Marble Falls girls improve to 7-3

November 28, 2012, 10:00 am by Mark Goodson

Staff Photo By Mark Goodson Katy Bartels dribbles past a Del Valle player Tuesday. Marble Falls beat Del Valle, 48-29, to improve to 7-3 on the season.

By Mark Goodson

Highlander Sports Editor 

Marble Falls ran its record to 7-3 with the defense leading the way in a 48-29 victory over Del Valle Tuesday at Max Copeland Gym.

The Lady Mustangs put three players in double figures led by junior Sarah Stripling with 14 and seniors Blanca Fonseca with 12 and Katy Bartels with 10 points.

The Mustangs erupted in the second quarter utilizing it full-court pressure defense to outscore the visiting Cardinals24-11 in the quarter to take command of the game.

Marble Falls led 30-14 at halftime and Del Valle was never able to get any closer than 10 in the second half.

"This is our identity,’’ Marble Falls coach Chris Jost said. "that’s what my teams have been known for even before I got here…The best offense is a good defense.’’

Marble Falls held the visiting Cardinals to just three points in the first quarter as Marble Falls was patient with its motion offense that stresses players passing and making quick cuts.

Stripling had five of the team’s first six points in the first quarter. the junior hit a 3-pointer form the left corner with 3:20 left in the quarter and added an inside shot at the 1:29 mark.

K.T Hill, the leading scorer for Del Valle with nine points, made a 3-pointer with 45 seconds left in the first quarter for the Cardinals first points.

Marble Falls got rolling early in the second quarter with Bartels driving strong to the goal and Stripling scoring on a backdoor cut for a 10-3 lead just a minute into the second quarter.

The Lady Mustangs kept up the pressure defense and pushed it to a double-digit lead with Haley Stephens and Reann Hall scoring inside. Marble Falls extended the lead to 18-4 before the Cardinals hit a 3-pointer.

In the second quarter run Stripling and Fonseca both scored six points and Bartels and Teagan Hall added four points each. Six Lady Mustangs scored in the quarter.

The win gives the team momentum going into the Seguin Tournament. Marble Falls first games in the 12-team tournament are Friday. The Lady Mustangs face SA Jefferson at 10 a.m. and Eagle Pass at 1 p.m. on Friday.

Other teams in the tournament are SA Holmes, SA Antonian, Seguin, Boerne, Alamo Heights, SA Roosevelt, Laredo United, Cibolo Steele and Kerrville Tivy.

The respective pool winners face off Saturday in a four-team bracket.