Let the season begin

MARBLE FALLS — Bruce Etheridge said wearing purple feels very natural to him. After accepting the post of head coach for the Marble Falls High School boys basketball team in July, Etheridge has plenty of purple to replace the Temple High School blue he wore for 18 years. 

Etheridge, who is just starting his first season as Mustangs head coach, said he looks forward to the beginning of the season.

“I have good ball players,” he said. “We’re young, but we really have good ball players.”

He calls his team, “The best of both worlds.”

The Mustangs have height and quickness, he said. A group of sophomores are expected to highlight the 2008-2009 team led by 5-foot 7-inch guard Conner Docherty, 6-8 post Shane Minnick and 6-4 forward David Morgan.

Six sophomores are on the 13-player roster that includes J’Vante Blanchard, Max Lazos and Cyril Lemon. 

“I’m excited about the future for this group,” Etheridge said. “The next two years from now, they’re going to have a special group. How good? No one knows. You have to be good and lucky at this level.”

Juniors are Mason Lyttle and Bron Etheridge, the coach’s son. Seniors David Aulick and Daniel Aulick, Regis Parks, Quinten Sanders and Austin Bacon and freshman Chris Davis round out the squad.

While the Mustangs will lack experience, the coach said there’s only one way to grow.

“We get that by playing games,” he said. “The more games we play, the more experience we get. Lack of experience is being able to execute things at the varsity level. There are things you can get away with on the junior varsity and freshman levels you can’t get away with on varsity. I feel like you can overcome that by playing.”

Etheridge said this team is not the tallest he’s coached.

“At certain spots, we’re not as highly skilled as far as passing, dribbling and shooting,” he said. “We’re going to try to maximize our good young talent and have seniors that haven’t reached their potential yet.”

Part of the coach’s philosophy is to encourage his players to improvise based on what is happening on the court.

“My job is to teach them how to think,” he said. “I really feel like this is the best fit for our team. The kids are excited about it. I would rather have a player who is going to go hard and believe in what he’s doing than go the other way.”

And the players have responded, Etheridge said.

The Mustangs will push the pace through their fast break, he said, though they will be selective on when to run. 

“Right now we’re searching for a point guard,” he said. “We’re searching for stability. We have enough shooters on the team who set screens.”

Marble Falls also will press more, he said, for many reasons. One is to slow down the other team, while another may be to create turnovers. 

As for District 25-4A, three teams are ranked in the top 20 by the Texas Association of Basketball Coaches Association: Killeen at No. 7, Lake Travis at No. 9 and Pflugerville Hendrickson at No. 13. 

“I feel like we have one of the toughest (districts) in the state,” Etheridge said. “At the same time, you have to play the schedule. We’re not going to concede any of those spots. Our focus is to be the best we can be.”

The task will require strong leadership, he said, as well as productivity from players, many of whom have yet to play a minute of varsity basketball.

In the first round of district play, the Mustangs will have four home games, but that switches in the second round. Three of the four home games are against the top three teams in the league. 

Because the top four teams earn playoff berths, Etheridge said it seemed the rest of the district was playing for the final spot. 

“Our kids are excited about it,” he said. “We’re not going to be shrinking violets.”

The Mustangs will host a four-team scrimmage with Bastrop, Liberty Hill and Copperas Cove 11 a.m. Saturday at Max Copeland Gym, 2101 Mustang Drive. 

The format will be six 10-minute quarters.

Etheridge said he is looking forward to the season and molding a group of players into a successful team.

“I’d rather have chemistry than talent,” he said. “It’s very imperative these guys get along. We’re going to be pretty good now and better next season. Don’t sell our group short. We’re going to be competitive. We feel like we’re going to surprise some people.” 

Photo by Virgil Belk/Hill Country Sports Images