Lady Highlanders roll over Humble

THE WOODLANDS -- The Woodlands Highlanders affectionately refer to 6-footers Anna Strickland and Sarah Seefeldt as S & S.

But, when other basketball teams play against the twin towers, they probably are going to end up calling SOS.

Strickland and Seefeldt combined for 36 points, 24 rebounds and five assists to lead the Highlanders to an easy 65-47 victory over Humble in both teams’ season opener on Tuesday night at The Woodlands High School.

The Highlanders, who are picked to challenge College Park for the District 14-5A crown, next will take on La Marque in the first round of the Conroe tournament at noon Thursday at Conroe High School.

Humble also will be competing in the three-day Conroe tournament.

“We were great in spurts,’’ The Woodlands coach Dana Bruton said of her team’s effort. “We just need to do a better job of sealing off penetration and not forcing bad passes.’’

The game went back-and-forth in the first quarter as Humble took the ball to the cup at will against the Highlanders’ lackadaisical defense, while The Woodlands buried a trio of 3-pointers -- including Kait Westfall’s triple at the buzzer -- to grab a 16-15 lead after the first eight minutes.

But Strickland and Seefeldt took over in the second quarter, combining for 12 of the team’s 20 points to give the home-standing Highlanders a 36-26 halftime lead.

Seefeldt, who has played in the low post during her first two years on varsity, has moved to the small forward position this season. Her ballhandling, passing and inside-outside game is going to make The Woodlands tough to beat.

“She has moved out to play a three or four for us this year,’’ Bruton said of Seefeldt, who is only a junior. “Any time you have a big girl who can handle the ball, it really helps with everything.’’

The Woodlands continued to pound the ball inside to Strickland and Seefeldt in the third quarter as its lead grew to 14 points, 50-36, entering the final stanza.

Humble, behind the all-around play of Klarke Sims and Darnetia Jackson, cut the lead to 55-43 midway through the fourth, but The Woodlands went on a 10-4 run to end the contest with the 18-point win.

Paige Bradley also had nine points and six assists, Westfall had eight points and four rebounds and Ashlyn Hargraves had nine points and four boards.

“We almost had all five players in double figures,’’ Bruton said.

Sims led Humble with 18 points. Jackson also had 13.

The Woodlands, who had a huge height advantage against the athletic Wildcats, outrebounded Humble 35-26.

“We start four sophomores and one junior (in Seefeldt),’’ Bruton said. “It is very exciting (for our future). They all get along and we have great team chemistry.

“But we have to minimize our mistakes,’’ she added. “If we can do that, we have a chance to be a pretty good team.’’