Woodlands Basketball Roundup

THE WOODLANDS, Texas -- The Woodlands Highlanders looked like a well-oiled machine when they ran roughshod over the Alvin Yellowjackets 85-57 in the first round of The Woodlands Invitational basketball tournament.

But at this point of the year, The Woodlands looks to be no better than the third best team in District 14-5A.

Oh, the Highlanders can shoot the 3-pointer. Wes Cole, Jordan Alpha and Jackson Nelson form quite a trifecta around the 3-point arc.

But, overall, the Woodlands has very little inside game, has marginal team speed and lacks a lot of defensive intensity.

Last year, The Woodlands would sit out outside and drill 3-pointer after 3-pointer when teams played ole’ defense.

But when the Highlanders matched up with College Park, the Cavaliers’ guards were able to shut down the Highlanders’ guards with tenacious man defense. The same probably is going to happen this year.

Cole is quite a talent. He can handle the ball like a yo-yo and can hit the triple from all areas of the arc. But he is only 6-foot tall and is not a great defender. He is probably going to have a hard time matching up with Evan Cooper, Adam Rowe or James Allen from College Park, and Alonzo Jefferson and Sean Kovar from Oak Ridge.

Alpha might be the best ballhandler in the league. But he also is not very tall and needs screens to get open looks.

The Woodlands will fall into a zone or try various types of traps to try and offset its lack of size. But, eventually, the Highlanders probably will get worn down inside by the taller-and-more athletic War Eagles and Cavaliers.

Lufkin also is going to throw an athletic bunch on the floor, though the Panthers are not known for their basketball ability.

It is one thing to be a great athlete. It is another to know how to play basketball. College Park and Oak Ridge have players who are good athletes and good basketball players.

The Woodlands has a lot of very good basketball players. They just might be a bit short on athleticism. Time will tell.

If the Highlanders are hot from behind the 3-point line, that can make up for the lack of athleticism and inside game. But over a 10-game district schedule, the team is going to have to take its defense to another gear and find some points in the paint if it wants to compete for the conference title.

It is going to be a lot of fun. I just wish more people would show up and watch the games. On Friday night, the stands were half-full to watch the Highlanders paste the Jackets.

I know Texas is football country. But basketball is a pretty popular sport, too. And the game only lasts a little over an hour and is played indoors.

College Park looks tough
The Cavaliers were supposed to struggle after Monique Smalls graduated and Nicole Morgan decided not to come out her senior year.

But Kip Anderson has the Cavs clicking on all cylinders once again. College Park was 10-3 entering the Thanksgiving break after winning the consolation title of the Texas Invitational.

Megan Shafer (6-foot-1) is averaging 21 points per game for the Lady Cavs. She has given College Park quite an inside game to go along with its tenacious press.

The Woodlands also ended its pre-Thanksgiving schedule with an easy 46-34 win over Atascocita. The Highlanders are hoping to challenge College Park for the conference crown this season.

Anna Strickland and Sarah Seefeldt will be the key to The Woodlands’ success.

New Caney could be the surprise team in the district this year. The Eagles were 7-25 a year ago, but have won four of their first seven games this season and could nose out either Conroe or Oak Ridge for the fourth playoff spot.