Walker leads The Woodlands past Oak Ridge

THE WOODLANDS, Texas – Sophomore center Payton Walker and The Woodlands High School girls’ basketball team took care of a feisty Oak Ridge Lady War Eagles squad at home on Friday night, 56-39, to stay undefeated in District 14-5A.

Walker entered Double-Double Land with 17 points and 13 rebounds on the night and was almost perfect from the charity stripe making nine of 10 gifts.

The Woodlands (18-7, 7-0) jumped out to a quick 9-2 lead on the strength of junior Alexis Heathcock who canned a deuce and made four free throws as it looked like the Lady Highlanders would run away and hide.

No such luck for the home team as Raquel Kellow and Macie Chapa teamed up and brought the resurgent Lady War Eagles back to tie things up at 12. If The Woodlands was worried it didn't show as they distanced themselves from Oak Ridge again scoring nine unanswered points as Nicole Iademarco started warming up with six points during the run.

Down 27-17 with two minutes remaining in the half, Oak Ridge junior Jamy Smith drained a three-ball as Oak Ridge continued to show they had designs on hanging around. Oak Ridge's Emily Hill sandwiched a basket between four points by Walker as the half concluded with The Woodlands up, 31-22.

Coach Dana Bruton's halftime speech appeared to have been an effective one as The Woodlands started dominating the much improved visitors from across the highway with a lead of 46-33 at the end of the third quarter.

That would be as close as Oak Ridge would come to the 14-5A powerhouse as Walker hit another four free throws in a row down the stretch and Ally Welling called glass to conclude all scoring.

Bruton said she was impressed with the visitors from Oak Ridge and Lady War Eagles coach Molly Gibson.

"Oak Ridge is improving and Molly is getting more athletes coming out to play basketball,” Bruton said. “They have several good shooters that make them tough to defend."

Nicole Iademarco scored 15 points on the night as Kristin Mahoney chipped in with 12. Heathcock turned in a solid effort with eight points and five boards. Pau Bremer led the gym in assists with four. For Oak Ridge, Kellow had the team-high point total with eight as Chapa and Smith both had six.

The Woodlands next plays at 7 p.m. Tuesday in Conroe. Oak Ridge (2-6, 12-14) is also on the road that night in Bryan.