Marble Falls’ winning streak ends at Lake Travis
LAKE TRAVIS — The Marble Falls High School boys basketball team’s 57-46 loss to Lake Travis Tuesday, which ended a three-game winning streak, can be deceiving.
Consider for a moment the Mustangs (12-13, 3-2) slowed the pace, used senior posts David Morgan and Shane Minnick as the primary scoring threats peppered with three-pointers by senior guard Connor Docherty, and played tenacious defense.
That way, it’s easy to understand why head coach Bruce Etheridge felt positive going into the fourth quarter with a 36-35 lead.
That advantage was courtesy of senior forward John Skidmore, who buried a jumper from the free-throw line just before the horn sounded.
"We had them right where we wanted them for three quarters," Etheridge said.
But foul trouble forced Morgan to take a seat. And the Cavaliers (3-2) took advantage of that situation, going on a 13-0 run that lasted four minutes, 11 seconds.
"They got three layups right there in a row that really was the difference in the game," Etheridge said. "You don’t give up layups at that point in the game. And unfortunately we turned the ball over so quick by the halfcourt line or whatever and they got layups out of it which was just an unfortunate time. We’ve seen that all year, but we’ve done a better job of late of covering those areas."
Freshman guard Garrett Gilbert ended the run by scoring on an offensive rebound, 50-43, with 1:03 left.
To Lake Travis’ credit, the Cavaliers made eight of 10 free throws in the final 1:17 for the victory.
Etheridge credited the Cavaliers for not giving up on the play once the Mustangs secured a defensive rebound or came and swatted at the ball when Marble Falls passed to the low post. Those extra touches helped during the run that led to the win, he said.
"I felt like we had four or five turnovers where we had our hands on the ball," he said. "They would come and strip it away instinctively. That made a difference in possessions."
Docherty hit three three-pointers, especially when the Mustangs needed a lift in the second and third quarters.
"That’s what we expect out of Connor," the coach said. "He’s a senior. We wanted him to hit the shots that mattered the most, and he did that. He played a good, heady floor game."
He finished with 11 points, while Minnick scored 15 to lead the Mustangs.
Now Marble Falls faces Dripping Springs 7 p.m. Friday at Max Copeland Gym, 2101 Mustang Drive.
The Tigers (3-2) took a bye Tuesday and are tied with the Mustangs and Lake Travis for third in the District 25-4A standings.