Flames go 1-1 in games played in two days

MARBLE FALLS — The Faith Academy boys basketball team went 1-1 in their first two games to begin the 2008-2009 season.

The Flames lost to Austin Christian Homeschool, 52-45, Friday after a 58-36 victory at Prairie Lea Nov. 20.

“Those guys have had two workouts,” head coach Larry Berkman said. “We’re going to be all right. There’s a lot of good talent.”

The Flames tied the game against ACH thanks to a Will Diamond steal and layup, 2-2. Brett Piatek gave Faith back-to-back buckets, while Diamond added another layup, 8-2. 

But ACH tied it at 10. 

Adrian Byrd gave Faith a 14-12 lead, however, ACH went on a 7-0 run highlighted by a half-court shot that fell at the buzzer, 19-14.

Neither team scored until the 3:48 mark of the second quarter. That’s when Bird hit a three-pointer thanks to a Piatek assist.

Piatek called his own number and tied the game, 19-19, and then used a Byrd assist for a 21-20 lead.

Ian Shirley and Piatek gave Faith a 25-24 half-time lead.

Both squads exchanged baskets to begin the third quarter highlighted by buckets from Piatek, Byrd and Shirley, though the Cougars led, 37-33.

Randy Burton scored Faith’s first bucket of the last period.

Once the Cougars took a 42-35 lead, the Flames went on a 6-2 run to trim the deficit, 44-41, thanks to a Piatek free throw, a layup from Ryan Johnson on an assist from Chase Penner, two Penner free throws and a Roberts free throw.

Though ACH scored on a layup, Faith kept fighting.

Roberts stole the ball and tipped it to Johnson, who went for a layup, but the ball rolled out.

Roberts added four free throws in the final minute.

Piatek ended the game with 17 points followed by Byrd with 12 and Penner added nine. 

Because the Flames were playing a homeschool, Berkman said Faith may have met a squad with players who could be much older than the Flames.

“I thought we did pretty good,” he said. “(The Flames) are all new (to his system). They’re doing their best.”

He thought his players may have gotten tired because of the unforced errors such as dribbling the ball off legs and feet or making passes when a teammate was not there to catch it.

“They got it together and did what they were supposed to do and both missed easy shots,” he said. 

The Flames executed well, the coach said, against a Prairie Lea team that was playing its first game.

The Flames won each quarter, taking a 16-5 lead in the first and scoring 14 points in each of the next three periods.

Meanwhile, they limited Prairie Lea to no more than 12 points in a quarter. 

It was Berkman’s first win after coming out of a five-year retirement.

“I enjoy coaching the kids because I want them to learn something,” Berkman said. “Winning is always better than losing.”

Courtesy photo