Marble Falls boys basketball beats Taylor

CAPTION: Marble Falls junior center Cam Plumlee (23) contributed on both ends of the floor to help the Mustangs sweep the Ducks. Staff photo by Jennifer Fierro

The Marble Falls High School boys basketball team defeated Taylor 67-55 Jan. 31 in District 24-4A to conclude a four-game road trip.

“Our guys were ready to go from the start,” head coach John Berkman said. “We started the game on an 11-0 run. From there we were in total control. We were never behind.”

The Mustangs (15-11, 5-4) led 17-12 after the first quarter, 34-28 at the intermission, and 44-39 after the third period.

Even when Marble Falls might have been tempted to ease up on the pressure, the Mustangs didn’t. They outscored the Ducks (11-14, 2-8) 23-16 in the final stanza.

The coach said the Mustangs “were purposeful” in their plays on both sides of the ball.

And all of that began with the appropriate mindset, he said.

“Our intensity level from the start was at a high level,” he said. “(The Ducks) were shocked at our aggressiveness and intensity. They were shocked that everything they did, we had an answer for. The big deal for our guys is to be able to push back. And we were able to finish. Being able to do all the right things and finish it was big.”

Taylor conducted its senior night before tipoff. Typically teams have an emotional high from that ceremony. But the Mustangs were determined to sweep the season series and not allow Taylor to get comfortable.

“What they threw at us didn’t work,” Berkman said.

Senior post Noah Lyon scored 10 points and grabbed 14 rebounds, while junior center Cam Plumlee finished with 8.

“That was huge,” the coach said. “When your inside guys become a presence, teams have to respect that. It allows our guys to trust our bigs a little more.”

Senior guard Tidus Willie led with 24 points followed by senior forward Garen Jones with 13, and sophomore guard Beckett Berkman added 12.

The win snaps a three-game losing skid, though the Mustangs have played defense well enough to win them all. The challenge has been to be able to respond with buckets when opponents are making a run.

That wasn’t the issue against the Ducks.

“Defensively, we’ve kept teams in check,” Berkman said. “Being able to break out and get scoring – we were due. Our guys are too good to be held down in scoring. Basketball is a game of runs. When one team goes on a run, the other team has to answer with a run of their own.”

Marble Falls welcomes Jarrell Tuesday, Feb. 4, with the junior varsity playing at 5 p.m., the freshmen at 6:30 p.m., and the varsity at 8 p.m. It’s Youth Basketball and Pack the Max Night.

While the win against Taylor helps keep Marble Falls in the playoff hunt with three game remaining, Berkman said the team’s conversations aren’t centered around making the playoffs.

“We talk about the next game is the biggest game of the year,” he said. “We can’t overlook any opponent. We have to be ready and locked in.”

CAPTION: Marble Falls sophomore guard Beckett Berkman was his usual offensive self against Taylor by continuing to score in double figures. Staff photo by Jennifer Fierro