HS Boys Basketball: Recap for the Week of 1/22

THE WOODLANDS, TX -- Another week of exciting basketball action passed by, with numerous games carrying stakes that have postseason ramifications. One team remains at the top of the standings despite numerous shifts below them, but the hunt for the district title remains hot. Here are the games from last week and the final scores for each.

1/24 College Park vs. Willis

The Willis Wildkats hit the road to kick off the week with a rematch against the Cavaliers. College Park took home the win earlier in the season despite a solid all-around effort from Willis to steal a game from the district’s top team.

Willis played one of the better first halves that College Park had seen all season, doubling their points in the second quarter to take a slight edge into the halftime locker rooms. But, after Cavs Head Coach Clifton McNeely had a chance to talk to his boys, the momentum shifted. College Park commanded the second half and swung the scoreboard in their favor with a demonstrative fourth quarter that saw the team tally 25 points.

The late effort sealed the victory, and the result was a 70-53 margin of victory for College Park.

1/24 Grand Oaks vs. Oak Ridge

The second edition of the Battle of the Oaks went similarly to the matchup earlier in the season, with Grand Oaks taking charge early, this time at home.

Quarter-by-quarter statistics are unavailable, but the size advantage in favor of Grand Oaks likely played a large role in the final score. The additional factor of a strong home crowd fueled the Grizzlies in their 70-51 win over Oak Ridge.

1/24 Conroe vs. New Caney

Conroe continues to cling to a potential playoff spot but was severely set back due to their effort against New Caney.

Despite the potent scoring ability of the team, the Tigers struggled to find consistent scoring from the field toward the midway point of their game. Meanwhile, New Caney hit on all cylinders in a third quarter that provided the team with all of the separation it needed to secure the win. No amount of a Conroe comeback was enough to fully swing the game back in their favor, as the team dropped the matchup 52-44 to the Eagles.

1/24 Cleveland vs. The Woodlands

Ahead of their matchup against College Park on Saturday, the Highlanders took a trip to Cleveland in the hopes of snagging an easy win against the Indians.

The Indians were not willing to give up an easy win on their home floor, as shown by the respectable yet manageable deficits the team found themselves in. The Woodlands only held an 11-point lead going into halftime, but the Highlanders stepped their game up during an efficient second half. Cleveland attempted to stop the Highlander advance but fell short in a 62-43 defeat.

1/27 The Woodlands vs. College Park

The War of the Woods was as intense as expected after both teams claimed a victory earlier in the week.

It seemed like College Park would run away with the win after their explosive opening, but The Woodlands defense clamped up their opponents for the remainder of the game. The Cavs only mustered three points in the second quarter, and the Highlanders found themselves with a chance to take the game in its closing moments. But the big-time players from College Park stepped up when their team needed them most, hitting dagger shots that stole the win from The Woodlands at the last minute.

The sweep on the season was complete with a 40-39 win for the Cavaliers.

1/27 Oak Ridge vs. Cleveland

Oak Ridge looked to simultaneously bounce back and extend Cleveland’s district-long losing streak with a win at home on Saturday.

After taking a three-point deficit in the first quarter, the War Eagles responded with an astounding 22 in the second, pushing the team forward with a lead that proved to be the deciding factor. The Indians continued to battle to the finish, but their lackluster performance in the second and fourth quarters sealed their fate in defeat at the hands of Oak Ridge, who left with a 57-46 win.

1/27 Willis vs. Caney Creek

Willis was given a golden opportunity to regain their footing with a matchup against Caney Creek, and the Wildkats took full advantage.

The Wildkats burst onto the scoreboard behind a 31-point effort from S.J. Young and his four made three-pointers. Caney Creek had no chance of overcoming the adversity thrown at them due to the constant flow of points put on by Willis in an eventual 91-30 victory that kept the Wildkats as the number two team in the district standings.

1/27 New Caney vs. Grand Oaks

New Caney remained red-hot after their win earlier in the week in a surprising result against the Grizzlies.

The battle between teams was consistently back-and-forth due to neither team getting a clear feel for each other during the first half. Grand Oaks continued to struggle during the third quarter but brought the game to the brink of forcing overtime as the fourth came close to ending. In a last-second shot to win the game, the Eagles put up a prayer and were rewarded with for their confidence. The desperation heave found the bottom of the net and gave New Caney a 46-43 win that puts the team inside the playoff picture.