Marble Falls boys basketball loses to Salado

CAPTION: Marble Falls senior post Kaleb Bielfeldt catches this pass to attempt a shot near the basket. Staff photo by Jennifer Fierro

The Marble Falls High School boys basketball team lost to Salado 61-44 Jan. 6 in District 24-4A play.

The Eagles (18-5, 2-0) took a 25-10 lead in the first quarter behind the shooting of sophomore shooting guard Ke’Koa Rose, who dropped in four of his seven 3-pointers and made both of his free throws. He finished with 25 points for the contest, 14 in the opening stanza to help his team build a 15-point lead. 

And though the Mustangs (7-13, 0-2) got outscored 15-12 in the second period and 15-11 in the third and won the fourth 11-6, that first quarter paved the way for the outcome. 

“The first half really hurt us,” Marble Falls head coach John Berkman said. “The second half we actually won by a point. That’s a solid second half to come back out, not just give in and let that balloon to a 40-point game. And so that’s a big positive for us.”

Berkman said the Mustangs knew about Rose, who is one of five underclassmen on the team. The other Eagle in double figures, senior forward Bryson Byers, scored eight of his 12 points in the third quarter. 

“We knew they could all shoot,” he said. “He had quite a few 3-pointers himself, but they had four different guys make 3-pointers. Sometimes that happens. We knew that (Rose) was their best shooter for sure, and he got away from us. That’s on us. We have to be better at knowing where he’s at and keeping up with him.”

Berkman said the half-time talk wasn’t about scheme.

“It was a lot about effort more than anything,” he said. “You can run hard, but you have to have some effort in your intelligence, too, and knowing where you’re at, and knowing what’s going on, knowing who they have or who we have and being able to help with that is a big deal. And so I think for us, that’s just part of the game that we’re still trying to tackle and be aware of.” 

Junior forward Marc Barrios led the Mustangs with 14 points followed by junior guard Beckett Berkman with 13 thanks to nailing three 3-pointers, junior forward Cooper Gray with seven, senior post Kaleb Bielfeldt and junior guard Cypress Neve each added three, and junior center Vance Levert and senior guard Gregory Lemon each finished with two.  

Marble Falls scored thirteen 2-pointers, five 3-pointers and were 3 for 10 from the foul line.  The Mustangs had 26 rebounds, eight assists, 10 steals and three blocks.  

Salado dropped in eight 2-pointers, ten 3-pointers and were 15 for 20 from the foul line. The Eagles grabbed 32 rebounds and eight steals and dished out 13 assists and a block.

This is the third game in a row where an opponent has enjoyed a solid shooting night in Max Copeland Gym. 

Last week, the Burnet Bulldogs beat the Mustangs 43-38 thanks to connecting on nine 3-pointers with six coming from senior guard J.J. Whigham, who scored 18 points.  

The Lady Mustangs lost to Brownwood 53-25 with the Lady Lions dropping in nine 3-pointers.

And now Salado dropped in 10 from behind the arc.

“We’ve just have to do a better job of making teams uncomfortable,” Berkman said. “When they’re in here, our defense has to be better, better mindset of what we’re trying to accomplish on defense and flying around and that will make them a little more uncomfortable and help the gym not be so kind to them.” 

CAPTION: Marble Falls junior forward Cooper Gray stayed in the lane to protect the basket. Staff photo by Jennifer Fierro