Building a foundation

MARBLE FALLS — The Marble Falls High School boys basketball team lost to Austin Crockett, 53-51, Tuesday.

The Mustangs are now 1-3 overall.

Head coach Bruce Etheridge said Crockett is on a level Marble Falls is striving to reach.

“We have a lack of experience, and it really shows,” he said. “We’re not able to handle pressure on the ball. I thought Crockett had a little more experienced guys. They had a little more than we had tonight.”

The Cougars did not double team any Mustang and were rarely beaten to the spot on the floor, he said. The Cougars were quick enough defensively to rotate and not allow many open looks at the basket, he said.

“Until we get better at that, it’s going to be hard to have just effort,” the coach said.

Marble Falls began the contest with an 8-0 run thanks to three-pointers by Regis Parks and Bron Etheridge. Austin Bacon scored from the block.

But Crockett tied the game and seized control with a 13-0 run. That was snapped when Parks passed to Max Lazos on the block.

The Cougars went on an 8-1 run to end the first quarter. J’Vante Blanchard scored the free throw for the Mustangs though they were losing, 21-11.

Marble Falls scored 10 points in the second period to Crockett’s 24. 

The Mustangs were scoreless the first 3:24. Crockett was on an 11-0 run.  Etheridge scored a free throw when the score was 32-12.

Etheridge scored four free throws, while Bacon scored the Mustangs’ first field goal of the second period, 38-18, at the 2:05 mark.

Etheridge passed to Quinten Causey on the low block for a bucket, while Connor Docherty hit a free throw to end Marble Falls’ scoring.

Crockett led, 45-21, at the half.

The Mustangs outscored the Cougars, 19-17, in the third quarter. 

Daniel Aulick drove to the basket, double-pumped to avoid the block and scored to begin the second half. 

Chris Davis added another bucket and a putback. Docherty passed to a cutting Parks for a layup. Blanchard penetrated to the basket and passed to Etheridge for three, 51-34.

The Cougars scored back-to-back buckets, but Bacon scored from the block to trim the lead, 55-36.

Bacon and Etheridge scored the Mustangs’ final four points of the quarter, though Crockett led, 62-40.

The Cougars outscored Marble Falls, 21-11, in the final eight minutes. The Mustangs got baskets from Blanchard on a steal and layup, as well as Aulick, Davis, David Aulick and David Morgan.

Crockett’s Tyrone Williams led all scorers with 30 points.

Etheridge led the Mustangs with 14 points including eight of 10 from the free-throw line. Davis added 10, while Bacon scored eight.

The Mustangs skipper said his squad got the shots it wanted but noted they did not have a good shooting night.

“We have to get better at finishing around the basket,” he said. “Guys are not finishing well inside.”

He credited the Cougars for their inside-outside game.

“They’re the most uptempo team we’ve faced,” he said. “They shot the ball well from the outside. We had a tough time keeping up with them.”

Crockett stole several balls from ballhandlers by going behind a Mustang and tapping the ball away, through traps and getting into passing lanes. Etheridge noted some of his guards were trying to do a cross-over dribble in front of the defender, who would tap it away for a steal.

“We had too many turnovers,” he said. “With the turnovers there was not enough offense. Their steals turned into points and layups. It’s hard to get any type of continuity.”

The Mustangs did not shoot well after starting the second half, because they were afraid of making a mistake, Etheridge said. 

He was pleased with freshman Davis’ effort.

“Chris Davis did an outstanding job,” he said. “He’s been hurt all year. He’s the type of athlete we need to compete. I think Chris Davis did an excellent job. He showed some toughness inside we needed.”

As a team, Marble Falls sank 12 of 25 from the free-throw line.

“There is no defense of the free-throw line,” the coach said. 

Still, Etheridge said the Mustangs will continue to compete and sees a foundation building that will benefit the program in the next few weeks.

“I’ve been here before,” he said. “There are better days ahead. We want to be concerned and want to get better.”

The Mustangs will return to Max Copeland Gym, 2101 Mustang Drive, for their own McDonald’s Classic.

They will begin at 8 p.m. today against Austin Lanier.

Etheridge compared Crockett to Lanier.

“We’ll have our hands full,” he said.  

Photo by Virgil Belk/Hill Country Sports Images