Marble Falls basketball player Edwards commits to Howard Payne

Marble Falls High School senior center Lexie Edwards recently committed to Howard Payne University.

The 6-foot and 3-inch athlete plans to sign her National Letter of Intent in the spring.

“I really like the community and the team,” she said. “It’s a great team and environment. I wanted to go somewhere where I could feel comfortable, to a community close to home to see family.”

Howard Payne is located in Brownwood. The way the coaching staff interacted with athletes also left a positive impression, Edwards said.

“They have a very good relationship with the players,” she said. “They care a lot about the players and their personal lives outside of basketball.”

Howard Payne offered her a scholarship, she said, because of her ability to get tough baskets and is unafraid to challenge for rebounds.

“My post moves and the way I work inside and how I rebound,” she said. “And how I can shoot the 15-footer.”

That is her signature shot from the free throw line when she moves to high post. Some defenders don’t believe she is consistently good at hitting that shot. After a couple of made buckets, the opposing coach is calling a timeout.

Edwards recently pulled down the 500th rebound of her career. Not bad for player who got the honor early in her fourth year on the varsity.

“It was exciting,” she said. “I knew I was close to it. It’s about a mentality. Rebounding is about effort.”

Marble Falls head coach John Berkman has said Edwards, who’s the team’s lone senior, has been a solid leader and encourager to her teammates, particularly those who are on the varsity for the first time. He also said there’s one part of her game he’d like to see improvement.

“Free throws,” he said. “If she could stick with it and be tough and knock down free throws. She’s done a great job of sticking with it.”

Edwards plans to major in business to open her own interior design firm.

The Lady Mustangs are using the pre-district schedule to create chemistry and to get to know each other’s tendencies. Edwards said the team is improving, and she has a lot of confidence in everyone’s ability.

“We’re getting comfortable with each other, we’re getting better,” she said. “We’re improving a lot.”

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