Wins against Vista Ridge would help Marble Falls standings
MARBLE FALLS — Today’s matchup between the Marble Falls High School basketball teams and Cedar Park Vista Ridge can be viewed a number of ways.
The boys will host the Rangers at Max Copeland Gym, 2101 Mustang Drive, while the girls will travel to face the Lady Rangers. Tipoff for both games is 7 p.m.
For the Lady Mustangs (8-17, 2-2), it’s a chance to grow as a team. For the Mustangs (10-12, 1-1) it’s an opportunity to take a giant step forward in their quest for the District 25-4A crown.
The Mustangs will face a Vista Ridge that is 3-0 in division play and has wins against Dripping Springs, 68-46, Lake Travis, 60-57, and Leander Vandegrift, 52-24.
The key is going to be whether the Mustang guards can handle the ball-handling pressure and if the posts can stay out of foul trouble.
A win here would move Marble Falls into a tie with Lake Travis, which has the bye tonight, for third place.
If power forward David Morgan can score 20 points, senior Shane Minnick can add 14, and senior guard Connor Docherty can drop in 10, the Mustangs will be victorious.
As for the girls game, the Lady Rangers (17-4, 4-0) are ranked No. 18 in the latest Class 4A poll by the Texas Association of Basketball Coaches.
Junior Post Chinwe Duru helped Vista Ridge finish third at the American Bank of Texas Tournament in Marble Falls in November and then led her team to a 3-1 finish at the Hays Tournament in December.
At 6-2, Duru will be a towering presence.
Lady Mustangs head coach Stephanie Gamble it’s imperative her squad wins this game following the 44-38 loss at home to Leander Rouse last week.
Marble Falls is currently fourth in division play and still controls its own destiny, but has lost its last two district games.
"We have to keep it from three in a row," the coach said. "We didn’t defend our home court. We had kids get emotional. I hadn’t seen that."
Leander Rouse will be at Cedar Park High, while Leander Vandegrift will visit Dripping Springs.