Marble Falls Mustangs’ thunderous dunks, defensive stands lead to win over Cedar Park Vista Ridge

MARBLE FALLS — After playing to a 23-19 deficit at the half against Cedar Park Vista Ridge Tuesday, Marble Falls High School boys basketball coach Bruce Etheridge had one message for his players.

The Mustangs’ (11-12, 2-1) first half was plagued by mistakes and miscues.

Marble Falls High School senior guard Connor Docherty rolls on the floor in an attempt to recover the ball against Cedar Park Vista Ridge. Photo by Virgil Belk/Hill Country Sports Images

But in the end, they earned a win, 50-42.

Still, at the half Etheridge walked into the locker room and gave his team an honest assessment when things weren’t looking so well.

"Actually I didn’t go in screaming," he said. "I went in, just talked to our guys and just explained to them that hey we’re just not playing well. My main message was be a good teammate … And our guys came together because we’re a family, of course we are."

Senior center Shane Minnick scored the half’s opening points on a hook shot and then added a three-point play when sophomore guard Collin Edwards drove to the basket and dumped the ball to the towering center.

"They were huge baskets," Etheridge said. "I was really happy with his effort the second half."

That fired up their teammates. Freshman forward Garrett Gray added a bucket to give the Mustangs a 26-24 lead.

But after Vista Ridge regained the lead, 27-26, Marble Falls went on a 7-0 run highlighted by two buckets from senior power forward David Morgan and three points from junior point guard Clynt Powell.

That gave Marble Falls a 33-29 advantage headed into the final period.

Morgan opened the fourth stanza with a baseline dunk. Minnick found Morgan for a bucket and Morgan grabbed a defensive rebound and passed to Powell for a layup for a 39-30 lead.

This period featured at least three blocks by the Mustangs and two breakaway layups. Minnick completed one of those with a dunk.

"David Morgan was the main guy," the Mustangs skipper said. "He was cleaning up the boards and getting Clynt Powell the layups and kicking it to whoever, but he just really dominated the boards."

Minnick led the Mustangs with 15 points followed by Morgan’s 11. Powell and senior guard Connor Docherty each added six.

As a team, Marble Falls was 20 of 30 from the foul line, nine of 14 in t he fourth quarter.

Now the Mustangs prepare for Leander Vandegrift (0-3), which lost to Dripping Springs, 67-47, Tuesday.

That game is set for 7 p.m. Friday at Vandegrift, 9500 McNeil Drive.