Faith Academy boys basketball completes comeback against Waco Bishop Reicher

CAPTION: Faith Academy freshman guard Will Slyker (12) and the Flames pick up another crucial victory to remain atop of the District 3-3A standings of the Texas Association of Private and Parochial Schools. Photo by Stennis Shotts

The Faith Academy of Marble Falls boys basketball team beat Waco Bishop Reicher 59-56 Jan. 16 to improve to 3-0 in District 3-3A play of the Texas Association of Private and Parochial Schools.

“What we learned was how to win ugly,” Flames head coach Zakk Revelle said. “I don’t think we played super well.”

Faith freshman guard Will Slyker sank two free throws with 12 seconds left to give his team the 3-point win.

The last possession of the contest summed up the game.

The Flames, after getting a defensive stop when senior guard Gabe Lopez helped ensure the Cougars didn’t get an open look at a shot attempt, had the ball and were trying to run out the clock. Somehow the ball became loose and the Cougars bent to try to get it.

Faith junior guard Asher Apel, however, dived in the mix and battled to knock the ball loose on the court with four seconds left. Revelle compared it to a fumble in football where players on both sides jump on the pile.

Since two basketball players didn’t tie the ball up, officials didn’t stop play to call for a jump ball. That allowed the clock to expire and the horn to sound to end the game.

“That was the defining moment,” the coach said. “It caused enough chaos. (Apel) got on the floor first and made the play. That’s a win in my opinion. It was a cool way to end it cause it summarized the whole game.”

The Flames had a five-point lead at the half.

“We were never in a flow offensively,” the coach said.

That was more apparent in the third quarter where the Cougars took a 44-38 lead when Faith scored 7 points.

“It felt like there was a lid on the rim,” Revelle said. “We got good looks. They weren’t going in (but) the shots were good.”

Revelle was proud of his players as they “continued to fight” in the final stanza by scoring 21 points and allowed 12.

“That’s the chance for a young team to pack it in,” he said of the deficit. “It was a gritty win. Something else we did well in the fourth quarter was we got shots with the guys we wanted to get shots.”

Freshman guard Will Slyker scored 24 points while Lopez added 16.

Revelle commended Reicher head coach Gary Hall for having his athletes ready to play.

“He’s in his second year and if our district did coach of the year, I’d vote for that guy,” Revelle said. “They’ve added a freshman and a transfer with the same group of kids. They’re so much better. They played really well.”

Faith Academy welcomes Bryan Christian Brazos Thursday, Jan. 18. The boys junior varsity plays at 6 p.m., the girls varsity at 6 p.m., and boys varsity at 7:30 p.m. They also host Waco Live Oak Saturday, Jan. 20, with the boys junior varsity taking the court at noon, the varsity girls at 1:15 p.m., and the varsity boys at 2:30 p.m.

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CAPTION: Faith senior guard Gabe Lopez causes havoc for opponents thanks to his drives to the basket and his defense. Photo by Stennis Shotts