Wilbert leads Highlanders past Cavaliers in OT

THE WOODLANDS, Texas - Freshman guard Romello Wilbert scored eight of his team-high 16 points in overtime, leading The Woodlands Highlanders past the College Park Cavaliers, 55-51 in a District 16-6A game in front of a sellout crowd at College Park on Friday night.

“Without a doubt, we grew up tonight. To be down eight to a team of that caliber, to find a way, especially on their home court, to find a way to fight back and come back shows the growth of our guys,” said Highlanders Head Coach Dale Reed.

Click here to watch Game Recap presented by Lawn Ranger

For the second consecutive year at College Park High School, these two teams played to overtime with Cavaliers freshman guard Quentin Grimes hit a three-point shot from the top of the key with 15 seconds left to send the game to overtime.

The teams were tied six times in the fourth quarter and overtime until Romello Wilbert went 4-for-4 from the free throw line and got a steal and lay-up on the other end to give the Highlanders a 55-49 lead with just 15 seconds left in overtime.

The Woodlands (13-7, 2-1) was down 35-27 at the midway point of the third quarter after Quentin Grimes scored on a three-point play. The Highlanders finished the third quarter on a 12-5 run to close the Cavalier lead to just 40-39.

College Park (11-12, 0-2) couldn’t get the offense going as the Cavaliers scored just 11 points in the fourth quarter and overtime, combined.

“We did a poor job of executing on the offensive end. Our guard play was very tentative and timid tonight, we weren’t aggressive attaching the zone and when we did get the ball inside we weren’t strong in going to finish,” said Cavaliers Head Coach Clifton McNeely.

The Woodlands will have a bye on Tuesday and return home to host Oak Ridge on Friday, January 16, at 7pm.

College Park will hit the road and travel to Oak Ridge on Tuesday, January 13, at 7pm in a game broadcasted live on Woodlands Online.