This isn’t exactly how Lake Travis basketball head coach Jan Jernberg saw things working out just before the district schedule opened up, but he’s not complaining. Much.

Jernberg takes his 18-1 Cavaliers into their first district game on Jan. 16 against Lampasas at home, and entered this week as the Associated Press’ No. 2 team in 4A.

The grizzled veteran head coach prefers to be an underdog in pretty much every situation in life, but he’s learning with each game just how good his team might be.

Trouble is, District 25-4A is going to be pretty tough.

“We knew it was going to be a tough district coming in with the teams we added,” Jernberg said. “A lot of the teams that were staying in the district had key players returning, too. This was never going to be a walk in the park.”

But he didn’t temper his expectation for Lake Travis, either. At least, not entirely.

“We were obviously expecting a challenge with teams like Killeen (15-3) and Hutto (14-5) coming into the district. Hutto was a deep playoff team at 3A, and Killeen was solid, too,” Jernberg said. “But we’re definitely better than I expected us to be, and it’s not that I thought we’d have a lot of trouble. It’s just that this team does so many things well, and really plays together well.”

The Cavaliers have three players averaging double figures from the floor each night, with senior Jordan Jahr leading the way with 14.8 ppg. He’s joined by senior Ryan Betori (11.4 ppg) and junior Zach Karczewski (11.3 ppg), but juniors Cole Vucurevich (9.6 ppg) and David Eads (7.4 ppg) aren’t far behind. The offensive balance has been key, but so has the team’s basketball IQ.

“We can play any style, whether it’s ball control, run and press, it doesn’t matter – we can do it all,” Jernberg said. “You’re really stupid if you press us because in two passes we’ll be laying it up or dunking it.”

It’s that confidence in the team’s versatility that gives Jernberg plenty of reason to be optimistic. The Cavaliers’ meteoric rise to the top of the rankings in 4A isn’t something Jernberg particularly agrees with, but he understands how it came to be, and thinks his team is plenty capable of backing it up. But he’s also concerned about those who believe they’ve got a district title wrapped up.

Jernberg has yet to win a district title outright at Lake Travis, and he’s hoping this is his first. He is a believer in this year’s team as the one to break the streak, but you get the feeling he’s had his heart broken enough not to jinx it.

“Does any of this mean we will win district?” he posed the question to himself. “I don’t know, but I think we can.”

But he thought that before the season started, and now that it’s clear his perspective has changed to some degree, it’s worth asking why the team is better than he thought it would be.

“The group is very good at adapting on the fly, and they play pressure fundamental defense as good as any team I’ve ever coached,” Jernberg said. “They’re not afraid to really get up close and personal with the opposition.”

He stopped for a minute, and then continued.

“You know, we allowed just 44 points a game last year,” he said. “But I think this team is even better defensively, and that’s after losing Kyle Hubbart to graduation. Kyle was really good under the basket.”

The numbers don’t necessarily back up Jernberg’s theory, as the Cavaliers are currently allowing 45.3 points per game, but they’re also scoring a ton of points, averaging 70.4 points per game.

And the upside to scoring so many points is allowing their most dynamic scorer a chance to breathe and let loose once in a while.

“We scored 89 points against Corpus Christi King, and Jordan [Jahr] took two shots,” Jernberg said of the Air Force commit. “But he was fine with it, he contributed in other ways and let the other guys take it to the hoop. We don’t have to rely on him, and he knows it, and I think it makes him better. Now, if we’re in a jam, I can call on him to be the stopper. And he loves that role. He will go out and pick us up when we’re in a jam.”

Killeen remains the biggest threat to the Cavaliers in the district, and while it’s clear the ‘Roos have the talent, they have yet to prove they have the consistency to present a true threat. They are led by center Corey Jefferson, a Baylor commit that can lay claim to the title of best big man in Central Texas. But Killeen lost to last year’s talented Lake Travis squad, and with a new and improved lineup, there’s no reason to believe they can stop the Cavaliers this year, either.

“You never know,” Jernberg said. “Sometimes things just don’t work out on a given night, and that’s a team that can cause problems for anyone.”

