Faith Academy boys basketball preparing now to get big goal

CAPTION: Jase Marshall’s ability to draw the defense opens the lane for his teammates. Staff photo by Jennifer Fierro

Getting players to make the most out of weeks of little to no competition always is a challenge for coaches during the lazy days of summer.

After all, with so many great lakes that are part of the Highland Lakes chain, most would rather be on a boat than in a gym or a weight room.

But not the Faith Academy of Marble Falls boys basketball team. The Flames putting in the work now, especially their top players, has pleased head coach Zakk Revelle. He noted the Flames are paying with their sweat equity, a commitment that extraordinary teams do when few people are looking. They have one goal — to win a state championship.

The year 2021 showed the program what it can do when the Flames advanced to the state tournament.

“We’ve been so close,” Revelle said. “This group has a goal. They want to win the whole thing.”

And they’re willing to put in the work to do it.

All-state point guard Will Slyker is spending his summer playing select basketball. His ability to stretch the defense forces the opponent to guard him and leave center Judah Phillips in one-on-one matchups, which is essential to Faith’s offense.

But the Flames are relying on others to ensure the program continues on its upward trend. Guards Asher Apel and Jase Marshall return as starters and forward Seattle Hampton will be counted on to give quality minutes.

To help prepare for the season, they participated in the Llano Boys Basketball League that began in late May and went four weeks.

Then most of the team competed in the Texas Association of Basketball Coaches Showcase in mid June that drew college coaches and scouts. Revelle and assistant coach Malcolm Canada coached the Flames during the showcase.

Apel has been recovering from an injury while his teammates are on the court. But he is still in the gym on a bike, which sends a clear message to his teammates, Revelle said.

“I can trust him; he’s doing the right thing,” he said. “When your best players are your best people, you make that a better team.”

That commitment displayed the team’s culture and how the players feel about the sport and their respect for one another, the coach said.

“I’m going to do these things and put in the extra time,” he said.

In addition, most of the Flames’ first sport of the year is basketball, which means they’ll participate in a fall league designed to prepare them for the regular season.

To Revelle, the Flames making time to get together to play ball illustrates plenty about the program.

“I think it says a lot about our kids and how much they care,” Revelle said. “It says a lot about their work ethic. Our motto is love each other.”

The coach said he realizes how blessed he is to have a group of players who show the team motto on and off the court. That was apparent during the showcase weekend that required the team spend the night.

“I had an awesome time,” he said. “We had a lot of laughs on the van ride there and being there was great. I don’t want to miss the forest from the trees. We understand it’s special. I think the players understand that, too.”

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