Mustangs split games

MARBLE FALLS — The Marble Falls High School basketball team went 1-2 in pool A of its own McDonald’s Classic Thursday and Friday.

Head coach Bruce Etheridge remained encouraged about the squad’s progress.

“We were sitting on the bench marveling at how far our players have come in games one and two,” he said. “We’re excited about what’s coming. Our team is getting better.”

Marble Falls ended the pool portion of the tournament with a loss to St. Michael’s, 67-50, Friday. 

St. Michael’s began the game on a 7-0 run that was snapped when Connor Docherty passed to Bron Etheridge for a three-pointer on the left side.

Etheridge passed to David Morgan on the low block for another bucket. Chris Davis added a tip-in. Docherty found J’Vante Blanchard for a three-pointer to give the Mustangs a 10-9 lead at the end of the first period.

Blanchard returned the Docherty assist by passing to him for a three-pointer to begin the second stanza.

But the Crusaders went on a 10-0 run that lasted for 3:22.

Austin Bacon ended the streak by hitting two free throws. After a St. Michael’s bucket, Blanchard scored from the left corner thanks to a Docherty pass to trim the deficit, 21-18.

The Crusaders scored the last two buckets for a 25-18 halftime lead. 

After a St. Michael’s bucket, Morgan scored on a putback and from the low block.

The Crusaders went on a 5-2 run to build a 36-24 lead. But Docherty scored a layup and Mason added a bucket.

But Crusader baskets still kept the deficit in double digits, 41-28.

With 1:43 left in the period, Etheridge passed to Mason for a three-pointer. Morgan stole the ball and threw a lead pass to Docherty for a layup. Etheridge ended the quarter with a three-pointer to close the gap, 41-36.

St. Michael’s started the final period in a full-court press and trapped the Mustangs. They were able to capitalize on steals and turnovers en route to a 5-0 run that was snapped when Docherty passed to Davis for a score at the 7:08 mark.

Bacon scored two free throws at the 6:43 mark. But St. Michael’s went on a 10-0 run that spanned two minutes that finished when Davis scored, 59-42.

The Crusaders began a 7-0 run. But Mason Lyttle began an 8-1 run in the final 95 seconds for the Mustangs, who got scores from David Aulick and Shane Minnick. 

Mason and Morgan each scored eight points followed by Docherty with seven and Blanchard, Etheridge and Davis each scored six. 

Three turnovers to start the fourth quarter caused a disruption to the Mustangs’ offensive flow and was difficult to overcome, Bruce Etheridge said. 

But he noted his players did not hang their heads.

“We’re making defensive plays, hustle plays,” he said. 

In their second game of the tournament, the Mustangs earned a 29-28 win against Fredericksburg Friday. 

“It was a win that was desperately needed,” the coach said. 

Leading, 19-15, after three periods, Davis hit two free throws. But the Billies answered with a three-pointer.

Docherty was fouled and hit a free throw, but Fredericksburg’s Alex Hammond scored on a layup. 

Etheridge hit a free throw, 25-21. Billie Ansel Berber-Thayer knocked down two free throws.

Fredericksburg’s Taylor Eden hit two free throws to tie the game at 25 with 1:07 remaining.

Bron Etheridge broke the tie with a free throw.

But Eden gave the Billies the lead again on two free throws, 27-26.

After a timeout, the Mustangs set up a screen for a three-point shot that was missed. Fredericksburg rebounded the miss. 

Berber-Thayer hit the second of two free throws for a 28-26 lead with 19 seconds remaining.

After a timeout, Docherty drove to the basket and was fouled. He shot the ball as he was falling forward in the lane. The floater hit nothing but net.

The sophomore guard hit the free throw with nine seconds left.

Etheridge hit a free throw at the 4:29 mark of the first period to start the scoring for the Mustangs. Davis scored from the low block to give Marble Falls a 3-2 lead. Fredericksburg’s Alfredo Dugue hit a layup for a 4-3 lead at the end of the first period.

Blanchard recorded a steal and layup to give the Mustangs the lead again, 5-4.

The Billies took the lead back at the 4:45 mark, 6-5, and added another bucket towards the end of the half.

