Lady Mustangs pick up pace to make consolation
MARBLE FALLS — The Marble Falls High School girls basketball team will play for the consolation championship of its own American Bank of Texas Tournament Saturday, Nov. 19.
Marble Falls (4-2) will face Plainview at 11 a.m. at Max Copeland Gym, 2101 Mustang Drive.
The Lady Mustangs ended Friday on a two-game winning streak thanks to crushing San Angelo Central 61-43 and Kerrville Tivy 49-21. They began the tournament Thursday with a 45-44 win against Early and a 53-31 loss to Liberty Hill.
Marble Falls started slowly against Central. Sophomore guard Sarah Stripling scored a free throw 30 seconds into the game, but the Lady Mustangs didn’t score again until junior forward Kiara Etheridge stole the ball and passed to senior guard Whitney Ulbricht with 3:36 remaining to trim the deficit to 3-5.
Head coach Stephanie Gamble called a timeout a minute later and emphasized the importance of picking up the pace. Though Marble Falls trailed 9-8 after the first period ended, the Lady Mustangs weren’t outscored again.
Gamble also called for a full-court press to begin the second half with the hope of creating more energy and noted Central seemed to struggle handling the ball.