Marble Falls boys basketball falls short in last home game
Marble Falls High School senior guard Zuri Buchanan (45) drives to the basket that is being defended by Dripping Springs senior post Patrick Bullock (33) and senior guard Bryce Hegemier. Staff photo by Jennifer Fierro
JENNIFER FIERRO • PICAYUNE STAFF
MARBLE FALLS — The Dripping Springs High School boys basketball team did just enough to slip by Marble Falls 55-52 on Feb. 8 during the Mustangs’ last home game of the season.
The Mustangs (10-22 overall, 0-11 in District 25-4A) never led by more than four points and fought through deficits of as much as seven points throughout the district contest.
Leading 41-39, the Tigers scored 20 seconds into the fourth quarter. But the Mustangs responded with baskets from junior post Danny Rivara and senior guard Zuri Buchanan.
After Dripping Springs led 46-43, the Tigers went into a stall offense and only attempted shots that were in the lane.
But the Mustangs came right back when Rivara scored a three-point play and senior guard Aidin Parnell threw a backdoor pass to senior forward Ben Stripling to tie the game at 48 with two minutes and 22 seconds left.
Again, the Tigers stalled and scored on a backdoor play with 1:44 left.
The Mustangs missed two attempts on their next possession, and the Tigers scored on a fast break for a 52-48 lead.
Parnell scored the last two baskets, but Dripping Springs hit high-percentage shots and a free throw to ice the win.
Marble Falls made 17 two-pointers, five 3-pointers and were 3 of 6 from the free-throw line; Dripping Springs scored 17 two-pointers, three 3-pointers and were 12 of 22 from the line.
“Here’s the game right here,” Marble Falls head coach Neil Laminack said. “They attempted 22 free throws, and we attempt six and lose by three. That’s the game right there.”
He noted Dripping Springs was able to get rebounds and attacked the basket, which helped explain the foul attempts.
During the first round in district play, the Tigers defeated the Mustangs 85-56 on Jan. 14. Laminack said he gave his players a piece of advice to consider before tipoff.
“You can do the easy thing and pack it in,” he said, “or go out and give an effort you can be proud of. Is it an effort you can be proud of?”
jfierro@thepicayune.com
TOP PLAYERS: points (Marble Falls) — Danny Rivara 13, J.T. Watson 11, Ben Stripling 10; (Dripping Springs) — Bryce Hegemier 16, Patrick Bullock 15, Brogan Lynch 11
ON OFFENSE: points (Marble Falls) — Aidin Parnell 8, Zuri Buchanan 7, Cody Seeling 2, Brennen Wooten 1; (Dripping Springs) — Clay Breen 5, Hunter Cmerek 4, A.J. Huff 4
RECORDS: Marble Falls is 10-22 overall and 0-11 in District 25-4A; Dripping Springs is 21-11 overall and 9-2 in district.
UP NEXT: 7 p.m. Feb. 11, Marble Falls at Leander High, 3301 S. Bagdad Road in Leander
DISTRICT 25-4A STANDINGS:
Dripping Springs, 9-2
Cedar Park, 8-3
Rouse, 7-4
Vandegrift, 6-6
Leander, 6-5
Vista Ridge, 3-8
Marble Falls, 0-11