Marble Falls girls basketball is playing in Lampasas league
CAPTION: Hours before the Lady Mustangs made the trip up north to compete in the Lampasas Monday League, Marble Falls girls basketball head coach Adley Canales was on Mustang Stadium’s artificial turf helping Chloe Brown (left) and Leslie Reynoso on the first day of Marble Falls Forge ’24, the department’s summer strength and conditioning program. Staff photo by Jennifer Fierro
The Marble Falls High School girls basketball team competed in the Lampasas Monday League where the Lady Mustangs took on Llano and Copperas Cove.
New head coach Adley Canales noted the Lady Mustangs are adjusting to life without center Lexie Edwards, who graduated. Because of Edwards’ size and ability, her teammates leaned on her for baskets from any spot on the floor and to defend the rim as the last defender.
“You can tell we’re rusty,” he said. “We’re getting used to the new girls and a new team. And playing basketball with this year’s girls. You’re trying to fill a team.”
Lampasas has two teams playing in the league while Burnet and Goldthwaite are each sending one squad. Goldthwaite was a Class 2A state semifinalist last season.
Games begin at 5 p.m. and feature two 18-minutes halves.
The Lady Mustangs had nine players make the trek, which please the new coach because it displays the importance of the sport and program.
“That’s a great number,” Canales said. “We have girls taking vacations and doing their own things.”
The Lady Mustangs are running familiar plays, and he noted they are learning each other’s tendencies.
“We’re getting comfortable with each other,” he said. “We started to build relationships in the preseason, season and into the offseason. We’re learning who likes to do what on the court.”
Rising seniors Bethany Fry, Caitlynn Johnson and Kylie Roberts and rising junior Leslie Reynoso played. All four are returning lettermen with Fry and Roberts as multi-year lettermen. Roberts can play guard, forward and post, which forces defenses to pick who is going to defend her. Reynoso came on strong during District 24-4A play, especially in rebounding where she helped limit opponents’ second chances and snagged a few offensive rebounds for putbacks.
Canales said Fry, Reynoso and Roberts “had big minutes.”
“Kylie is extremely athletic,” the coach said. “She can be a good mismatch. She’s big enough and strong enough to go inside if we need her to.”
Canales said he witnessed some players who may have been timid to shoot last season display some self belief with the basketball.
“You can see it,” he said. “We were playing with new self confidence. They were taking shots you wouldn’t have seen them take in the past. Lexie was the steady rock. They knew they could go to Lexie anytime. Now that she’s not there, they’re having to step out of their comfort zone. We’re looking forward to seeing that continue to grow.”
Another element he’s interested in seeing? Leadership.
“It’s not who’s the loudest but who does the right things all the time,” he said. “Some people personally would rather lead by example.”
The team’s volunteer coach is 2018 graduate Mya Berkman, who recently completed her first year with the GAS Evnikos Women’s basketball team, a professional squad in Greece.
“When Mya was playing, the girls were in middle school and some in elementary school,” Canales said. “They heard about her and know about her. Their eyes are wide open and ears are wide open. She knows so much about basketball and Mya has been a great coach. She’s done a great job of putting it on their level. Obviously she’s still playing. We’re really excited.”
Marble Falls will play both Lampasas teams Monday, June 10, at 5:50 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. at Lampasas High School.
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