Faith Academy girls, boys squads dominate opponents in wins
JENNIFER FIERRO • PICAYUNE STAFF
MARBLE FALLS — No matter what Lampasas tried against the Faith Academy girls basketball team Nov. 18, the Lady Badgers did not have an answer in a 61-30 loss to the Lady Flames.
When Lampasas slowed the pace to play a half-court game, the Lady Flames rebounded misses or applied defensive pressure to create turnovers.
Then, the Lady Badgers decided to pick up the pace and run with Faith. And that played right into Faith’s hands. On misses, Faith quickly got down the floor, made quick passes and finished fast breaks with buckets.
Lampasas scored a 3-pointer with three minutes left in the opening quarter to snap an 11-0 Faith run.
Faith head coach Jerry English said he has been emphasizing to his players the importance of calling for the ball and giving teammates passing lanes. Equally important, the Lady Flames finished plays.
“We have been really working on it,” he said. “I don’t like all those misses. We’re not an experienced enough team to (withstand) those misses. If you go down and miss, that’s uncalled for.”
He was especially pleased with the way junior post Hannah Cozby ran the floor. She made herself available by getting in the vision of the ball handler, catching the ball in stride and scoring layups.
“I thought Hannah ran the floor as good as I’ve seen her,” English said. “I was thrilled.”
He also noted senior guard Taylor Denton was consistent in shooting 3-pointers. Denton was 5 of 9 for 56 percent.
English said his players are understanding the schemes better with each game, and that is encouraging because it demonstrates their desire to be coached and to improve.
“I really do like this team,” he said.
jfierro@thepicayune.com
TOP PLAYERS: Sedona Prince, 12 points, 15 rebounds, 2 assists, 1 steal, 7 blocks; Taylor Denton, 22 points, 3 rebounds, 4 assists, 3 steals, 1 block; Hannah Cozby, 13 points, 4 rebounds, 1 assist, 4 steals, 1 block
ON OFFENSE: Points – Jayla Reeves 4, Sierra Brinkley 2, Allison Metzger 4, Alisha Williams 2, Hanah Marks 2; assists – Reeves 3, Brinkley 4, Metzger 2, A. Williams 1; rebounds – Brinkley 1, Metzger 2, A. Williams 3, Marks 2
ON DEFENSE: Steals – Reeves 2, Brinkley 1, Sarah Williams 1, A. Williams 2; rebounds – Brinkley 4, Metzger 8, Susanna Case 1, A. Williams 4, Marks 1; blocks – Reeves 1, A. Williams 1, Marks 1
RECORDS: Faith is 5-1.
UP NEXT: San Saba Tournament — 10 a.m. Nov. 20, Faith vs. San Saba; 2:30 p.m. Nov. 20, Faith vs. Cherokee; 10 a.m. Nov. 21, Faith vs. Early, all at 808 W. Wallace St. in San Saba
Faith Academy boys 73, Khabele 11
MARBLE FALLS — The Faith Academy boys basketball team extended its winning streak to three straight thanks to crushing Khabele 73-11 on Nov. 18.
Faith head coach Randy Denton credited his players for sticking to the game plan, no matter what the scoreboard reflected.
“We stayed in it and did what we were supposed to do,” he said.
That meant continuing to improve on the defensive end. This time, he instructed the Flames to play straight up man-to-man defense.
Faith rolled to a 22-0 lead after the first period and led 48-9 at the half. And the Flames continued the assault by outscoring the Lions 25-2 in the second half.
“I thought the defensive effort was much better,” the coach said. “Our goal is single-digit quarters. That tells me they’re buying in. Defense wins games.”
Denton said part of the reason for the team’s success is because the players are enjoying this kind of play. He encourages a quick tempo with Faith’s stingy defense forcing opponents into mistakes, resulting in fast points on Faith’s end.
In short, the players are having fun.
“I think it’s hugely important,” Denton said. “If they’re not having fun, the effort isn’t going to be there.”
For the third consecutive game, a different Flame led in points. This time it was Rich Coleman with 21.
Part of the reason why Denton has emphasized pace and defense so much is because of the way the 2013-14 season ended. Waco Vanguard forced long-range shots and didn’t allow Faith to play at its comfort level. Long jumpers are considered low-percentage shots; lay-ups, on the other hand, are high percentage.
“Layups are easier to make in crunch time,” Denton said.
The Flames play Salado at 7 p.m. Nov. 20 at The Fire Pit, located three miles east of Marble Falls off RR 1431.