Hutto (14-5) seems an obvious choice as another district challenger, and the only other team that isn’t hovering around .500. The dark horse will be Hendrickson, who is at or near .500, but was hurt early on by not having a number of players that were still on the football team for the Hawks’ regional final qualifier.

“I know they were hurting early on, but they’ll get better and be good,” Jernberg said.

So halfway through the season, it doesn’t appear much has changed, other than the fact that Lake Travis appears to have separated itself from the crowd ever so slightly.

They’re far from underdogs, but it’s not a bad spot to be.

After 20 games of pre-district basketball, the Lady Cavaliers are right back where they started, sitting at an even .500 at 10-10.

It’s not exactly the start Lake Travis head coach Ted Dydalewicz was hoping for, but he sees plenty of positives anyway.

“When I look at the games we’ve played,” he said. “We beat who we were supposed to beat, and there was never any doubt about it. But when we paired up with more experienced teams, and some of the better teams in the area, I think our youth and inexperience as a unit showed, and it’s cost us a few that we could have won.”

But he certainly hasn’t found himself frustrated with the girls on the floor.

“I’m not disappointed in a sense because we’re losing to great teams, teams that are always tough, no matter how strong we are,” he said.

In the Lady Cavaliers’ most recent action, they went 2-2 at the Bastrop Invitational, rolling to two easy wins, and battling through two sound defeats.

Lake Travis opened up tournament action with an 84-38 win over Lockhart. Sara Richey and Madi Wilkins led Lake Travis with 15 points each, followed by Kat Vidovic and Elaine Houston at 14 and Kaila Svetlik with 10.

The second game was more of the same against Bastrop, as the Lady Cavaliers cruised to a 62-49 victory. Vidovic dominated with 26 points, and Wilkins put in her tournament high of 19.

But things got bumpy when Lake Travis squared off with Manor, in what would be the teams’ third meeting of the young season, with the first two games split. Manor got the last laugh (for now) with a 67-54 win. Dara Brown led the Lady Cavaliers with 14 points and Wilkins chipped in 10 in the loss.

Lake Travis then had the unfortunate pleasure of meeting up with Hays yet again, the team that perennially has the Lady Cavaliers’ number and had already beaten them once this season.

This time would be no different, as the Lady Rebels rolled to a 53-38 win. Wilkins led Lake Travis with 14 points in the loss, followed by Vidovic’s 9 points.

For her efforts all over the courts, Houston earned an all-tournament team selection, one that was well deserved according to her coach.

“She’s been very consistent all season and is still the most improved player,” Dydalewicz said. “I was very happy to see her get that award.”

Now Lake Travis heads into district play, opening Tuesday night at district favorite Marble Falls (12-7), then playing the home district opener against Killeen Friday night at 7 p.m.

Heading into the final 10 games of the season, Dydalewicz likes his odds when it comes to playing in the postseason.

“We should be one of the teams that makes the playoffs,” he said. “I’ll be disappointed if we don’t, that’s for sure. But I always say I like my odds.”

It’s certainly not a given, considering the level of competition Lake Travis will be up against.

“We’ll have to bring it every game, these teams aren’t a bunch of patsies that will just roll over for us,” he said. “The two odds teams out are still going to be pretty good.”

Despite a back-and-forth start to the season, the team appears to be ready for the gauntlet, not showing any signs of youth in their preparation or attitude before games.

“I think going into it the girls are ready and stepping up to the challenge ahead of us,” Dydalewicz said. “They know what we’re up against, but they also know what they’re capable of as a team.”

Lake Travis boys basketball head coach Jan Jernberg has had a long career filled with a number of achievements.

Last week, he added one more to the list. Jernberg, now in his 12th season as the Lake Travis head coach, won his 600th career game in a 49-25 win over Tivy.

Quite the accomplishment for the coach. Though, he didn’t even know it at the time, and there definitely wasn’t any fan fare.

“It was actually brought to my attention after the fact,” Jernberg said. “Bob Springer, the owner-editor of Texas Basketball Magazine was the one who let me know.”

Jernberg has coached boys’ high school basketball for 32 years in 1,002 games, and now has a career record of 602-400.

“I am proud of that milestone, but I am really proud of the fact that I am still somewhat sane after coaching all of those games,” Jernberg joked afterward.

