Marble Falls girls basketball adds more to offseason training

CAPTION: Senior center Leslie Reynoso says the Lady Mustangs have committed themselves to putting in the work during Forge ’25, skills work and summer league that will aid them in preparing for what’s coming. Photo by Martelle Luedecke/Luedecke Photography

After not making the playoffs for the second year in a row, the Marble Falls High School girls basketball players set in motion events they believe will lead them to the season they want in 2025-26.

In short, they decided to use their spring and summer to enter tournaments and a summer league as a team.

Sophomore forward Adalynn Wood spoke with her teammates about playing together, and they all committed to doing it. In addition, the lettermen made contact with the incoming freshmen and extended an invitation to join them.

The results of all of that on top of attending and working out together during Forge ’25, the athletic department’s summer strength and conditioning program, is being reflected on the scoreboard where the Lady Mustangs are winning with the consistency and gap they want.

“We’ve had a lot of people from basketball coming,” Wood said.

Besides Wood, seniors Rayleigh Crim, a guard, and Leslie Reynoso, a center, are playing. Addie and Emma Martin, Gracie Goff and Molly Gray plus a couple of others round out the core group.

“There’s been a variety of people, ” Wood said. “Rayleigh and Leslie have been great at leadership.”

Once the strength and conditioning wraps up, the Lady Mustangs head indoors for an hour of basketball skills work conducted by head coach Adley Canales.

“It’s been so energetic and so helpful,” Wood said. “He’s making us ready to play on Tuesdays.”

One important part of all this is the commitment to attend the morning strength and conditioning. Reynoso recalled a time when the program drew fewer than 20 Lady Mustangs. Now it’s close to 50 per day.

“I have been going to strength and conditioning since the seventh grade,” she said. “It was always a very small number of girls. I have been impressed by the number of girls this year. There’s a big number of incoming freshmen. I really see how they encourage each other to keep coming.”

Then they travel to neighboring cities each Tuesday evening to play in games.

The league includes Blanco, Fischer Canyon Lake, Faith Academy of Marble Falls, Dripping Springs and Johnson City. Each school hosts one night a week. The format is 18-minute halves with a running clock and a two-minute halftime. Players sub in every four minutes, call their own fouls, and coach themselves. Games are at 5 p.m. and 7 p.m.

“It wasn’t hard at all because we all joined a club together during the spring,” Reynoso said. “It helped us, especially the sophomores. It brought us together as a team. It’s a continuation of what we did in the spring. It really helps, and it shows in the summer time.”

“Rayleigh and Leslie have been so great about getting people to come,” Wood said. “These scrimmages are invigorating. We substitute ourselves. Sometimes it’s a big lineup. Everyone has some pretty good skills. Everyone is playing where needed.”

The Lady Mustangs are mixing in plays from Canales’ playbook as well as plays from other places. Crim has been at point guard, and Wood commended the senior on calling the plays and helping her teammates get lined up.

“One of the things I enjoy is being able to play freely,” Reynoso said. “I enjoy having fast breaks and being able to play basketball. I enjoy the team being together and experiences more with each other. I feel like it’s good for us to spend time together especially during the summer so we don’t lose the flow of things.”

The veterans make sure all Lady Mustangs know they are welcome to join them for any workouts and game nights, Wood said.

“I feel like we’ve been improving a lot on our chemistry,” Wood said. “You can see it. We’re all friends, we have so much fun. We know when to pass. We’re getting better.”

“I feel like we improved a lot in the spring and in the summer,” Reynoso said. “I feel like it’s really going to show in how much work the girls are putting in. I feel like there’s growth.”

CAPTION: Sophomore forward Adalynn Wood contacted her teammates and incoming freshmen and asked them if they wanted to organize a team for spring tournaments throughout the area. Many said yes. Photo by Martelle Luedecke/Luedecke Photography