Faith Academy boys basketball aims to continue winning ways

CAPTION: Faith Academy senior center Judah Phillips has spent the offseason transforming himself to better take the pounding that comes from his position in his final season in a Flames uniform. Staff photos by Jennifer Fierro

The Faith Academy of Marble Falls boys basketball team welcomes St. Mary’s Hall Tuesday, Nov. 11, in the Flames’ home opener.

The junior varsity plays at 5 p.m. followed by the varsity at 6:30 p.m.

The Flames, who are ranked No. 3 in the Texas Association of Private and Parochial Schools’ Class 3A poll of the Texas Association of Basketball Coaches, began the season by accepting an invitation to compete in the Pat Alexander Basketball Showcase hosted by St. Augustine in Laredo Nov. 8. They lost to San Antonio Antonian Prep 62-44, Midland Christian 60-43 and The Village 56-44.

Head coach Zakk Revelle noted that in each contest, the Flames were within striking until late in the third or fourth quarters. Then the opponents’ depth played a factor in the outcomes.

“You could look at is like scrimmages because it’s so early in the year, but you get such good opponents,” he said. “Not many schools and TAPPS Class 3A are opening up their season playing against the No. 7 team (Antonian Prep) in TAPPS 6A or in TAPPS 5A (No. 7 Midland Christian). We did not miss on the competition for the first 3 games.”

When it comes to the Flames, it’s difficult not to talk about senior center Judah Phillips, who stands 6 feet 10 inches.

Phillips was always tall. But he spent a lot of time with assistant coach Cedric Griffin, who has helped the senior add good weight through lifting sessions designed to help him hold his spot in the paint and take the pounding that comes under the basket.

“Judah has done a really great job preparing himself and his body,” Revelle said. “He spent a lot of time in the weight room, he’s taken on a leadership role, and he’s done a great job, so we’re excited to watch him. And he knows that he’s going to be playing a lot of minutes. We’re just preparing him to last a whole season. Judah did a really good job of that. And so we look forward to watching him play.”

The center, who is a four-year letterman, has played with former standout Brock Davis, who played college basketball at the University of Texas at Dallas. Those two years with Davis along with other former Faith greats such as Gabe Lopez, Asher Apel and Will Slyker, put Phillips on a path for his own greatness, Revelle said.

“He’s had a lot of really good leaders that he’s been able to maybe steal stuff from and continue on,” the coach said. “We talk within our program all the time that we’re standing on the shoulders of the guys who came before us. For Judah, it’s been a mixture and it’s been really good. It’s been a mixture of vocal and lead by example. The vocal has probably been the most because he understands that ‘I need to be vocal because I’m the leader now.'”

While Phillips is the most recognized, the program also welcomed back senior guard Jase Marshall, forwards Seattle Hampton and Michael Wetzel, and center Colton Kohutek, who are all juniors.

“There are some unsung heroes within our leadership crew,” Revelle said. “Wetzel and Kohutek are two guys who don’t play much. They don’t get a lot of credit, but they’re the first ones at practice and they’ll stay and do extra things. They’re the first ones off the bench.”

And they still have others expected to join the team once the football squad wraps up its season. They include sophomore Quentin Merlick and junior Wade Dillard.

“Quinten was on the varsity last year,” Revelle said. “He had a good summer. He’s gotten bigger. Then we have a couple of players who are more than likely going to be on the varsity but maybe play some junior varsity minutes, too, to get their reps.”

In addition to losing Apel, who graduated, all-state shooting guard Slyker chose to transfer to Lake Travis.

“Everybody will talk about losing Will Slyker and obviously we love Will,” Revelle said. “And we wish Will was here, but we also know that God has other plans and all of that is OK. We all love Will and his family, and so all of that is good.”

CAPTION: Faith Academy junior forward Seattle Hampton and senior guard Jase Marshall (5) are returning starters for the Flames. Staff photo by Jennifer Fierro