Sports

Marble Falls opens its season with an 11 a.m. tipoff Tuesday, Nov. 22 with the Georgetown East View Patriots visiting Max Copeland Gym.

The Mustangs will open with returning starters Andrew Stripling, Keegan Deering and Cade Jarvis manning the front court.

The Mustangs also return veteran guards Josh Mosley and Kameron Wright. Wright, a senior, missed must of last season with a broken hand, but returns to fill the point guard role.

Others on the varsity are Zach Spruill, Andre Hooper, Paxton Friedrichs and Sam Harkins.

By Mark Goodson

Highlander Sports Editor

Molly Myrick converted a steal into a layup adn the team hit six of eight free throws in the final 1:56 of the Lady Mustangs' 51-45 win over New Braunfels to open the First United Marble Falls Tournament on Thursday.

Marble Falls (3-0) had to hold off the Unicorns to earn their third straight win of the season.

The Lady Mustangs are back on the court at 7:30 p.m. Thursday San Antonio Warren and then again at 1:30 p.m. Friday against San Anonio O'Connor to wind up pool play.

Against New Braunfels, the Lady Mustangs rallied with a 12-4 run to close the game.

Leading scorers were Aspen  Woerner and Mya McMillian with 11 points each. Myrick finshed with nine points and Eileen Neri had seven key points in teh low-post attack.

Aubree Adams dominated on the glass with six second half rebounds.

Follow the Lady Mustangs in The Highlander

Mark Goodson

Highlander Sports Editor

Marble Falls coach Anthony Torns said he was proud of the way the Lady Mustangs cross country team competed in 2016, but he wasn’t satisfied with finishing 16^th as a team in the Class 5A division of the UIL state meet Saturday at Old Settlers Park.

The Lady Mustangs had two seniors wrap up their high school cross country careers and four freshmen get a taste of competing on the big stage.

The Lady Mustangs top finisher was freshman Jaden Johnson in 65^th with a time of 19:38.34. It was more than two minutes behind the standout winning pace by McKinney North freshman London Culbreath.

And no the Lady Mustangs were just glad to be here.

“I would never say that,’’ Torns said of the second Lady Mustangs team to make it to state. The 2002 team made it to state when the girls ran at two-mile course.

Faith Academy senior Sophie McCannon, an eight-time state champion runner, has signed with Abilene Christian University.

“I am extremely proud of Sophie,’’ said Faith Academy athletic director Randy Denton. “For a bar that was already set high when she arrived, Sophie has raised it even higher for future athletes at Faith Academy. She is a true reflection of our motto for Faith Academy Cross Country and Track – ‘Work hard and compete.’’’

"  Sophie was willing to put it all on the line and always put the team first. Receiving a Division 1 Scholarship is quite an honor and an awesome opportunity to go to the next level. Faith Academy is so blessed to have her influence and leadership at our school," said Coach Steve McCannon.

The North Team did all it needed to do to retain the cup in the 12^thannual Jackie Burke Cup at Escondido Golf and Lake Club on Sunday.  Winning six of the 12 singles matches to tie the South, 24-24.

The North Team faced a 14-10 deficit heading into Sunday’s action, which features 12 singles matches. Each match was worth two points and since the North Team won the cup in 2015, they needed just 14 more points to retain.

Tommy Boone and Andy Lopez got the North Team on the board early, each earning a point in their matches. Boone halved his match with Jack Anderson after making a birdie on the par-5 18^th hole. Lopez halved his match with Trey Bosco winning three of the last four holes, including a hole-in-one on the 17^th hole. Lopez had 149 yards to navigate and used a pitching wedge that landed over the ridge and trickled into the hole.

By Mark Goodson

Highlander Sports Editor

Marble Falls opened the basketball season with a big splash Friday night, rolling to a 65-35 win over Wimberley at Max Copeland Gymnasium.

Junior post Mya McMillian opened with a 25-point effort and added at least 10 rebounds and a handful of blocked shots to lead the effort.

The Lady Mustangs opened the game with an 8-0 run sparked by the team’s energy and fast pace.

Morgan Hagood scored the first points on a layup on a break off the opening tipoff. The Lady Mustangs reeled off points on their first four times they touched the basketball, scoring on an Aspen Woerner followed shot, a McMillian short banker off the run and then another McMillian follow shot.

The Lady Mustangs were up 8-0 with 6:47 left in the first quarter and they didn’t look back.

The Lady Mustangs pushed the lead to 16-4 when McMillian scored off the break again. Se had eight of the team’s first 16 points.

Marble Falls girls’ cross country team expects to make a strong showing Saturday when they run at the University Interscholastic League’s state cross country meet. The 5A girls race begins at 9:40 a.m.

Running for Marble Falls are:

2334 Kim Boni 12

2335 Sydney Gibson 12

2336 Jaden Johnson 9

2337 Ambrie Lizcano 9

2338 Gisela Mata

2339 Ashley Rios 9

2340 Daijah Torns 9

By Mark Goodson

Highlander Sports Editor

The basketball season opener is here for the Lady Mustangs and fans can expect a lot of energy from John Berkman’s first team.

“We’re blessed,’’ Berkman said of his roster that includes a good mix of talent including plenty of post players. The first-year Marble Falls head coach is not really worried about who starts, he’s interested in the intensity the team brings to the court.

Early practices and scrimmages have shown the Lady Mustangs will go full throttle. When they are on the court they’ll play solid defense and keep the ball moving on offense. Good game plan for a program that needs a good jump start.

Marble Falls opens its season tonight with a matchup against the Wimberley Lady Texans. Tip off is 6:30 p.m. at Max Copeland Gym.

For preview of the game please read Friday's Highlander.

Marble Falls fell behind by three touchdowns and went on to lose, 41-10, Friday in its regular season finale at Dripping Springs. The Mustangs end their season at 2-8 and winless in District 26-5A acton.

By Mark Goodson

Highlander Sports Editor

JJ Tellez is a special young man.

The 13-year-old loves football, fire engines and just being a kid.

“He’s a great kid,’’ said his grandmother Linda Tellez. “He loves football, he loves the Dallas Cowboys…He’s always wanted to play football and he got to do it yesterday. It was a special day for all of us, especially him.’’

Tellez has grown up with a heart problem and has been diagnosed with Williamson Syndrome, a Tellez has grown up with a heart problem and has been diagnosed with Williamson Syndrome, a genetic condition that has affected his heart. Despite his limitations, he’s excelled in the Life Skills program at Marble Falls Middle School.

He’s been a manager for the Marble Falls Middle School program this season and Tuesday the coaches arranged for him to take part in the Mustangs seventh grade B-game.