The Cavaliers still haven’t gotten in line for their celebratory parade, but since it’s a down week for sports, let’s look ahead at some questions that will have to be answered between now and next August.

Can Lake Travis football survive without Garrett Gilbert?

Absolutely. Sophomore quarterback Michael Brewer is already at worst, an all-district worthy quarterback with enough playing time.

While the 2008 season was overwhelming for him at times, he thrived anytime he was put under center with the first-team offensive line, and wasn’t afraid to try for the big play. He’s definitely a different style quarterback, one that is a little more agile than Gilbert, and will always be a playmaker with his legs. His arm is surprisingly strong for his build, and when he has thrown, has hit some pretty tight spots on the field.

But the Cavalier offense and Brewer will thrive because of some key players returning. Brewer will have three returning lineman in Ian Kelso, Will Hawk and Taylor Doyle, and a speedy offensive utility man in Andy Erickson. Not to mention the guy heading up the next question.

Who will be the next great Lake Travis receiver?

Everyone talks about the short line of great quarterbacks forming at Lake Travis, but when you look back, there’s a pretty impressive group of receivers. Fred Robinson, Jason Bird and Cade McCrary have all been named first-team all-state over the last five years.

So who’s next? All signs point to sophomore Conner Floyd, who had a penchant for big catches, and was probably the most thrown-to fourth option in the state. Floyd finished the season with 40 catches for 735 yards and eight touchdowns. But as has been the case with the Cavaliers of late, he won’t be alone. Sophomore Tanner Gillette seems to be a great fit for a similar role to that of Austin Pollard, providing a steady second option. His varsity playing time was limited this season, but he made the most of it, recording two of the more spectacular catches Lake Travis fans saw all year.

Other great options may emerge in Alex Matthews, Cole Purswell, and maybe even Griffin Gilbert. Overall, it seems clear the receiving corps will be very strong and very deep.

Can the Cavs make it six district titles in a row?

Count on it. Every team in the district is losing some big-time senior leadership. Some key players that will be gone: Thor Woerner (Marble Falls), Mitch Lawson and Scott Fyall (Dripping Springs), Devin Carver and Ryan Naivar (Hutto) and Marquese Dunn (Hendrickson).

The bad news? These players will be back: Kenny Williams and Juan Asencio (Hendrickson), Jordan Moore, Jeff Tuck and Graeme Ramsey (Dripping Springs) and Nehemiah Hicks (Hutto).
It would appear that no team will be stronger than Hendrickson next year, with a few big players returning from a state quarterfinal team.

But the best offense in the state will return six starters, not too bad. The struggle will be on defense, which leads us to our next question.

What will the defense look like?

It will look different, that’s for sure.

Just two defensive starters return for the state champions. Granted, those two are all-state linebacker Quinton Crow and all-district strong safety Ian Lazarus, but there are big holes to fill.

Players returning with a lot of experience are limited, as well. The two most significant returners beyond the two starters will be safety Hunter Akers and linebacker Trevor Gillette, both of which saw the field plenty on defense and special teams.

Younger players that may make a difference are defensive end Shaquille Marable, Paul Heinen, Zach Streuling, Blake Burdette and Colby Fussell.

What pre-district team will be the most daunting?

It has to be Hendrickson. Kenny Williams returns for just his junior season after being one of the best backs in Central Texas when he could stay on the field, and the Hawks bring back linebacker Juan Asencio to lead the defense.

Dripping Springs is definitely the other team to watch out for. The Tigers will return a number of offensive starters, and while the defense will lose a significant linebacking corps, the experience offense should help carry them through some big games.

And you can’t sleep on Killeen, who will be led by junior quarterback Michael Cummings, a candidate for Central Texas Newcomer of the Year, and a playmaker that led his team to the state quarterfinals. A few younger players stepping up will be all the Kangaroos need to be back in the playoffs.

Can the Cavaliers win it all again?

The expectations have certainly gotten lofty in just a couple years at Lake Travis, but as stated above, there are plenty of reasons to expect the best. Lots of experience will help guide a youth movement that could signal a changing of the guard, one that the Cavs hope will achieve just as much as the last.

