Flames end their trip with losses

SAN ANTONIO — The Faith Academy boys basketball team finished the San Antonio Cornerstone Tournament with two losses to go 3-4 on the season.

“We got beat by two good teams,” head coach Larry Berkman said. 

The first loss was to San Antonio Hawkins, an athletic team that pushed the pace of the contest.

Berkman said Hawkins pressed and caused turnovers they converted into layups for the 73-57 win.

“They just ran and we were dragging because we were out of shape,” he said. “It’s always a learning experience.”

Because of the pace, Berkman said he told his players to slow down.

“They got sucked up into playing their kind of game,” he said. “I wish they would have slowed down. They don’t understand the concept of slowing it down yet.”

In the tournament finale, Faith lost to Sendero, 61-46, after beating them a day earlier, 54-42.

“We played more the way we practiced, but we didn’t have anything left,” Berkman said. “We just kind of struggled with doing it enough.”

Faith averaged 29 turnovers in the three games. 

“You can’t win many games like that,” the coach said. 

Brett Piatek scored 17 points against Hawkins and 14 against Sendero. 

“Brett Piatek played well in both,” Berkman said. 

William Diamond averaged eight steals a contest. 

“Diamond played hard in both games,” the coach said. 

The Flames have had 14 hours of game time compared to six hours of practice. 

“That’s not very good,” Berkman said. “The guys they’re playing have had 10 or 12 games under their belts. They haven’t had the same work.”

The coach said the Flames got tired in the last game. Since Ian Shirley was not in attendance, only nine players were on the roster. 

“They were pretty well worn out,” Berkman said.  

 Courtesy photo