Highland Park's Andrew Barnes (4) goes up for a shot between a pair of defenders. (Photo: Mike Wallis)

The Highland Park basketball teams will square off with Pearce in what could be the final meeting as district rivals between the schools for the foreseeable future. Pearce is expected to jump up to Class 5A for at least the next two seasons.

The Lady Scots (18-7, 6-4) will face the Lady Mustangs (14-13, 4-6) at Highlander Fieldhouse. Highland Park is tied with Wylie and McKinney for third place in the District 10-4A standings with four games left in the regular season. Pearce won the first meeting, 55-54, on a buzzer-beater.

Meanwhile, the Scots (21-2, 8-0) look to stay perfect in district play when they visit the Mustangs (12-11, 3-5). Highland Park held off Pearce, 65-63, in the first meeting.

Both games are at 7:30 p.m.

SMU running back Jared Williams fights for extra yardage. (Photo: Kendall Webb/RoadTripSports.com)

The SMU football team released its 2012 schedule today.

The Mustangs, who are coming off an 8-5 season that included a bowl win over Pittsburgh, will open up at Baylor on Sept. 1. The Bears went 10-3 last year, but they will not have Heisman Trophy winner Robert Griffin III back at quarterback next season. He is headed to the NFL.

SMU’s home opener will be one week later against Stephen F. Austin. That game will be the first of three straight at home. The Mustangs will take on Texas A&M on Sept. 15 and TCU on Sept. 29 at Ford Stadium.

The Conference USA opener for SMU is Oct. 6 at UTEP.

From a frequent reader/commenter:

I was running last night around 6:45-7 PM. I normally get on either Fitzhugh or Know and head south, reach the bottom the ramp at the foot of the AAC and then back to where I get on the trail.

As I was running back up the ramp away from the AAC I saw a mid 20s woman carrying her dog. It looked funny to me because she had a bewildered/petrified look on her face but the dog was waging it’s tail like there was no issue. I thought something was wrong with the dog at first but she placed it back down as I passed and walked at an increased speed towards the AAC.

As I finished the ramp (mini hill) and starting back on level terrain where the sidewalk and running trail split and there is still somewhat of an outdoors feel area. I saw the coyote.

If I was hunting in the hill country I would have shot it dead right there. This was one of the bigger coyotes I have seen and healthy as well. He was about 3 feet at the head, weighed 60-80 lbs. Wished I would have taken a picture with my iphone but was not really thinking, listening to music and not believing what my eyes saw. He looked down the trail at me and slowly disappeared into the trees/shrubs/brush.

I remember people saying how the coyote stalked them as they went away but he did not reappear even after I passed. The trail was still busy at night, but still please let people be aware of their surroundings.

One of our Preston Hollow readers sent this in today as well (with coyote photos!). So, folks, be cautious.

With SMU heading to the Big East Conference, talk of the school adding lacrosse as a sport has come up.

Athletic director Steve Orsini told ESPN that “lacrosse, as you know, is growing here, and the Big East represents the footprint of the best lacrosse in America … Those are all things we’ll discuss and see at the presidential level here.”

As Orsini said, adding lacrosse would make total sense for SMU. Dallas/Fort Worth is a hotbed for lacrosse, and several of the state’s top high school programs — Highland Park, Hillcrest, Jesuit, and St. Mark’s — are all a stone’s throw from the Hilltop.

Scots running back Preston Miller (7) takes a handoff from Brady Burgin. (Staff photo: Chris McGathey)

The Highland Park football team held its annual banquet on Thursday night inside the cafeteria.

Head coach Randy Allen, still on crutches following his car accident following his team’s last playoff game on Nov. 26, and his coaching staff handed out team awards and recognized players, parents, coaches, and supporters.

Running back Preston Miller received the “Fightn’est Scot Award.” Linebacker Ian Hayashi and offensive linemen Barker Carlock and Tanner Stone shared the “Conscientious Scot Award.” Tanner Hutt got the “Forgotten Lineman Award.” Tyler Rentfro was the “Offensive Scout Team Player of the Year,” and Stephen Modory was the “Defensive Scot Team Player of the Year.”

A member of the SMU band gets fired up for the BBVA Compass Bowl. (Photo: Kendall Webb/RoadTripSports.com)

SMU is hosting a celebration to honor its move to the Big East Conference and its convincing win in the BBVA Compass Bowl at 2 p.m. Thursday in the Hughes-Trigg Student Center.

The event will feature members of the SMU band, cheerleaders, players, coaches, Peruna, and the BBVA Compass Bowl championship trophy. Big East Commissioner John Marinatto, school president R. Gerald Turner, and athletic director Steve Orsini will also be on hand.

Highland Park graduate Clayton Kershaw made $500,000 pitching for the L.A. Dodgers in 2011, when he won the Cy Young Award. Kershaw would like to make $10 million in 2012. The Dodgers are thinking that $6.5 million sounds better. The two sides may be headed to arbitration.

Highland Park's Megan Gittins (left) dribbles the ball past Lovejoy's Rebecca Gleason. (Staff photo: Alana Harrison)

The Highland Park Lady Scots dominated their own tournament last week to open the regular season.

Not only did Highland Park win all four games against quality opponents Austin Lake Travis, Lovejoy, Wichita Falls Rider, and Longview, the Lady Scots allowed just one goal in the process. Highland Park outscored those four opponents by a combined total of 21-1. Lovejoy was the only team that scored on the Lady Scot defense.

Highland Park (4-0-0) will look to build on that torrid start when it hits the road to take on Arlington Martin at 7:15 tonight.

Highland Park's Chase Fletcher looks for an open teammate. (Staff photo: Chris McGathey)

Sole possession of first place in the District 10-4A standings is up for grabs tonight when the Highland Park Scots (17-2, 4-0) travel to McKinney to tangle with the Lions (13-7, 4-0) in a 7:30 p.m. contest.

These two teams had an epic battle last season at Highland Park. The Scots got a school-record 53 points from David Allen in an 87-79 triple-overtime victory. The Scots also won the second meeting, 53-50, for a season sweep.

McKinney’s last two games have gone to overtime. The Lions won both, beating Pearce, 97-94, in double overtime and Wylie East, 83-80, in just one extra frame.

I’m going out on a limb and saying things might come down to the wire tonight.

Scots captains Andrew Barnes, Chase Fletcher, and David Allen with Alfonzo Santiago from Cantina Laredo.

The Highland Park boys basketball program will hold its sixth annual “Hoops & Hot Sauce” event Friday, Jan. 20.

The fundraiser, which includes dinner and an auction, goes to raise money for technology, including video production and live streaming broadcasting, for the basketball program.

Tickets are on sale now and will also be available at the door for $10 per person. Dinner will be from 5-7 p.m. in the HPHS cafeteria and will be catered by Cantina Laredo, with enchiladas, tacos, and all of the trimmings. The varsity team will then take on Wylie East at 7:30 inside Highlander Fieldhouse. Game tickets are $4 for adults and $2 for students.

For more information, email Cathy Fletcher at cathyfletcher@mac.com.