Marble Falls boys basketball using the summer to pave the way to success
CAPTION: Putting in the sweat equity to be the best he can be is all part of Greg Lemon’s summer plans. Staff photo by Jennifer Fierro
Returning a program to the glory it enjoyed is a months’ long process that takes time, dedication, patience and commitment.
That’s what is before the Marble Falls High School boys basketball program and new head coach John Berkman. The program won a share of the 2022-23 District 24-4A title, its first in almost two decades.
Rising seniors Garen Jones, Noah Lyon and Tidus Willie make up the core of the returners.
“We have a good nucleus of seniors coming back,” Berkman said. “Seven or eight is quite a few. I think there’s a little bit of uncertainty for them.”
While Berkman isn’t new to the players — he was the head coach of the Lady Mustangs for almost a decade — he is new to the boys locker room. He’s been at the helm of the boys basketball program since April 23.
“They’re getting to know how I coach and getting to know what I do,” he said. “The plan is to win games, make the playoffs and compete for district titles. They needed somebody to come in and rebuild trust. That comes through hard competition. I think they also have have to understand where they fit individually in the plan. There’s only one Tidus. What is everybody else’s role? We have to get everybody on the same page and get everyone to play selflessly. I have to understand who they are as a player.”
Understanding a player’s role and that athlete embracing that role are vital to the success of the program, Berkman said. A Marble Falls teammate of his more than two decades ago embraced his role, which often meant not scoring a whole lot or putting up eye-popping stats. Austin Shell was the Mustangs’ defensive stopper and was willing to take on the opponents’ best shooter and shut him down.
“He was a defensive guy we were going to put on their stud,” the coach said. “He had that tough cowboy mentality. That’s who he was, and he understood that.”
Each player knowing how he contribute to the overall success of the team is a big part of the summer. It’s why the Mustangs competing in the Georgetown Summer League each Tuesday and Wednesday, which starts at 6 p.m., has been incredibly important. That’s how athletes show coaches what they can do and the role they can fill that helps the overall team goals.
“Their role hasn’t been defined for them,” Berkman said. “District titles? They know they can do it. We have to teach kids to be mentally tough. That translates in life. That’s a big piece of the puzzle.”
Marble Falls Summer Forge ’24, the athletic department’s summer strength and conditioning program, started June 3 with 115 high school athletes in attendance. Some basketball players make their way to the gym before the start of Summer Forge to work on sport-specific skills. Following Forge, those who play football stayed to participate in drills for that sport.
Berkman said the schedule forces him to get up a little earlier, a trade he is happily making in order to help his athletes become the players they want to be.
“We did basketball with the guys we had,” he said. “I think (strength and conditioning) is important for all of our athletes. It’s a different way to work on our craft. We have to get everybody else on the same page. That goes to the training they’ll do during the summer.
“Those guys are in the gym every day,” he added. “They’re working on their shooting and ball handling. Those guys are putting in the time. If you want to be on that level, you have to be willing to put in the work. It’s a good teaching tool. It’s a good reminder of the work.”
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