There’s no reason to declare they won’t, but let’s see how spring football goes and we’ll get back to you. For now, it’s time to soak up a second title.

 news@ltview.com

Looking for the perfect romantic outing with great views and perfect food? Then the Steiner Ranch Steakhouse is sure to impress. The new spacious, multi-level restaurant offers a complete with views of Lake Travis and the Colorado River, offering a new view of the region with a different perspective.

Fine steaks are the order of the day in these sleek surroundings.  From the 16 ounce rib eye to Kelly’s Cut T-Bone, succulent offerings with a hint of the area’s rich ranching history, Steiner Ranch Steakhouse stretches over 14,000 square feet on three stories, complete with a huge fireplace and 20-foot vaulted ceilings.

Without question, the Steiner Ranch Steakhouse is a place of inspiration — both culinary and visually.

“The restaurant had its genesis during a flight from Las Vegas to  rodeo finals with Bobby and Sid Steiner,” explained co-owner Cosmo Palmieri. “Bobby was being elected to the Rodeo Hall of Fame.”

Bobby Steiner is a World Champion Bull Rider of epic proportions. His family has a rich, colorful history in the Lake Travis area. Jerry Jeff Walker even wrote a song about a member of the family.

“While we were in flight, Bobby came up to me and asked how I felt about doing something with the Steiner Ranch name?” Palmieri said. “It has gotten to be a pretty popular brand.”

So Palmieri asked just what Bobby Steiner had in mind.

“What about a restaurant?” Steiner said to Palmieri. “A steakhouse.”

Palmieri said he didn’t have to think about it for very long.

They teamed up with Kelly and Ronda Gray. Kelly had been lifelong friends with the Steiners.

“We decided it was a great idea,”  Palmieri said. “And it all came together very naturally. First we had to find a site on or near Steiner Ranch. Once we did that, we wanted to find someone who could give the restaurant an attractive, upscale design.”

Architect Dick Clark fit the bill nicely. Clark’s work in the Austin area is legendary and his design of the Steiner Ranch Steakhouse did not disappoint. 

Palmieri said the beauty of the architecture is that the restaurant offers a variety of different atmospheres, making each visit unique.

Finding a person to run their steakhouse was more problematic — but when they found their person — they hit the ball out of the park.

“One day, Bobby ran into Bob Burdett, our operating partner, who was buying cattle for the Steiner Ranch operations, and he had an extensive background running restaurants around the country,” Palmieri said. “He jumped right in and we were off and running.”

The food — in a word — is magnificent.

“We cook our steaks with a Mongoose broiler — this is the kind of broiler that most high-end steakhouses around the country use,” Palmieri said. “It sears the outside and keeps the meat tender on the inside.”

But how the meat is cooked is only part of the story.

“We have an interesting way that we purchase our meat,” Palmieri said. “We have a deal worked out with our supplier. All of our beef is prime, but we go a step further and actually get to hand-select the top 30 percent of the prime. So we can offer top selects of prime. Other steakhouses just use regular prime — they don’t hand-select the best cuts of meat. We feel that selecting the top 30 percent of the best makes a difference in our food.”

In addition to wonderful steaks and unequaled atmosphere, Steiner Ranch Steakhouse also offers great side dishes.

“We have a great cream corn that is unlike anything offered anywhere else,” Palmieri said. “I think everyone who has tried it has fallen in love with it. All our plates come with mashed potatoes or a baked potato. We also have a garlic mashed potato side dish that you can also choose. All dishes come with a vegetable of the day, which rotates throughout the day.”

Tasty desserts are also the order of the day.

“We certainly have what it takes to satisfy any sweet-tooth,” Palmieri said. “We have a cheesecake that is simply phenomenal. We offer a white chocolate mousse that is simply amazing. Our bread pudding is truly awesome as well. It comes with a raspberry cream sauce on top of it that is a great combination of sweet and sour that is unbeatable. If that doesn’t suit your pallet, we also offer a great creme brouillet and there is also a chocolate layered cake.”

Executive Chef Keith Venables stands ready to meet all expectations. His resume includes time with Cool River, Three Forks and Del Friscos in Dallas.

“He is an excellent chef,” Palmieri said. “We think we have the best and the food reflects that.”

