Marble Falls boys hoops uses summer to improve for next season

CAPTION: The Marble Falls High School subvarsity boys summer league team includes Derek Gonzalez (left), Cy Neve, Charlie Martin, Cameron Plumlee, Beckett Berkman, Carter Hughes, Payton Gaser, Glenn Banton, Branson Bunting, Vance Levert and Cooper Gray. Courtesy photo

The Marble Falls High School boys basketball program completed a very successful month of playing in two summer leagues.

The varsity traveled to Georgetown, while the subvarsity competed at Lampasas.

The subvarsity had two coaches: former Marble Falls Middle School coach Brenda Gonzalez and Brett Carter.

“I talked to (head coach Travis) Crain and asked him what he wanted,” coach Gonzalez said. “He wanted them to learn the offense, play man-to-man and (basic) zone defenses. We don’t want to be just a fastbreak team. They’re already training in the offense and running it smooth.”

The subvarsity has two juniors and rest are freshmen and sophomores. They are Glenn Banton, Beckett Berkman, Branson Bunting, Payton Gaser, Derek Gonzalez, Cooper Gray, Carter Hughes, Vance Levert, Charlie Martin, Cy Neve and Cameron Plumlee.

“They help each other out,” said coach Gonzalez, Derek Gonzalez’s aunt. “I’m seeing them help each other out and communicate. As soon as they come out, they’re high-fiving everyone, they’re building each other up in the game, and getting everyone to play well.”

The varsity team members were Jaime Castillo, Cooper Cochran, Gannon Curran, Garen Jones, Maverick Lawson, Zay Lazos, Reed Lewis, Noah Lyon, Kody Smith and Tidus Willie. Their coach was Jose Gonzalez. They won the silver bracket of the Georgetown League.

While running up and down the court to run up the score makes the sport fun, Brenda Gonzalez noted the Mustangs want to be able to score in a variety of ways and have multiple players contributing.

“I saw and heard the big guys have been better,” she said. “They’re starting to get more involved and making the moves. We’re making the offensive plays and getting aggressive on rebounding. There was a big difference between game one and game two. We’re talking to them and getting them to feel more comfortable. We’re making moves and getting rebounds.”

She was equally high on the guards, noting after a chat with them, they began to play their best.

“The guards are starting to drive in,” she said. “I told them, ‘It’s just basketball.’ Some of the kids had gone to only one practice, it’s vacation time. They were more relaxed. Some were trying to do too much. I told them just to have fun.”

Crain commended the athletes for playing and thanked the coaches for volunteering their time.

“Proud of the work our guys have done and continue to do this summer,” he said. “We’re constantly learning and trying to improve. Summer leagues provide that opportunity for us.”

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CAPTION: The Marble Falls Mustangs varsity team is Garen Jones (standing, left), Reed Lewis, Tidus Willie, Jaime Castillo, Kody Smith, Gannon Curran, Noah Lyon, Maverick Lawson, Zay Lazos, Cooper Cochran and coach Jose Gonzalez (kneeling). Courtesy photo