Marble Falls boys basketball looks to continue what the Mustangs started

CAPTION: Marble Falls senior center Cameron Plumlee has gotten better in many areas during the offseason, and the Mustangs are looking to reap the rewards. Staff photo by Jennifer Fierro

The Marble Falls High School boys basketball team begins the 2025-26 season by welcoming Cedar Park Vista Ridge Tuesday, Nov. 11.

The subvarsities play at 5 p.m. and the varsity follows at 6:30 p.m.

Head coach John Berkman, who is entering his second year at the helm, welcomes back several experienced and driven upperclassmen. They include seniors Kaleb Bielfeldt and Cameron Plumlee, and juniors Marc Barrios, Beckett Berkman and Cypress Neve.

“I’d describe my upperclassmen as a group of gritty players who are hungry to win, and they are working hard day in and day out to do the things that it’s gonna take for us to be successful,” John Berkman said. To me that’s huge. As a coach, you want upperclassmen who are going to be leaders vocally of course, but definitely in their example by what they’re willing to do and the effort they’re willing to put forth, and this group is really doing that.”

Newcomers include senior Gregory Lemon and juniors Cooper Gray, Logan Guerrero, Vance Levert and Charlie Martin.

“Greg brings some incredible speed for us and athleticism that you don’t coach – it’s natural. And he can do some things,” Berkman said. “Cooper and Logan are good shooters from the outside and allow us to put pressure on some teams defensively. Charlie will also be a good shooter for us. You look for some toughness from him. We’re excited about Vance. He hit a growth spurt the past six months and has really grown. We also have a move-in in our program, Colby Kitchen. He’s about 6-2, 6-3, who’s just a really tough, strong kid who will help us on the defensive end and really helps us rebound and score.”

The Mustangs lost in the first round of the Class 4A Division I playoffs to Waco La Vega after they finished fourth in District 24-4A last season.

Berkman believes one trait drives this group and fuels their fire, he said.

“Their love of the game,” he said. “They truly enjoy basketball. They’re constantly asking if they can get in the gym, constantly looking for way to go play. Their love of the game adds to their competitiveness and drive to be want to be successful.”

That will be important as the Mustangs look to navigate their way through what the coach believes will be an even tougher battle in District 24-4A. That’s because of the number of returners to each district opponent and the coaches who get the most out of their players.

Lampasas, which was the district runner-up a year ago and returns perhaps the most complete big man in senior Beau Patterson, who stands 7 feet tall. He is one of six seniors on the roster. Though Roy Kiser retired, the reins of the Burnet Bulldogs has been turned over to Juston Weldon, who was an assistant on Kiser’s staff for a couple of years. Weldon was the head coach at Blanco, who guided the Panthers to at least 20 wins in a season before joining the Burnet staff.

While the district campaign may be tough, Berkman’s approach to the sport — being unafraid to compete coupled with relentless defense — is why the Lady Mustangs enjoyed a lot of success while he was their head coach. They went to at least three regional tournaments and had other players sign to play on the next level.

“I hope that any team that I coach does take on that mentality of not being afraid of anybody you play,” he said. “That’s the goal. That’s how we want to play, whether it’s a playoff game or whether it’s a preseason tournament game or whether it’s a district game against Burnet that’s a big rival. We want to create the mentally of tough players that understand that no moment is too big for them to take on. Some people shy away from the pressure, but we want our players to feel like pressure is a privilege. If you’re feeling the pressure, it means that you are getting the opportunity to perform in a big moment, and we want them to be ready for that and want them to be prepared so that they are not afraid of it.”   

CAPTION: Junior guard Beckett Berkman is a returning starter and will be a big key to the team’s success. Staff photo by Jennifer Fierro