When visiting the Steiner Ranch Steakhouse, don’t miss the fascinating collection of memorabilia on display in the first floor waiting room. The rich legacy of the Steiners is so interesting that it might actually keep you from your table for a stretch.

Steiner Ranch Steakhouse is open Sunday-Thursday from 4-10 p.m., and Friday-Saturday from 4-11 p.m. It is located at 5424 Steiner Ranch Blvd., or call 381-0800 or e-mail info@steinerranchsteakhouse.com. 

The restaurant’s Web site is www.steinerranchsteakhouse.com.

Reservations are strongly recommended.

“This annual gala features dining, dancing, live and silent auctions, and outrageous entertainment by Rotel and the Hot Tomatoes,” Jodie Gregg,  President of LTEF, said. “Sponsorships and reserved tables are now available. Tables are placed in the ballroom based on the date that a commitment is made, so secure your spot now and witness the antics of Rotel up close.” 

The foundation is also looking for great auction items to feature at the event, as well as on LTEF’s unique on-line auction Web site.  

“The site lists the items along with logos or photos, and links to the donor’s site, therefore making it a great advertising opportunity for businesses throughout the area,” Gregg said.  “But you don’t have to be a business to donate.  Neighborhoods, bunco groups, golf foursomes, and others come together to pool their donations into one great auction item to entice our generous bidders and raise money for our schools.”

Proceeds from this event benefit the students and teachers of the Lake Travis ISD.  

To date, LTEF has awarded more than $1.75 million to our teachers and students, and your support through events such as the Crystal Ball makes future funding possible.  

For a detailed listing of sponsorship benefits, to reserve a table, or to see LTEF’s on-line auction catalog, visit www.LakeTravisEducationFoundation.org, or call 533-6095 to speak with a foundation representative.  

“Local participation in this event makes a direct impact on the education that our schools can provide,” Gregg said.  

Since LTEF is a non-profit, 501(c)(3) organization, contributions are tax deductible and donors are issued statements for tax purposes.

“The Jitterbug Vipers are featured in the first concert,”   Fred Newton, who is chairing  the concert series this year. “They transport you to a dimly lit nightclub in 1940s Chicago where Billie Holliday and Wes Montgomery are jamming with Ray Brown, Stuff Smith and Oscar Peterson.   Vintage jazz, swing, whatever you want to call it, it’s hot, sultry, sophisticated and danceable, influenced by Count Basie’s Rhythm section and Thai food.”

The Jitterbug Vipers feature Slim Richey, “the most dangerous guitarist in Texas.” Richey has played and recorded with Herb Ellis, Marc Johnson, Maryann Price, Marty Stuart, David Amram, Ricky Skaggs, and Ray Price, toured Japan twice, Italy three times, and on and on. Ritchey’s internationally recognized for his distinct style of Southwestern swing/jazz guitar. 

Francie Meaux Jeaux is the group’s “bassist extraordinaire,” and has worked with Dan Hicks, Michelle Shocked, Bruce Robison, Kelly Willis and Maryann Price. She’s a veteran of many jazz festivals including the San Miguel de Allende International Jazz Festival in Mexico.

Katie Holmes brings her vocal talents and hot jazz fiddle licks to the band. 

“Katie has been is turning heads every place the Jitterbug Vipers play, whether it’s the Old Settler’s Festival in Driftwood or Jazz on the Boulevard in Fort Worth,” Newton said. “She’s first chair fiddler in the Gypsy Jazz combo, Yo Gadjo, and, at 21 years old, is just hitting her stride. 

The band is rounded out by Floyd Domino, a founding and still active member of Asleep At The Wheel and two time Grammy Winner. 

“Domino is king of boogie and stride piano,” Newton said. “You can hear his recorded work with Johnny Gimble, Herb Ellis, The Kat’s Meow, and dozens of others, and the many CDs of his own.”

news@ltview.com

While growth has slowed, it hasn’t stopped, nor is it expected to. That is the word from a demographics study conducted for the Lake Travis Independent School District by Population and Survey Analysts (PASA).

“Dr. [LTISD Superintendent Rocky] Kirk warned us to err on the side of a slower growth model,” said Dr. Pat Guseman. President of Population and Survey Analysts. “His direction was very helpful and right on the nose with what we are seeing in this area.”

