Faith Academy boys hoops crush Central Texas Christian

CAPTION: Faith Academy’s Quinton Merlick splits the Temple Central Texas defense with the aim of scoring. Staff photo by Jennifer Fierro

The Faith Academy of Marble Falls boys basketball team scorched Temple Central Texas Christian 66-36 Jan. 20 in District 4-3A play of the Texas Association of Private and Parochial Schools.

The Flames led 19-9 after the first quarter, 42-17 at the half, and 60-24 going into the final stanza.

With two minutes remaining in the third period, officials went to a running clock since Faith led 60-22. By then head coach Zakk Revelle had emptied the bench.

He explained the win in one sentence.

“We got stop and we made shots,” he said. “And that’s what basketball is. That’s why I joke that it’s the most unpredictable game. Kudos to our guys for bouncing back like that (after losing to Waco Live Oak Jan. 17). I think that says a lot about them.”

Coming into the game, CTC made the decision to limit the touches of Faith senior center Judah Phillips, who averages about 25 points a contest by using a version of a 1-3-1 look with a Lion who stayed with Phillips.

All that did was force other Flames to step up, and they delivered.

Sophomore guard Jadyn Jenkins scored 16 points followed by junior forward Seattle Hampton with 13, and senior guard Jase Marshall with 11.

“It just kind of turned into almost like a diamond where they were just trapping everywhere, and we honestly weren’t expecting that,” Revelle said. “They never ran it (before). So really good job of our guys adjusting.”

The Flames scored 20 two-point field goals, five 3-pointers and made 9 of 16 foul shots.

Meanwhile, the Flames continued to refuse to give up anything easy on the other end.

“Ultimately, that is what’s going to help you to win games, and I think that our defensive intensity and just our connectiveness and our communication was really good,” the coach said. “And I think that’s why we won the game. It had nothing to do with offense.” 

The first round of district play ended Jan. 20 and Faith suffered its first district home loss in seven years to Live Oak.

“We take pride in protecting our home court,” Revelle said. “We knew that this was a big one (against CTC) because of the way that they had played. And so we’re just thankful to have gotten out with a win, and now the focus goes solely on Keystone.” 

That’s why it was important to the Flames to get back on familiar track against CTC. The Falcons sit atop of the standings at 6-0 while Faith is second at 5-1.

“We’re just happy to be in the spot that we’re in,” Revelle said. “The goal at the beginning of the year was to make the playoffs. That’s everybody’s goal. This year we only get four (playoff spots). Last year (TAPPS officials) let five in.”

Now the Flames get ready to face San Antonio Keystone (3-3) in district play Friday, Jan. 23, with the junior varsity playing at 5 p.m., the girls varsity at 6 p.m., and the boys varsity at 7:30 p.m.

“That’s a big game Friday because we have to go handle them,” the coach said. “And if we go and take care of our business on Friday, it just continues to put us in the driver’s seat for a playoff game. We want to be playing at the end of the year, so we have to take care of business to get there.”

CAPTION: Faith Academy’s Michael Wetzel plays solid defense. Staff photo by Jennifer Fierro