Former coach challenges The Woodlands

The first big showdown of the District 14-5A girls’ basketball season happens on Friday when The Woodlands High School girls’ basketball team takes on A&M Consolidated. The game is slated to tip off at 7 p.m.

The Lady Highlanders, 12-5 overall and 3-0 in district play, bring an eight-game win streak into Friday’s clash against an A&M Consolidated team also undefeated in district play (2-0) and coached by former Lady Highlanders head coach, Karen Heintz, who has been at the helm of the Lady Tigers since 2011.

Heintz, a Conroe High School grad, led The Woodlands for 10 seasons (1995-2005). In that time the Lady Highlanders averaged 20 victories and won two district championships. She took the Lady Highlanders to the region semifinals in 2004, one of six postseason appearances.

Lady Highlanders current head coach Dana Bruton was an assistant under Heintz and is 4-0 against her mentor.

The only other unbeaten team in the district is Bryan (2-0). Lufkin (2-1) is right behind the leaders while College Park (0-2), Oak Ridge (0-3) and Conroe (0-3) all seek their first district victory.

At least one of them will taste it on Friday because College Park hosts Oak Ridge (7 p.m.). Conroe is at Bryan.