Faith Academy boys cruise to wins, set up showdown with Waco Live Oak for district title

CAPTION: Brock Davis and the Flames have a chance to win another district title but must hold court against Waco Live Oak. File photo

The Faith Academy of Marble Falls boys basketball team beat Bryan Brazos Christian 47-25 Feb. 7 after defeating Central Texas Christian 51-30 Feb. 6 and Waco Reicher 66-36 Feb. 4 to move to 10-1 in District 3-3A play of the Texas Association of Private and Parochial Schools.

“This was the second night of back-to-back games,” head coach Zakk Revelle said. “That win solidified no worse than second.”

The victories also mean the Flames (10-1) have a rematch most who pay attention to TAPPS Class 3A basketball wanted: a contest at the end of the regular season between Faith and Waco Live Oak for the district crown. Live Oak already beat the Flames in the first round. If Faith can get the series split, the two will share the district crown and the Flames will move their streak of district titles to four.

But earning the 10th district win wasn’t easy, Revelle said, noting the Flames had to fight through some fatigue in the first half. Faith led 9-6 after the opening stanza, 24-13 at halftime and finally got the separation it wanted in the third period.

The Flames began that quarter on an 11-0 run for a 35-13 advantage they would not relinquish.

Revelle said he was proud of the players, particularly because they showed comprehension of what was at stake.

“I was really proud of the way we studied the scouting report,” he said. “I knew we were going to win when in the third quarter they called a timeout in the first 2 minutes and Will Lewis said, ‘We won those two minutes.’ To me, the first 2 minutes and the last 2 minutes of each quarter are the most important in any game.”

Brock Davis led with 19 points followed by Gabe Lopez with 15.

“I’m really proud of Brock Davis,” Revelle said. “We needed a spark and needed a run. I really felt like we were getting good shots. They just weren’t falling. Gabe is a gamer; he plays so hard all the time. He didn’t shoot well the first half. That didn’t stop him. That’s a winner’s mentality.”

The coach wasn’t surprised by what he saw against Brazos, noting the Flames had some long road trips with only a day’s rest in between then had a full day of classes before playing at home.

“We had to get on the van, drive back, get into bed and go to school (Feb. 7),” he said. “My wife asked how I thought we’d do. I told her that I thought (the Feb. 6 contest) we’d play really well. The first quarter (against Brazos) was going to be really bad. We didn’t have a ton of energy.”

Davis scored 22 points against Reicher, while Lewis added 12, and Lopez scored nine.

Davis also was the leading scorer against CTC, dropping in 20 points, while Lopez added 10.

The coach noted the Flames’ defense against CTC and Reicher was some of their best all season.

“Those first two wins on the road, I’m really proud of our efforts defensively,” he said. “We have to be good defensively.”

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