Marble Falls pulls off 42-38 upset of Timberwolves

January 03, 2013, 3:00 pm by Mark Goodson

Staff Photo By Mark Goodson Joey Blackledge scrambles on the floor against Cedar Park. The senior hit a big 3-pointer and scored all of his five points in the fourth quarter of a 42-38 upset win.

By Mark Goodson

Highlander Sports Editor

The Mustangs used a collective effort to stun the Cedar Park Timberwolves Wednesday night in Marble Falls’ first game of the new year at Max Copeland Gym.

The 42-38 win over an athletic Cedar Park team was a defensive gem.

Marble Falls utilized its aggressive man-to-man defense all night and came up with enough clutch shots on the offensive end to notch the biggest Mustangs win under first-year head coach Neil Laminack.

"Before the game we talked about who was the most committed was going to win,’’ Laminack said. "We were going to do whatever it took, dive on the floor, make the play you need to win…I’m proud of the collective effort we gave.’’

Everybody got involved for the 14-12 Mustangs in the District 25-4A opener. Cedar Park falls to 0-2 in district.

Senior guards Collin Edwards and Joey Blackledge turned in huge efforts on both ends of the court to complement the solid 12-point, 14-rebound game from Rey Baltazar.

Edwards, the point guard, scored 15 points and led the floor game on offense, making drives and keeping the ball moving in the flow of the offense.

Edwards was superb from the free throw line in crunch time. The Mustangs were 11 of 14 shooting from the line for the game and nine of 11 in the fourth quarter.

Edwards was seven of eight in the fourth quarter.

Blackledge made the biggest shot of the game when he drained the only 3-pointer of the contest for the Mustangs from the deep right corner with 4:46 left to give the Mustangs a 36-29 lead. Blackledge scored just five points for the night, all in the fourth quarter.

The seven-point margin was the biggest lead by either team in a game the Mustangs elected to take their time on offense and let the defense dictate the pace.

Cedar Park, which had a lineup full of athletes, was led in scoring by guard Trey Knight and forward Jamie Xia, with seven points each.

"No. 3 was a tough assignment,’’ Blackledge said. "He was definitely their go-to guy and sets the tone for them…I had to play smart. He likes going to his left, so I overplayed him to the right.’’

Blackledge, one of the team’s best 3-point shooters, wasn’t able to get many open looks. His nail-driving shot in the fourth quarter came off an assist from Ben Stripling.

"I hadn’t had a chance to get many shots all night,’’ Blackledge said. "I had to be clutch for the team. It was a great pass.’’

Edwards said he was looking to work the ball and run clock down the stretch.

"I went oh no, don’t shoot it,’’ Edwards said when he saw the pass go deep to Blackledge in the corner. "We were trying to be patient on offense.’’

Cedar Park was able to cut the lead to two twice in the final four minutes.

Austin Hisler’s follow shot with 3:04 cut the lead to 38-36.

A steal and layup by Knight with 1:55 trimmed the Marble Falls lead to two again at 40-38. The Timberwolves misfired on a shot to tie with the game with 1:14 left and Blackledge pulled down the rebound. Marble Falls ran off clock before getting the basketball inside to Baltazar for an inside shot with 21 seconds left. Baltazar’s shot put Marble Falls ahead, 42-38.

Marble Falls Frederic Filsoof scored six points in a relief role, working the high post for some key passes. Cody Seelig, a backup guard, displayed the effort of the entire team in the first half when he saved a ball from going out of bounds. Seelig made an athletic play grabbing the ball, spinning around and firing the ball off a Cedar Park player to save a possession. Marble Falls was trailing 13-10 at the time. The Mustangs put together a 6-2 run to close the half for a 16-15 lead in the defensive game.

"They ran us off the court last year,’’ Baltazar said. "It was good to hold them to 38 points tonight.’’