Ten Highland Lakes Sports Insights

CAPTION: Marble Falls senior guard Tea Rodriguez shoots as two Burnet Lady Dawgs defend, while Burnet junior MaeSyn Gay blocks out Marble Falls junior center Lexie Edwards. Photo by Martelle Luedecke/Luedecke Photography

The basketball season has turned to district play right around the time soccer season is about to heat up. And very shortly, spring sports will officially begin after-school practices. As always the spring semester will be busier than the fall with more sports happening, and that means a greater opportunity for incredible memories and historical moments. Since there’s roughly three months left in the basketball season, we’re going to start on the hardwood and the weekend’s most anticipated match-up.

1. That was at Max Copeland Gym where the Marble Falls Lady Mustangs welcomed the Burnet Lady Dawgs in the District 24-4A opener for both teams. I was quite curious about this contest for several reasons outside of the fact that it’s the biggest county rivalry. I saw it as a match-up in philosophies. The Lady Mustangs (13-12, 0-1) have played in some incredibly tough contests including against three opponents ranked in the top 10 of Class 4A and tournaments featuring some Class 5A and 6A opponents in Corpus Christi and Mansfield. Meanwhile, the Lady Dawgs have been meticulous in their schedule, choosing to stay close to home, and battling Austin area teams where they could sleep in their own beds at night. They also took a bye Jan. 3 while the Lady Mustangs traveled to Brownwood where they won. Obviously none of that matters now as every team goes to a 0-0 record when district play starts. And yet, the Lady Dawgs walked into the Max and walked out with a 43-29 victory. So how did they do it? By beating the Lady Mustangs at their own game. Marble Falls slowed the pace and didn’t allow Burnet to unleash its transition offense. The result was that Marble Falls got very few second-chance opportunities thanks to the rebounding efforts of juniors MaeSyn Gay and Zaria Solis. Burnet attacked the Marble Falls defense by allowing Gay to run the offense and draw the defense then dumping to Solis for high-percentage shots. The Lady Dawgs double-teamed senior guard Tea Rodriguez and junior post Lexie Edwards in an effort to remove them from the offense. And it worked. Marble Falls head coach John Berkman was right in saying the game came down to which team made more shots, noting the Lady Mustangs missed quite a few and the Lady Dawgs made theirs. But make no mistake, Burnet walked in with a game plan and executed it to perfection. Credit the Lady Dawgs for walking into the Max as a defending district champion and playing like it — with workers’ mentality of simply getting a task accomplished. And their next game doesn’t get easier as they travel to Lampasas Tuesday, Jan. 10, to take on a Lady Badgers squad (21-8, 1-0) that believes it should be in the conversation for the district championship. Meanwhile the Lady Mustangs travel to face Jarrell. Both games start at 6:30 p.m. Let’s make one statement very clear. While Burnet was absolutely the better team (the scoreboard doesn’t lie), it’s one game in an eight-game race. And the rematch will be as impactful when it happens in The Doghouse in two weeks.
2. The Marble Falls Mustangs put together their finest game of the season in a 72-41 victory against Florence Jan. 6. That was a beautiful contest to watch because of how the Mustangs scored in their half-court sets, transition and press. They also got just about everyone involved. It really felt like the Mustangs turned a corner in their season where the athletes are playing with confidence, can see the growth in themselves and in each other, and believe they are capable of accomplishing their goals. Can’t emphasize enough the rapport the Mustangs showed on the court, especially with ball movement in how they set up their teammates. There’s a trust in each other that was apparent in how they shared the ball. It’s what makes this sport so incredible to watch. The District 24-4A campaign will start at home against Lampasas at 7 p.m. Friday, Jan. 13, after taking a district-wide bye Tuesday, Jan. 10.
3. The Burnet Bulldogs look equally solid on the hardwood thanks to a 77-49 win against Stephenville Jan. 6. Some may overlook the Bulldogs because they aren’t physically imposing. And that would be a mistake. Burnet has quality outside shooters and a commitment to defense that give opponents fits. This game was exactly what the Bulldogs needed as they turn their attention to Georgetown Gateway in the district opener at 7 p.m. Friday, Jan. 13, at The Doghouse.
