Marble Falls boys basketball bonds over SAISD tourney wins, gift exchange, the Spurs

The Marble Falls High School boys basketball team finished 2-2 at the San Antonio Independent School District tournament Dec. 7-9.

But it was the time spent away from the competition that may serve the Mustangs in huge ways the remainder of the season.

The Mustangs beat San Antonio Breckenridge 60-52 Dec. 9 and San Antonio Burbank 82-77 Dec. 8 in the nightcap. They began the tournament losses to Floresville 52-46 Dec. 8 and to San Antonio Warren 47-30 Dec. 7.

“We couldn’t get anything going against Warren,” Crain said. “We were down 12 or 15 at the half. We had our chances in the first quarter. We played them even in the second half. We didn’t start that first quarter well against Warren.”

The Mustangs began the second day of the tournament determined to create a different outcome. They faced Floresville first.

“We were neck and neck with them and tied late,” the coach said. “We ran out of time. It was tied at 44-44. We were in that game all the way through. We fouled at the end. If we’d had another two minutes, we’d be close to winning.”

Crain said the Mustangs’ shooting touch was apparent against Burbank.

“We got hot early,” he said.

Senior forward Cooper Cochran scored 8 of his 14 points in the first quarter and senior guard Kody Smith ended the game with 35 points.

And Marble Falls kept that hot streak going against Breckenridge.

“That was a total team game,” the coach said. “We had multiple people in double figures. We moved the ball well. We were able to take advantage of things offensively.”

Breckenridge struggled to decide who to defend and what to stop, he said.

The Mustangs faced Breckenridge the day after watching the San Antonio Spurs lose to the Chicago Bulls 121-112. Crain noted very few of his players had ever attended an NBA contest, and it was an experience the staff didn’t tell them was coming until the afternoon of Dec. 6.

Coaches used that game to illustrate a couple of key points to the Mustangs like setting their feet before taking a shot and how to properly land when jumping.

“One of my players was sitting next to me,” Crain said. “We were high up. You could see plays develop, you could see the Spurs and Bulls do the scheme. Basketball is just basketball. It was the best film or practice experience. They could see some of the things we’re preaching. The guys in the NBA are doing those things. It was a bonding experience through the roof.”

On the first night, the Mustangs conducted their Secret Santa gift exchange and reveal, which also served as a team bonding experience.

“It’s interesting because the talk has been that we don’t feel like we’re that far away from where we were this time last year,” he said. “This tournament gave us an opportunity to get away and come together a little more.”

Marble Falls welcomes San Antonio Davenport Tuesday, Dec. 12. The sub varsities play at 5:15 p.m. and the boys varsities tip off after the Lady Mustangs conclude their game against the Texas Lions.