Mustangs challenge state’s No. 2 squad

Otherwise, Class 4A’s No. 2-ranked team, the Cavaliers, continued their march through District 25-4A.

Still, Mustangs head coach Josh Boyd said he was proud of the way his players fought.

“It wasn’t as bad as some people thought,” he said. “We competed.”

Kelley Dowell also played well, he said. 

Afton Heinatz, the Lady Mustangs’ No. 1 player, lost in three. 

“She could have pulled hers out,” the coach said. “She lost in a tiebreaker.”

She and partner Connor Docherty lost in mixed doubles, which also occurred in a tiebreaker. 

“They’re good,” Boyd said of Lake Travis, “but it wasn’t like we got drummed.” 

The Lady Cavaliers’ No. 1 and No. 2 girls singles players did not play and Docherty met Lake Travis’ No. 2 boys singles player because the No. 1 player did not compete. 

Before the beginning of the matches, Boyd said he spoke to his players about having confidence.

“You have to go into it believing you can compete,” he said. “I think most of them believed. No one seemed scared. We talked about working and trying your best.

“The kids could go out for matches thinking they’re going to get beat,” he added. “Or they could go in there with no pressure and a lot of them did.”

Several players won games in their sets, showing how competitive the Mustangs are, the coach said. 

“I think most of them were upbeat,” he said. “No one walked away too disappointed.”

Marble Falls will wrap-up district play Tuesday against Killeen.

“Hopefully that’ll give us some momentum,” Boyd said.