Mustangs fall to La Vernia in close game

The Nixon-Smiley Mustangs returned home for a game against the La Vernia Bears Thursday, Dec. 19.

The Mustangs fell to La Vernia, 64-53, but played their best game all season.

"They came out, they played hard. You know, we're small and we're going to be small, and so we're actually trying to use that as an advantage, rely on our quickness and our skill and our kids when they figure it out," Mustangs head basketball coach Carlton McKinney said.

The Mustangs started off slow in the game, but quickly made it a close game at the end of the first quarter.

"I thought we played one of our better games, especially against a team that's skilled and talented and much bigger than we are,” McKinney said. “We competed and that's the big part for us, is just competing every time. I thought they got better; we’ve got a lot of young players that have played at the varsity level that are finding their way," McKinney said.

McKinney added games like that are helping his team get ready for that first district game against Stockdale Friday, Jan. 10.

The Mustangs will close out 2024 with their home tournament Friday, Dec. 27 through Saturday, Dec. 28.

McKinney is excited for the tournament this season.

"We’ve got Navarro and Jourdanton and we also have on our schedule Waelder and Randolph, so we have those four before we start our district play with Stockdale,” McKinney said. “We're excited about just the opportunity that I see in front of you, I think we're I think we're playing well but I think we can play so much better. So, we're excited about that and I think the kids."

The Mustangs will kickoff their tournament against the Jourdanton Indians Saturday, Dec. 28 at noon.