Mustang JV defense fuels victory against Vista Ridge
CEDAR PARK — Behind a stifling defense, the Marble Falls High School boys junior varsity basketball team defeated Cedar Park Vista Ridge 36-22 on Jan. 10.
The Mustang offense got off to a slow start in the first quarter, scoring just three points. Reserve sophomore forward Keith Jerome had a putback after an offensive rebound, and junior guard Isiah Carson, who had seven points on the night, added a free throw. Thanks to some poor shooting by Vista Ridge, the Mustangs only trailed 6-3 in the first.
Marble Falls tripled their point output in the second period largely because of tough rebounding by junior forward Nick O’Connor and sophomore post James Breyer, and the Mustangs took a 12-11 lead at the half.
During halftime, coach Jeremy Gamez asked his players to give the same effort they had in the previous game against Leander Rouse when the Mustangs almost erased a 20-point deficit.
Marble Falls answered with a 16-point outburst in the third while defensively, they held Vista Ridge scoreless for the entire quarter. The defense tallied nine steals and seven rebounds in one of the most dominate quarters of the year.
Leading the way in the third period was sophomore guard Aidin Parnell, who scored all five of his points in the decisive quarter. Sophomore forward Ben Stripling, a recent addition, had the only 3-pointer of the night in the third. And Jerome added four of his team-high eight points in the quarter. Breyer added two points with an assist from Stripling, and O’Connor added the final two points as the Mustangs went to the fourth quarter leading 28-11.
In the fourth, the Rangers found their shooting touch, hitting key 3-pointers and cutting into the Mustang lead.
But stingy defense by junior Darius Johnson and sophomores Jordan Wright, Steven Petrosky and Ty Coffey ensured the victory.
All but one player recorded at least one steal, with Parnell registering four. And all but one had at least one rebound, led by Jerome, Stripling and O’Connor with four each.
The Mustangs welcome the Vipers of Leander Vandegrift at 6:15 p.m. Jan. 13 at Max Copeland Gym, 2101 Mustang Drive.