4. The Faith Academy Flames earned their second win in District 3-3A of the Texas Association of Private and Parochial Schools with a 73-29 victory against Temple Holy Trinity. The Flames are on a quest to capture their fourth consecutive district crown and play the last weekend of the season at the state tournament. These Flames have the intangibles in place to be talked about as one of the greatest Highland Lakes sports teams of all time if they can add several trophies to their cabinet. Faith returns to The Fire Pit Tuesday, Jan. 10, when it hosts Central Texas Christian in a double-header with the Lady Flames at 6 p.m. and 7:30 p.m.
5. The Smoking For Jesus Eagles earned a big road win against Lometa 85-67 Jan. 10, their first in five tries. The Eagles have quietly won five of their last six contests and are playing the way head coach Boo Maxwell thought they could. He noted the players have always been confident about their offense. Now their defensive play is getting better, and that’s bad for opposing teams. Going into the Lometa contest, the Eagles were ranked No. 4 in the Texas Association of Independent Athletic Organizations poll with senior guard Isaac Legier as the No. 2 player in the association, senior center Bryson Culver at No. 3, and senior guard Jonathan Frazier at No. 5. Smoking For Jesus has a big road match at San Antonio Town East Christian, an opponent the Eagles beat three times last season, at 5:30 p.m. Monday, Jan. 9. Then they return home to face Austin Savio in a 6 p.m. contest Tuesday, Jan. 10.
6. The Llano Lady Jackets also acquired a huge 32-25 road victory at Florence Jan. 6 to begin District 5-3A play. The Lady Jackets’ big offensive threat was senior forward Lillie Coplin, who dropped in 20 points thanks to hitting six 3-pointers. Llano led 23-8 at the half. Credit the Lady Jackets for playing well enough, particularly on defense, to escape with a victory and put themselves in a position to contend for a playoff berth. A crucial three-game stretch awaits them beginning with the home game against Comfort that was moved to Wednesday, Jan. 11, at 6:15 p.m. because of a funeral of a Comfort student that’s scheduled for Tuesday, Jan. 10.
7. The Llano Yellow Jackets also seized an incredible victory in beating San Angelo Lake View 62-45 Jan. 6. The Jackets look like they are figuring out how to be more offensive with guard Fitz Kennedy and forward Charlie White. Their 11 and 10 points, respectively, coupled with guard Weston Baker’s 26 gives the Jackets a trio of juniors that’s hard to defend. This game is exactly what was needed as the Jackets look to finish their pre-district schedule strong that ends with a road game at Lometa at 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, Jan. 10.
8. Let’s switch to the gridiron and talk a little soccer. The Burnet Lady Dawgs went on a tear at the Waco La Vega Tournament in going 4-0 at the event. But it was the manner in which they won that turned heads: 6-0 against Corsicana, 6-1 against Killeen Ellison, 4-0 against China Spring, and 8-0 against Waco Harmony. The Lady Dawgs have 13 players returning from a squad that advanced to the 2022 Class 4A Region III tournament. Burnet is now a member of District 25-4A in Region IV along with Austin Achieve, Florence, Georgetown Gateway, Jarrell, Lago Vista and Marble Falls. While the Lady Dawgs are familiar with most of their district, the region will be new and the bi-district match-up with District 26 will be very tough. That district includes Boerne, Comal Canyon Lake, Comal Davenport, Fredericksburg and Wimberley. The Lady Dawgs will get a good look at the Lady Hawks when the two meet in Canyon Lake at 7 p.m. Tuesday, Jan. 10. Burnet hosts its own tournament beginning with Taylor at 10:30 a.m. and Pflugerville Connally at 7:30 p.m. both on Thursday, Jan. 12, and Canyon Randall at 10:30 a.m. Friday, Jan. 13.
9. The Marble Falls Mustangs ended their time at the Governor’s Cup in Georgetown with a 6-2 win against Austin Crockett Jan. 7 after beating Brownwood 3-2 Jan. 6 and Salado 1-0 Jan. 5. Head coach Rick Hoover called this a showcase, not a tournament, because of the large number of college coaches who were there to watch and take notes on players they see. That was another reason why the Mustangs playing so well was so vitally important during the weekend. The Mustangs return home at 7 p.m. Tuesday, Jan. 10, to host Comal Canyon Lake, which might be a preview to a possible playoff match later in the season.
10. The Marble Falls Lady Mustangs competed at the Blue Bell Invitational in Brenham Jan. 5-7 where they won their first contest, tied their second and ended the tournament with a win. Marble Falls travels to Brownwood Tuesday, Jan. 10, for a 6 p.m. kick-off and competes in the Belton Blast tournament Friday and Saturday, Jan. 13-14. Needless to say, soccer will be a lot of fun to cover in 2023.

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