While Guseman said the Lake Travis area is not “recession proof,” it is faring better than other regions of the nation.

“Texas, in general, is poised better than much of the rest of the nation,” Guseman said. “We are not seeing the radical drop in home values, and, in general, the state seems to be holding to a continued growth pattern.”

Demographics information is critical to LTISD trustees and administrators as they map out the future of the district, including where and when new school campuses are likely to be constructed.

“Austin bankers say they are lending actively, but carefully, to their most creditworthy customers,” Guseman said. “All lenders have tightened loan qualification standards but say they are far from slamming the brakes on local borrowers.”

She said that Austin area employment should see its biggest gains in the professional/business sector.

“The employment projections for LTISD suggest that the local area will actually gain employees at approximately a 5 percent annual clip,” Guseman said. “However, because the nation is at a turning point in regard to economic growth and due to the differing growth outcomes of the employment indicators versus the housing parameters, it is important to look at the varying data sources in regard to future student population. But the preponderance of LTISD area residents that are employed in this area continues to grow.”

Guseman said PASA left no stone unturned as it tried to assess what the future student population would be for LTISD. 

“The official enrollment data is being published by the Texas Education Agency (TEA) in Spring of 2009 and these figures could vary considerably, but for now, they offer a general comparison of growth trends,” Guseman said. “In October of 2008, LTISD had an enrollment of 6,134 students. Over the past year, the school district gained about 263 students — a 4.5 percent increase.”

Guseman said the district has seen a 27.3 percent growth rate over the last five years. She noted that LTISD is ranked seventh in the state for the lowest percentage of economically-disadvantaged students out of all districts with a student population of more than 5,000.

“This very low percentage of disadvantaged students is associated with a good quality of life, and such a positive perception gives Lake Travis ISD a competitive advantage over other nearby districts in attracting new residential development,” Guseman said. “Likewise, standardized test scores are increasingly being used as a quality of life indicator when comparing districts. LTISD has one of the highest passage rates of any Austin area district.”

Lake Travis ISD has a better than 90 percent passage rate of all subjects tested in all grades, according to the study. The district ranks second out of 40 Austin metro districts in meeting Texas Assessment of Knowledge and Skills (TAKS) standards. Only Eanes ISD ranked ahead of LTISD in TAKS performance.

One peculiar trend, according to the PASA study, is the higher proportion of older students compared to younger ones.

“This is a fairly unique characteristic for school districts, due to the higher cost of living here,” Guseman said. “Typically, young families with very young children cannot afford to live in the district.”

According to Guseman, LTISD has a disproportionate number of entry-level housing units, compared to most districts. Still, on the whole, the district is growing at every age level.

Guseman also said that immigration is already decreasing in Texas since the economy soured.

“At times during the past two years, the largest cities in Texas have seen virtually all their growth due to immigration — illegal and otherwise,” Guseman said.

She said the loss of cheap labor will impact both construction and services.

The school district plans to examine the PASA study to see how it should adapt its future plans.

news@ltview.com

Lake Travis Fire-Rescue firefighters responded to a 911 call at Lake Travis High School on Monday, Dec. 29 around 12:45 a.m. According to Dale Faust, Public Information Officer for Lake Travis Fire-Rescue an agriculture barn was destroyed. About 150 young chickens and a sheep dog also perished in the flames.

“We were alerted by a local law enforcement officer who apparently spotted the smoke,” Faust said. “At first we thought it was just a grass fire, but when we arrived, the structure was totally involved.”

When fire crews arrived, they found the 12×50 foot structure fully involved. The barn was one of the oldest facilities at LTISD. Just last year the school added a new agricultural facility as part of the $56 million bond package passed by voters in 2005. That facility, which is adjacent to the destroyed structure, was not damaged.

“The school district regrets the loss of the livestock and the dog, but are thankful that no people were injured,” said LTISD Public Information Officer Marco Alvarado.  “Our superintendent, Dr. Rocky Kirk, the Lake Travis High School Principal Kim Brents and Derrick Coffey, the Director of Agricultural Programs, examined the damage assessing the damage.”

According to Faust, Lake Travis Fire Rescue and Travis County fire investigators are trying to determine the cause the fire but have not yet made a determination. No firefighters or any other animals were injured.