Faith Academy bpys hoops using summer league to build depth

CAPTION: Faith guard Michael Wetzel protects the ball as he makes his way to the basket against the Burnet Bulldogs during the Llano Summer League May 20. Staff photos by Jennifer Fierro

When the Faith Academy of Marble Falls boys basketball team took the court at Llano High School for the Yellow Jackets Summer League May 20, some new faces dominated most of the minutes.

And that was by design, according to head coach Zakk Revelle.

“We’re trying to use this summer league for the next up-and-coming guys to be the guys,” he said. “We have some junior varsity and freshmen who need to be up-and-coming guys who got to play. We’re not worried about winning and losing.”

The league begins at 4:15 p.m. every Tuesday from now until June 10. Other teams playing are Burnet, Junction and Marble Falls.

Revelle said he was pleased with the defensive effort from the Flames.

“Burnet had some good guards, and we guarded them well the first half,” he said. “We’ve been out of school since May 2. We haven’t been doing the consistent workouts.”

One newcomer, Colt Mason, played well, he said.

“He makes plays,” the coach said. “Defensively, he’s really good, especially his lateral movements left to right.”

Three varsity lettermen who got extended minutes are Collten Kohutek, Austin Skahill and Hutton Lehmberg. Revelle said he is looking for them to do more than perform on the court.

He called them the “big ones.”

“They played some varsity minutes, but they’re young,” he said. “We know what we’re going to get from them.”

Since the Flames’ top scorers were not in the lineup, Skahill looked for his shot more.

“That’s something we can do better,” Revelle said. “Him doing that was a good sign. That shows confidence for him to do that.

Center Kohutek is another Flame who will be looked to for more contributions.

“I really loved the effort from Kohutek,” the coach said. “He guards (starting center) Judah Phillips at practices every day. He’s learning how to lead.”

Revelle said playing in the league helped two Flames who were starters last season. Their contributions during the 2024-25 season began in the Llano league. Back then, they showed their teammates what they could do on the floor and how they communicated information to them. Coaches recalled how invaluable that was so when the Flames began practices for the season in late summer, there was comfort in the lineup.

“Last year (lettermen) Jase Marshall and Seattle Hampton had to be the leaders,” Revelle recalled. “We hope to get something similar out of it.”

The Flames “are super thankful” to Yellow Jackets head coach Landry Norwood, who serves as the league director, Revelle said.

“It’s good when you can play against actual teams and real players that are trying to beat you,” he said. “Burnet, Marble Falls and Llano are good teams. Getting reps against other varsities is invaluable. This league isn’t about winning, though we love to see that. Summer time is the time to go out and experiment and have fun. This helps our program.”

CAPTION: Faith guard Quinton Merlick cuts off the path to the basket. Staff photo by Jennifer Fierro