Faith Academy girls basketball loses to Providence

CAPTION: Faith Academy sophomore guard Olivia Kraenzel did her part to give the Lady Flames chance at a road win. Staff photo by Jennifer Fierro

The Faith Academy of Marble Falls girls basketball team lost to Belton Providence Prep 28-23 Nov. 18.

Head coach Harvey Vaughn noted several positives. The biggest is that a year ago, the Lady Flames (1-2) lost to this same opponent 65-30.

“It was a very physical game with not very many fouls called, which is why it was so low scoring,” he said. “It was very difficult to score, not necessarily that the team’s played poorly offensively. When you’re going all out physically and are getting pulled and scratched and pushed on every shot by two or three people — and it was called both ways — It’s difficult to score. It was very, very physical and aggressive defense on both sides. We had our opportunities to score enough points to win, and we just didn’t take the opportunities.” 

He noted the score at the end of the first period was 5-1 and that Faith had a four-point lead going into the final stanza.

“I think we just lost a little bit of focus there,” the coach said. “With about four minutes to go in the game, it was tied. And one of the things you have to teach a young is when it’s time to play, it’s time to play. And when it’s time to win, you have to elevate your execution and really focus on doing what you do best. Because mistakes are much more costly in the last four minutes.”

Faith was 3 for 16 at the foul line and Vaughn pointed out the Lady Flames’ field goal shooting also was a challenge.

“We had lot of quality shots that just didn’t fall,” he said. “They weren’t bad shots, they didn’t miss badly, they were probably an inch or two off and barely hitting the back of the rim or the side. We had our chances. We just didn’t convert when we got what we wanted. So there’s definitely room for improvement.”

Senior post Natalie Weems led with nine points followed by sophomore guard Olivia Kraenzel with seven, junior guard Lilly Koziel added six and junior post Megan Burrows finished with one.

“It’s definitely going to help us,” the coach said. “Obviously we’ve made progress and we did a lot of things right in this game, but obviously with that kind of physicality, it begins to expose your weaknesses. If you don’t dribble the ball well, or if you’re not keeping your head up, or if you’re not going hard to the rebounds, it exposes your weaknesses. And it gives me something to focus on for the next game and realizing what we need to really focus on to get better.” 

He noted consistency of focus and effort are program pillars and are keys to success.

“When you’re up two points, and there’s three minutes to go in the game, you really want to take every possession as the most important possession,” Vaughn said. “You can’t turn it over and you have to get a good shot every time. And that’s where we’re at. The young ones don’t get that yet, and we’re learning.”

Faith welcomes Austin Veritas at 6 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 20, then plays in the Veritas Tournament Monday and Tuesday, Nov. 24-25.

CAPTION: Faith Academy junior guard Lilly Koziel helps steady the Lady Flames. Staff photo by Jennifer Fierro