HS Boys Basketball: War of the Woods Goes Into Overtime as College Park & The Woodlands Battle

THE WOODLANDS, TX – The War of the Woods is the rival matchup between The Woodlands and College Park that happens in all sports across the board. The Woodlands hosted College Park this time for the War of the Woods in a high intensity district basketball matchup.

“You can tell at shoot around how focused they [College Park] were and the bus ride over here, they were just extremely focused,” said Coach McNeely about his boys. And focused was one word to describe both teams going into the first quarter.

The teams kept it aggressive and intense throughout the game, none more that in the first minutes after tip-off. Although it was a low scoring first quarter, the Highlanders and Cavaliers both battled at both ends of the court on defense.

“Pressure on the basketball,” is what coach McNeely’s game plan was against The Woodlands. But it seemed like The Woodlands had the same game plan. Both teams would lock down the offense and only manage to post up a 7-11 score.

In the second quarter, College Park began to pull away as Zane Cooper, Xander Singh and Aiden Buckmon sank some crucial 3-pointers. Shey Eberwein would go 2 for 2 at the free throw line and sink another 2 buckets before the half. Although College Park seemed to pull away, The Woodlands would comeback and keep it close with a 23-25 score going into halftime.

College Park knock down a couple of shots to keep the lead. @TWHhoops @cp_hoops

Halftime
The Woodlands - 23
College Park - 25 pic.twitter.com/XzvHgF4OeW

— Woodlands Online Sports (@WOLsports) December 20, 2022

Down but not out, The Woodlands would bring the momentum up and keep pressure on the shooter as College Park tried to increase their lead.

“Drake Kelly just came out and did an amazing job,” said coach McNeely as Kelly would post up 12 of the Cavaliers 35 points in the second half.

Shey Eberwein would also heat up sinking 20 of The Woodlands 37 points but it was Aden Dominguez who would drain a massive 3 pointer to send the game into overtime.

Oh what a game! The Woodlands hits a massive 3 to send it into overtime! @TWHhoops @cp_hoops

End of regulation
The Woodlands - 60
College Park - 60 pic.twitter.com/x8TXp4SVhd

— Woodlands Online Sports (@WOLsports) December 20, 2022

In overtime, it came down to the free throws as College Park would hit the line 4 times and made 7 of their 8 attempts. “We got fouled and our kids [College Park] went up and knocked down the free throws and extended the lead. By doing that, that was obviously the difference maker” said Coach McNeely.

The Woodlands fought down to the last second but College Park was able to edge them out in overtime 69-64.

College Park takes the win in overtime. @TWHhoops @cp_hoops

Final (OT)
The Woodlands - 64
College Park - 69 pic.twitter.com/DH2iS6UxiM

— Woodlands Online Sports (@WOLsports) December 20, 2022

They both will hit up tournaments after the holidays and once again be back on the grind at the beginning of the new year. The Woodlands will face Willis while College Park travels to New Caney.