Lake Travis (11-18, 2-7) is finishing the season strong.

In some ways, it’s a positive. In other ways, it’s leaving head coach Ted Dydalewicz scratching his head.

The Lady Cavaliers lost a barn-burner with Lampasas last Tuesday night, 54-50, in three overtimes, and then pounced Hendrickson – a team that in two games prior, had beaten Lake Travis by a combined 56 points – 72-51.

“It was just awesome, and I think it showed the girls what we’re capable of if we put the pieces together,” he said. “I just wish we could have put it together like that all year. You just throw your head back and wonder what could have been.”

It shows the kind of resolve that Dydalewicz’s teams have shown in the last seven years, and it’s just the second time during that span that a team will not make the playoffs.

“They could have just given up and said the season was done, but they’ve just continued to fight, and I’m very proud of that,” he said.

When the Lady Cavs were eliminated from playoff contention last week, a message about never giving up changed, but not by much.

“The message was that we’re playing for pride. We’re representing Lake Travis and we’ve got to keep that in our minds,” Dydalewicz said. “The other thing is that we’re playing to finish 3-2 in the second half of the season, and I think that’s something to be proud of. We can say we didn’t cash it in, we kept fighting and finished strong. And I think we can build off that as a program.”

He still believes a shooting drought is probably the main culprit, as the team’s defense has remained stingy.

The reality now is especially difficult for a coach saying goodbye to a valuable senior class, one that’s been a major factor for three seasons.

“This is a very good senior class,” Dydalewicz said. “A few girls in this group that have been with us for three years – Dara Brown, Elaine Houston and Kat Vidovic, Those are players that have meant so much to us. We’re losing such a presence in the post with Elaine, we lose a solid guard in Dara and a great all around player in Kat.”

He just wishes he had all his seniors – including Morgan Blodgett, Jordyn Pollack, Madison Vickery and Kaila Svetlik – for a few more games.

“I can’t believe this is it,” Dydalewicz said. “We’ve gotten used to being in a different position, but we’re going to work hard to get back with a great group returning and coming up.”