Faith Academy boys basketball crushes San Marcos Academy
CAPTION: Faith Academy junior center Judah Phillips continues to use his tall frame to tower over the competition. Contributed photos by Stennis Shotts
The Faith Academy of Marble Falls boys basketball team demolished San Marcos Academy 75-36 Jan. 7 to go to 2-0 in District 4-3A play of the Texas Association of Private and Parochial Schools.
“(The Bears) are very young, but we knew they’d play hard,” Flames head coach Zakk Revelle said. “There was a lot of zone (defenses) and a lot of jump shots.”
The Flames used their stingy defense to force poor shots, turnovers and steals they turned into high-percentage shots.
“Everything started on the defensive end,” Revelle said. “We got them to turn the ball over. There was a running clock the entire second half.”
Revelle said the zone defense has benefits for his players. Top of the list is they’re not following the opponent, which tires them out. That is especially true for posts and centers who exert a lot of energy defending the lane by using their bodies to hold spots and force opponents into shooting positions they don’t want.
“We have kids who play really hard,” the coach said. “Obviously when you man up, you know who you’re guarding. We happen to have good length and athletes. We press a little bit. And once you cross the half-court line, you can’t go backward. We have different traps and different looks. These are high school kids we’re battling. The fact is we play guys who can’t change their offense at the drop of a hat.”
Revelle was happy with the defensive performance and noted this team plays that end well.
“The (2020-21) Final Four team was the best defensive team because they could run anything,” he said. “With this team, we’ve tried different things. This group has bought into doing that. The zone is keeping guys not so beat up and tired.”
Sophomore guard Will Slyker led with 28 points followed by junior center Judah Phillips with 13, junior guard Jase Marshall added 10 and sophomore forward Seattle Hampton finished with 7.
“We got points from the starters and almost everyone scored,” the coach said. “Everyone got to play. We were glad to get out with a win. Everyone got quality experience.”
The Flames host Austin San Juan Diego at 6 p.m. Tuesday, Jan. 14, San Antonio Lutheran Thursday, Jan. 16, in a doubleheader with the girls, who play at 6 p.m. with the boys to follow, then end the week by traveling to play at Waco Live Oak Saturday, Jan. 18. The girls tip off at 1 p.m. followed by the boys varsity at 3 p.m.
