Faith boys play Austin Hill Country in home opener
JENNIFER FIERRO • PICAYUNE STAFF
MARBLE FALLS — Without two starters, the Faith Academy boys basketball team gave Austin Regents all they wanted in a 64-55 loss Nov. 4.
“We were shorthanded,” Flames head coach Randy Denton said. “We ran out of gas.”
And yet, he said, the Flames (0-1) exited the gym with confidence with senior post Joseph Woods dropping in 24 points and grabbing 12 rebounds. His cousin Damien Charles, a point guard who is new to Faith Academy, led with 25 points and 10 rebounds, while sophomore Regan Hanish added six points and nine rebounds and Jarrett Haydon had four rebounds.
So when the Flames take the court at The Fire Pit, three miles east of Marble Falls off RR 1431, for their home opener at 7:30 p.m. Nov. 11 against Austin Hill Country, they’ll have their full complement of players.
None bigger than guards Rawley Jackson and Rich Coleman, who finished playing football last week.
“Those guys will be starting,” the coach said. “I’m expecting a lot.”
The two have attended practices, had shooting sessions on their own, have been playing pickup basketball games and are familiar with the system.
Jonathan Reyes and Preston Richardson also are on the team.
Denton said the Flames will have players capable of playing point guard that include Reyes, Jackson and Charles.
“(Charles) can handle (the ball),” the coach said. “He was the only guard we had (during the loss to Regents). Team chemistry will come quickly. The guys get along well. They all know each other well.”
Faith moved up to Class 3A of the Texas Association of Private and Parochial Schools. The Flames will play in District 4-3A. Austin Brentwood Christian won the district crown last season with a 10-0 record.
While Denton acknowledges the change will have an effect, he said Faith is used to facing tough opponents.
“We’ve been in a district with Waco Vanguard,” Denton said. “They’re as good as any in the state.”
Vanguard reached the Class 2A state tournament last season a year after finishing as the state runner-up in 2012-2013.
The Flames will begin district play Dec. 2 against the Texas School for the Deaf. In all, they’ll play three district games before the Christmas holiday.
jfierro@thepicayune.com