Season ends with close loss for Marble Falls girls; boys also fall to Vista Ridge

JENNIFER FIERRO • PICAYUNE STAFF

MARBLE FALLS — The Marble Falls High School girls basketball team ended its season with a 42-41 district loss to Cedar Park Vista Ridge on Feb. 4.

Marble Falls (15-16 overall, 3-9 District 25-4A) senior guard Sarah Stripling finished her high school career as the program’s second-leading scorer with 2,002 points.

The Lady Mustangs led 35-27 going into the fourth period. It took the Lady Rangers less than two minutes to trim the deficit to 35-33.

Vista Ridge twice cut the lead to a point in the final three minutes. Marble Falls missed a layup and went to a stall offense in the final 2:19.

Marble Falls senior guard Blanca Fonseca hit the front end of a one-and-one for a 39-38 lead.

But reigning District 25-4A Most Valuable Player Japreece Dean hit a 3-pointer for a 40-39 advantage with 25 seconds left.

Marble Falls sophomore post Reann Hall gave her team a 41-40 lead by hitting two free throws with 12 seconds remaining.

Six seconds later, the Lady Rangers hit two foul shots, and Dean stole the ball at mid-court to seal the victory for Vista Ridge.

“We saved our best effort for last,” Marble Falls head coach Chris Jost said.

With the Lady Rangers picking up their intensity, Jost said his players “got a little tight. We’ve not competed well against this group from Vista Ridge. We gave them a good game at their place, and they had Katrina Pardee back.”

Pardee, one of Vista Ridge’s top scorers, missed the first game the two played when the Lady Rangers won 46-38.

The two teams answered each other’s baskets throughout the first quarter with Vista Ridge taking an 11-8 lead.

Marble Falls went on an 11-0 run for a 19-13 lead in the second. The Lady Mustangs hit high-percentage shots and took advantage of offensive rebounds. But the Lady Rangers closed out the quarter by hitting three free throws, though they trailed 22-21 at the half.

The Lady Mustangs’ hot shooting continued in the third period led by Stripling, who scored nine points to give Marble Falls a 31-23 lead. The teams finished the quarter by exchanging baskets.

The Lady Mustangs scored 10 two-point baskets, three 3-pointers and were 12 of 17 from the foul line; the Lady Rangers connected on 11 two-point baskets, two 3-pointers and nailed 14 of 18 free throws.

Jost commended his players for rebounding and making high-quality shots.

His seniors, who’ve played the Lady Rangers nine times over the years and competed against opponents who have lots of playoff experience, weren’t caught off guard or surprised when the intensity picked up in the final quarter, Jost said.

“We played hard for 32 minutes and gave ourselves a chance to win,” he said. “For our nerves and being ahead of the second-place team (in District 25-4A), we played well.”

jfierro@thepicayune.com

ON OFFENSE: points – (Marble Falls) Sarah Stripling 16, Reann Hall 9, Molly Myrick 6, Blanca Fonseca 5, Tegan Hall 4, Haley Stephens 1; (Vista Ridge) Katrina Pardee 15, Nikki Cardano-Hillary 10, Japreece Dean 7, Montgomery 6, Brown 2, Starnes 2

RECORDS: Marble Falls finishes at 15-16 overall and 3-9 in District 25-4A; Vista Ridge is 26-6 overall and 9-3 in district.

SUBVARSITY RESULTS: Marble Falls freshmen won 26-23; Marble Falls junior varsity won 48-27.

DISTRICT 25-4A STANDINGS:

Rouse, 10-2

Vista Ridge, 9-3

Cedar Park, 8-4

Leander, 8-4

Marble Falls, 3-9

Vandegrift, 2-10

Dripping Springs, 2-10

Vista Ridge boys 59, Marble Falls 32

CEDAR PARK — The Marble Falls High School boys basketball team lost 59-32 to Cedar Park Vista Ridge in a District 25-4A contest Feb. 4.

The Mustangs (10-21 overall, 0-10 district) trailed 12-7 after the first period and 24-19 at the half.

But they only scored a total of 13 points in the second half. Meanwhile, Vista Ridge dropped in 16 points in the third period alone.

“It was one of those games where anything that could go wrong did,” Marble Falls head coach Neil Laminack said. “There weren’t a lot of fouls called. (Vista Ridge) started pressing and had a big run to start the third quarter.”

The Mustangs only committed three turnovers in the first half. But, in the third, they committed 10 turnovers that led to Vista Ridge baskets.

Marble Falls also had four players see limited action on the court because of injuries.

ON OFFENSE: points – (Marble Falls) Danny Rivera 12, Travis Walker 5, Zuri Buchanan 5, Jordan Wright 3, J.T Watson 3, Aidin Parnell 2, Ben Stripling 2

RECORDS: Marble Falls is 10-21 overall and 0-10 in District 25-4A; Vista Ridge is 14-16 overall and 3-7 in district.

UP NEXT: 7 p.m. Feb. 7, Marble Falls vs. Dripping Springs at Max Copeland Gym, 2101 Mustang Drive

DISTRICT 25-4A STANDINGS: 

Dripping Springs, 8-2

Cedar Park, 7-3

Rouse, 6-4

Vandegrift, 6-5

Leander, 6-5

Vista Ridge, 3-7

Marble Falls, 0-10