With less than 12 seconds remaining, the Mustangs worked for the last shot. Parks passed to Docherty on the left side and connected to tie it, 8-8.

Bacon hit two free throws to start the scoring in the second half. Etheridge scored a three from the left corner. 

After a Mustang miss, Morgan stole the ball in the Marble Falls lane and scored for a 15-12 lead.

Etheridge scored another free throw, while Docherty hit another three from the left corner to give Marble Falls a 19-15 lead going into the final quarter. 

Between them, the two squads were 15 of 75 from the floor.

Etheridge scored six points, while Docherty led the way with 10, none bigger than the three-point play at the end of the game.

“Connor is such a fast-pace, uptempo player,” Etheridge said. “It’s hard to calm him down. That’s what makes him dangerous and elusive. We’re glad he was on our side.”

Though the Mustangs lost to Austin Lanier, 75-55, Dec. 4 to start the tournament, Marble Falls played its best first half of the season, coach Etheridge said.

“This is the kind of game I like,” he said. 

He saw his players answer Lanier’s shots with scores of their own. He saw his players diving for balls and making an extra pass to set up a teammate. He also saw their intensity and energy levels up, showing they were excited to play. 

“It was one of our better halves all season,” he said. 

Part of the reason is because Daniel Aulick and Davis are at point guard and center, respectively, he said. 

“I felt Daniel (Aulick) did a good job,”  the coach said. “Our shooters were getting better shot selections. We made some progress tonight.”

Morgan began the scoring using a pump fake on the low block. Back-to-back layups gave Lanier a 4-2 lead. 

Davis tied the game with a turnaround in the lane. Bron Etheridge scored on a reverse layup, but Lanier answered with a three-pointer.

Parks helped the Mustangs regain the lead with a three-pointer, while Max Lazos found Morgan on the opposite block for an 11-9 lead. Etheridge scored on a layup thanks to a Docherty long pass.

The Vikings went on a 6-2 run in the final 90 seconds, but Parks scored a three-pointer at the buzzer to trim the deficit, 17-16.

Lanier began the second period with a 5-0 run.

Parks answered by knocking the ball out of the rebounder’s hands, picking it up and scoring in the lane. 

Four straight Vikings points were snapped when Daniel Aulick made a cross-court pass to Blanchard for a three-pointer in the right corner. 

Minnick scored on a three-point play, while Docherty passed to Aulick for a three-pointer to trim the lead, 28-27.

Minnick hit two free throws to give the Mustangs the lead, 29-28. 

The Vikings scored two buckets, while Blanchard nailed another three-pointer to tie the contest. Docherty hit a three-pointer thanks to an Etheridge pass. But Lanier scored on a layup for a 36-35 halftime lead.

The Mustangs finished the first half by making six three-pointers with Blanchard and Parks making two each. 

Both teams began the third period by matching each bucket for bucket.  

Morgan gave the Mustangs a lead, 44-42, on free shots. Etheridge picked up a loose ball and scored. 

The Vikings went on a 7-0 run for a 49-46 lead prompting Marble Falls to call timeout. 

Minnick scored on a putback, but the Mustangs were still behind, 51-48.

Lanier outscored Marble Falls, 24-6 in the final quarter. 

Bacon began the scoring on a basket underneath. A free throw trimmed the lead, 53-51. But a 9-0 run gave the Vikings a 60-50 lead.

The Mustangs skipper called timeout.

“I told the guys, ‘It’s winning time now,’” he recalled saying. “Our guys got a little rattled.”

Docherty was fouled and hit two free throws and a three-pointer at the buzzer to end the scoring. 

Though his squad lost, Etheridge said he believes the team made some progress.

Four straight turnovers stymied the Mustangs’ offensive attack.

“We threw the balls into the other team’s deflections,” Etheridge said. “We did a poor job of getting into the other team’s sets.”

Marble Falls will play Round Rock Westwood 12:30 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 6,  in a rematch of the Mustangs’ home opener Nov. 21, 94-68. The game will be at Max Copeland Gym, 2101 Mustang Drive. 

Photo by Virgil Belk/Hill Country Sports Images