New year, new district for Highlander basketball

By: Glenn Sattell

| Published 11/11/2014

THE WOODLANDS, Texas -- The Woodlands High School boys’ and girls’ basketball teams look to put an early exit in last year’s postseason behind them as they enter the 2014-15 season in a new district.

A look into the 2014-2015 season for men's, women's basketball at TWHS

The Highlanders look to build on last year’s 23-10 season that included a 9-3 district record and a runner-up spot in the final standings. But like the Lady Highlanders, the boys’ squad was unseated in the first round of the playoffs, a 65-56 defeat at the hands of Dekaney.

The Woodlands joins with College Park, Oak Ridge and Conroe to form District 16-6A along with Humble ISD schools Kingwood, Atascocita and Summer Creek.

Team captains Omar Khan, a senior point guard, Kyle Spears, a junior shooting guard, and Preston Eni, senior guard, help lead the way for The Woodlands boys. Senior post Connor Burkett, junior power forward Cameron Burkett and sophomore Aj Bullard also return with varsity experience.

The Woodlands hosts the Benchmark Bank (VYPE) Thanksgiving Classic, Friday through Saturday, Nov. 28-29, and open district play at Conroe on Friday, Jan. 2.

The 4-time district champion Lady Highlanders look to be the team to beat once again after posting a 20-9 record (11-1 in district) a year ago. A 45-42 first-round playoff loss to Kingwood ended the season a little too prematurely for the Lady Highlanders’ taste.

But junior forward Payton Walker and senior post Alexis Heathcock return to make another run. Walker averaged 8.5 points and seven rebounds per game a year ago while Heathcock scored five points and grabbed 4.4 rebounds on average.

Seniors Katie Burke and Aaliyah Wheatfall also return with varsity experience.