Highlanders open tourney with victory

THE WOODLANDS, Texas – The Woodlands High School boys’ basketball team opened the Benchmark Bank Thanksgiving Classic with a 66-49 victory Friday afternoon over Tomball Memorial. The Highlanders take on Klein Forest at 7 p.m. Friday in the two-day tournament they are hosting.

Bracket play completes the 12-team tournament on Saturday.

“After the game Tuesday against a tough Cy-Woods team it was good to get some success,” The Woodlands boys’ basketball coach Dale Reed said. “Tomball Memorial has got a couple of real good players and so it was a good opening game for us.”

Cody Mason scored 16 points and Xavier Valdes added 10 more to lead the way.

The Highlanders pulled away in the third quarter building a 49-35 advantage heading into the fourth quarter and allowing Reed to empty the bench.

Cameron Burkett and Zach Manning each contributed to the victory with seven points apiece.