Mustangs avenge loss to Warriors

MARBLE FALLS — Almost three weeks ago, the Marble Falls High School boys basketball team lost to Round Rock Westwood, 95-68. 

On Dec. 6, the Mustangs returned the favor. 

Marble Falls defeated the Warriors, 82-75, in their finale of the McDonald’s Classic to avenge that setback.

“With a team like ours, we’re going to get better,” head coach Bruce Etheridge said. “We’re more confident with and competent with our man defense and getting great effort. This is one of those wins that helps believe in what we’re doing.”

The Mustangs were leading, 68-57, after three periods.

But the Warriors erased that deficit in the first 56 seconds and used two Garrett Hamilton free throws and a Brian Jones free shot for a 66-62 lead. 

Marble Falls finally scored thanks to two Regis Parks free throws, but Westwood answered with a three-pointer.  

Bron Etheridge scored on a free throw and Chris Davis rebounded the miss on the second for a bucket to trim the lead, 69-67. Parks came back and connected on a three-pointer at the top of the key, 70-69, with 3:14 remaining. 

Both squads scored a free throw to tie the game at 71. Etheridge found Austin Bacon underneath for a 73-71 lead and later passed to David Morgan for a 75-71 advantage with 1:06 left.

Bacon and Etheridge each hit a free throw for a 77-71 lead. Though Westwood cut the lead, 77-74, the Warriors could not get any closer.

Etheridge, Bacon and Docherty hit free throws to secure the win. 

“I wanted our guys to have some pride about playing at home,” coach Etheridge said. “(Westwood) embarrassed us (Nov. 21). It showed you how far we’ve come. We were just trying to play perfect to get the job done.”

Westwood started the contest with a three that was answered by Docherty.

However, the Warriors went on a 5-0 run that was snapped when Docherty completed a three-point play and started a 10-0 run for his squad. Bron Etheridge tied the game with two free throws and gave them a lead on a three-pointer.

The two teams exchanged baskets until David Morgan scored on a putback and Docherty connected on another free throw. 

Westwood scored to trim the lead, 18-13, but Bacon scored on a reverse layup and added two free throws to help the Mustangs lead, 22-15, at the end of the first period.

The Warriors scored six points to trim the score, 22-21. Daniel Aulick hit two free throws to give the Mustangs a 24-21 lead, but Westwood tied the contest.

Both squad exchanged baskets for the next two minutes.

Morgan scored on a steal and layup and Docherty hit a free throw to give Marble Falls a 33-27 lead. 

Westwood could only score six free throws in the last 2:27 of the half. Meanwhile, the Mustangs took a 44-34 halftime lead thanks to hitting 16 of 20 free throws during the second period, 21 of 25 for the half.

Bacon hit four in the final 2:23, while Davis and Aulick hit two each and Docherty scored one. The Mustangs’ only field goal in the last 1:15 was when Docherty had an offensive rebound and made a bounce pass to Bacon for a score. 

Westwood outscored Marble Falls, 23-18, in the third period though the Mustangs still kept the lead going into the final quarter, 62-57. They only had two back-to-back scores thanks to Etheridge’s free throws and Morgan’s layup.     

Marble Falls finished the contest by hitting 41 of 52 free throws, including nine of 10 in the third, while Westwood was 26 of 43. 

“I didn’t notice if it was too many free throws,” coach Etheridge said. “It was a game called with many fouls. It’s hard to get any rhythm. The difference is we hit ours. That’s the difference in the ballgame.”

He said good shooting teams are also good free-throw shooting squads. 

Etheridge complimented his son Bron Etheridge for his play.

“I was happy with his performance down the stretch,” he said.

The Mustangs skipper knew the first 10 games were going to be used to evaluate players, see how they were learning the system, and how effective they were in using that system against opponents.

This contest had all the elements he was looking for, he said. 

“We know the type of effort it’s going to take and how good it feels,” he said. “We learned how to win. That’s very important. Our guys understand what it takes. It’s a process we had to go through.”

The Mustangs will host Wimberley today at 6:30 p.m., while the Marble Falls High School girls basketball team will welcome Burnet at 8 p.m. Both games will be played at Max Copeland Gym, 2101 Mustang Drive.  

Photo by Virgil Belk/Hill Country Sports Images