and that hurt,” said head coach Brandon Shaver. “This momentum we have is huge. If you study the past playoffs, teams that can build momentum are the ones that are able to make deep runs in the playoffs. Are we hot at the right time? You know, we had our ups and downs, but we’re hot at the right time, and more importantly, we’re healthy.”

Senior Adrian Mathis led Lake Travis with 20 points, while Kylie Kihlberg added 11. The Cavaliers had 10 players contribute points, with 24 coming from behind the three-point line.

Lake Travis took an early lead and never looked back. Westlake (21-7, 8-1) got as close as three points, but the 26-6A-leading Chaps never managed a run against a stout Cavalier defense.

Senior center Jack Seiders led Westlake with 28 points and was 9 of 12 from the free-throw line. Sophomore Alex Allen added nine points.

See photos from Lake Travis’ District 26-6A win over Lake Travis
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The playoff picture

The Chaparrals hold a two-game advantage in the district championship race. Westlake can clinch a share of the district title with a win over Del Valle on Friday and win it outright with two wins in their remaining three games.

Tuesday’s win assured Lake Travis of a playoff berth, leaving Dripping Springs, Bowie, and Del Valle battling for the final two spots from 26-6A.

Under the new playoff format, the Cavaliers are assured to be in the Class 6A Division I bracket, and Westlake is guaranteed to be in the 6A Division II bracket.

Should Dripping Springs make the playoffs, the Tigers will join Westlake in Division II, and Bowie or Del Valle will be in the Division I bracket with Lake Travis.

If Del Valle and Bowie make it and Dripping Springs doesn’t, Bowie will be in the Division II bracket, and Del Valle will be in Division I.

Overcoming adversity

Lake Travis faced its share of adversity in the offseason and early part of the 2024-25 Texas high school basketball season.

Hudson Greer, a five-star recruit who signed with Creighton, transferred in May from Lake Travis to Montverde Academy in Florida for his senior year.

Combined with two starters sidelined with injuries and having one of the five toughest schedules in Class 6A, according to MaxPreps, the Cavaliers suffered some early setbacks.

“I knew what we could be, which is why we didn’t change the schedule,” Shaver said. “We knew we would take our lumps, but we play it so we could be here at this point. We trusted our players, we trusted our seniors, and it’s all come together.”