Lady Stangs earn fifth bi-district trophy in six years
AUSTIN — A joyful group of Marble Falls High School fans gathered in the foyer of the Toney Burger Center Tuesday to congratulate the Lady Mustangs on their 62-44 win against Austin Travis in the bi-district round of the Class 4A playoffs.
It marked the fifth time in six years Marble Falls won a bi-district crown. "I’m just so proud of the effort of the kids," head coach Stephanie Gamble said with a grin. "The kids started with the effort, and we finished with the effort."
The game was rarely in doubt as the Lady Mustangs led by double digits for 22 of the 32-minute contest.
The first half went well for Marble Falls. After the game was tied at 4-4, freshman guard Sarah Stripling scored the next five points, including a 3-pointer. Stripling ended the period with a layup and a 15-10 advantage.
Marble Falls began the second on a 9-4 run before Travis called for a timeout.
Then the Lady Mustangs built their biggest lead of the half, 30-17, thanks to a 3-point play from sophomore post Kiara Etheridge, a layup from freshman post Teagan Hall, and a free throw from freshman guard Blanca Fonseca.
The Lady Rebels scored the last five points to trim the deficit, 30-20, at the half.
Stripling scored all 21 of her points in the opening 16 minutes.
Gamble said the freshman guard scored on open looks at the basket. She scored on offensive rebounds and dished out several assists, too.
"I think she played an overall very steady game," Gamble said.
Travis continued the assault in the third period, trimming the lead to 30-25.
But Etheridge scored nine of Marble Falls’ 15 points and assisted junior guard Whitney Ulbricht on a 3-pointer.
The result was Marble Falls led, 47-31 going into the final stanza.
The Lady Rebels didn’t go away. They went to a full-court press and recorded steals and forced turnovers.
But the Lady Mustangs had a crucial possession where they took off almost 90 seconds and ended it with an Etheridge layup, 55-41.
Etheridge led the Lady Mustangs with 26 points.
"I thought Kiara started the game a little nervous, a little timid," the coach said. "She came out the second half and needed to step it up and do it."
Gamble said the win was a complete team effort, noting several players made solid decisions with the basketball, converted key shots and stepped in front of passing lanes to generate steals or cause turnovers.
"We came in really relaxed and focused on the goal at hand," she said. "They stepped up to the plate when needed."
Marble Falls will face the winner of Smithson Valley-Kerrville Tivy. Gamble said she believes the game will be played Friday with site and time still to be determined.