Marble Falls girls basketball shows plenty in wins
CAPTION: Marble Falls sophomore forward Adalynn Wood is a threat every time she touches the ball. Staff photo by Jennifer Fierro
The Marble Falls High School girls basketball team went 2-2 at the Deer Capital Classic hosted by Llano High School Dec. 4-6.
The Lady Mustangs defeated Llano 56-16 and Bartlett 35-22 to win their pool. They lost to Houston St. Agnes Academy 43-32 and Early 48-18, coached by Burnet High School graduate Trynadee Greenwell, to end the tournament.
The victory against Llano illustrated the traits the Lady Mustangs have spent the offseason developing.
After taking a 7-6 lead in the opening stanza, the Lady Mustangs outscored the Lady Jackets 21-3 in the second for a 28-9 lead at the intermission. Then they simply kept the intensity high as they scored 12 in the third period and 16 in the fourth for the victory.
They did it by being opportunistic on the offensive side – hitting high percentage shots thanks to pushing the pace and being meticulous in working the ball for the best shot in half-court sets.
Because of the lead, head coach Adley Canales was able to evenly distribute the minutes to starters and reserves and pointed out he never saw a drop in intensity.
“We played well,” he said. “We still started out slow – it was 7-6 after the first. We were hoping to start out a little better than that. That’s what we’ve been working on. That was our goal. We won the first quarter; that was our ultimate goal is to win the first-quarter, so can’t knock it too much because we did our goal. And then the rest of the way was the team that we thought we know we can be.”
He pointed out the Lady Mustangs played “complementary basketball” where they had defensive stops and limited Llano to one shot per possession by rebounding misses and got the ball to guards and forwards to start fast breaks for transition baskets.
In the end, Marble Falls scored had its second most productive period in the fourth quarter and didn’t allow Llano to earn a single point.
This game also showed the mentality of each Lady Mustang, Canales added.
“It’s huge for us,” he said. “When we go to our bench, there isn’t a drop-off and it doesn’t give the other team an advantage to attack when we have to go to our bench. We know girls are going to get tired. We’re going to need our bench, and when there’s not a drop-off, that just carries the momentum over.”
The other big part of that high level goes back to the energy the Lady Mustangs displayed throughout the contest. When players weren’t on the court, they celebrated made baskets, defensive stops and hustle plays that included deflections and swipes to disrupt rhythm.
Canales credited assistant coach Alex Lozoya for emphasizing to the Lady Mustangs the importance of loudly supporting their teammates and continuing to encourage them during the stoppage of play.
“He’s been working with them since I’m coaching,” he said. “I can’t always see behind me. I wish all coaches could have eyes in the backs of their heads and we act like we do sometimes. But coach Lozoya does a great job on the bench. He was making sure they’re engaged. We’re celebrating every little thing like it was the most important part of the game. Good energy just breeds more good energy.”
Freshman post Emma Martin scored 17 followed by junior forward Alexis Sprott with eight, sophomore forward Adalynn Wood and freshman guard Addie Martin each contributed seven, and senior center Leslie Reynoso scored one.
Reynoso may have had the individual battle of the game as she squared off with Llano senior center Peyton Parrish, who also is a four-year letterman and the Lady Jackets’ focal point in the lane. Both centers committed to not allowing the other to have a big scoring night.
“Leslie’s our most decorated returner, our most experienced player that we have as far as she’s got the most minutes over her career,” Canales said. “When she doesn’t have to carry the load, I think that says a lot about our team and we’re still able to play the way we want to play without having to depend on one person.”
That makes defending the Lady Mustangs a huge challenge, he added.
“When Leslie’s on the floor, she doesn’t always have to score to be our leader,” the coach said. “I think she proved that.”
Marble Falls will travel back to Llano Tuesday, Dec. 9, with the junior varsity playing at 5 p.m. and the varsity at 6:15 p.m. Then the Lady Mustangs face Groesbeck at 5 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 11, and Waco Robinson at 11:20 a.m. Friday, Dec. 12, that are part of the Robinson Tournament this weekend.
CAPTION: Marble Falls senior center Leslie Reynoso contributes in numerous ways to give the Lady Mustangs a chance at winning. Staff photo by Jennifer Fierro
