Despite losses, Marble Falls girls basketball gets quality games vs. ranked teams
JENNIFER FIERRO • PICAYUNE STAFF
MARBLE FALLS — Though the Marble Falls High School girls basketball team ended its own American Bank of Tournament on Nov. 21-23 with a two-game losing streak, head coach Chris Jost said his players gained so much more.
For starters, the Lady Mustangs’ final three opponents are ranked in the top 20 of two different polls. Marble Falls (5-3) beat Wall, ranked No. 2 in the Class 2A poll of the Texas Association of Basketball Coaches, 44-33. The consecutive losses, however, came against Cedar Park Vista Ridge, 56-27, and Leander, 58-43, both members of District 25-4A with the Lady Mustangs.
“You have to bring your A game every night,” Jost said. “You have to play great defense every night. If you don’t do that, you’re not going to win.”
To show the depth of the district, consider this: Vista Ridge won the tournament by beating Brock, the No. 1 team in Class 2A, 52-43, and Leander beat Marble Falls to finish third in the tournament.
Before the tournament, the Lady Mustangs defeated Kerrville Tivy, which was ranked in the top 20 in Class 4A, and lost 45-28 to Killeen High, which is known for its athleticism and fundamentals.
“We’ve had this tough competition night in and night out,” Jost said. “Each team is a little bit different. They play a taxing style. We played very well against a disciplined Wall team. We shot the ball well and took them out of what they want to do.”
Jost said he believes the result of the Vista Ridge game boiled down to five plays in the second period. Leading 13-9 after the first period, the Lady Rangers forced turnovers or grabbed offensive rebounds that they turned into buckets in a couple of minutes in the second period.
“We never played hard enough or well enough that could have put them on their heels,” Jost said.
Against Leander, Jost said his players fought the Lady Lions “tooth and nail,” but Leander’s half-court shooting propelled the outcome. He said the Lady Lions’ shots bounced high off the rim and then rolled in.
“They got such breaks that kept the momentum on their side,” he said.
Going into the season, the coach said the Lady Mustangs needed better play from the posts. He said the squad has gotten quality minutes from senior Teagan Hall, junior Hanna Wall, sophomore Reann Hall and freshman Aspen Woerner, but he is looking for more consistency.
jfierro@thepicayune.com
ALL-TOURNAMENT TEAM: Sarah Stripling
AGAINST LEANDER: Marble Falls – Stripling 19, Haley Stephens 10, Reann Hall 8, Blanca Fonseca 4, Hanna Wall 2. Leander – Kiahna Thompson 18, Michelle Madrigal 14, Andreya Williams 14, Kennedie Guerrero 3, Jordan Tscheope 3, Mariah Springer 2, Samantha Self 2, Carolyn Plein 2
AGAINST CEDAR PARK VISTA RIDGE: Marble Falls – Stripling 12, Fonseca 5, Wall 4, R. Hall 2, Teagan Hall 2, Stephens 2. Vista Ridge – Japreece Dean 18, Katrina Pardee 12, Jaryn Wacker 8, Carolyn Adkins 4, Nikki Cardano-Hillary 4, Rachel Brown 4, Karrington Brown 4.
RECORDS: Marble Falls is 5-3.
UP NEXT: 6:45 p.m. Nov. 26, Marble Falls at Del Valle, 5201 Ross Road in Del Valle; 6:30 p.m. Dec. 3, Marble Falls at Burnet, 1000 The Green Mile in Burnet