HS Boys Basketball: Week of 1/15 Recap

THE WOODLANDS, TX -- There was a lot of action from across District 13-6A over the past week, including some shifts at the top of the standings. A blast of cold air necessitated rescheduling games, but the teams were prepared for the heat of competition. Here are the games from this week and the final scores for each.

1/17 Cleveland vs. Caney Creek

The Indians hosted the Caney Creek in a battle of teams at the bottom of the district standings to see who would remain in their spot.

Caney Creek extended Cleveland’s losing streak via a 52-49 win on the road, keeping the Indians winless in district play.

1/17 Oak Ridge vs. New Caney

New Caney hit the road and faced the Oak Ridge War Eagles in a close-knit matchup in the center of the district’s standings.

The 6th-placed Eagles came out during the second quarter with a ferocious 25-13 effort that gave the team all the necessary separation. Even after a late surge from Oak Ridge attempted to complete a comeback, the cushion for New Caney was too much to overcome. The night came to an end with the Eagles taking home the victory 70-61.

1/17 Grand Oaks vs. Willis

A hard-nosed game of back-and-forth was in store for the Wildkats as they entered Grizzly territory on Wednesday.

Both teams traded the lead between themselves for a majority of the game, with Willis ending one quarter with the lead, followed by Grand Oaks leading the next. The Wildkats found themselves with a one-point lead going into the final eight minutes and managed to hold on to their lead throughout. Steady shooting and strong momentum down the stretch propelled Willis to a 68-61 win that put them into second place in the district.

1/17 Conroe vs. The Woodlands

Needing wins to stay in the playoff picture, The Woodlands Highlanders traveled to Conroe to play against the high-scoring Conroe Tigers.

The Highlanders’ method of competing was by waging a defensive war against the Tigers, who struggled to find an offensive groove all game. The most points Conroe managed to post in a quarter was 16, far below their normal expectations. Conroe’s offensive woes allowed The Woodlands to keep within striking distance throughout the second half before finally sealing the deal with a 37-34 win.

1/19 The Woodlands vs. Grand Oaks

Grand Oaks entered The Woodlands High School in need of a win to prevent the Highlanders from making a potential jump in the playoff picture.

The game looked to be going the Highlanders’ way during the first half. Quick baskets and a lackluster offensive performance from the Grizzlies kept The Woodlands in front going into the halftime break. But, a scoring surge opened the half for Grand Oaks, and the team never stopped. The lead came into the team’s possession late in the game, and it proved too late for the Highlanders to retrieve it. Grand Oaks exited with the win they were looking for, ending the affair up 54-53.

1/19 Oak Ridge vs. Conroe

Conroe hit the road searching for a bounce-back win against Oak Ridge, who had a tough test ahead of them.

The Tigers exploded from the opening tip, out-scoring the War Eagles by 14 points in the first half. The electrifying pace of Conroe kept any hopes of an Oak Ridge comeback firmly at rest, forcing the War Eagles to fight for a respectable score at the final. The final came with a commanding 63-44 victory for the Tigers, who remain on the outside looking in for a potential playoff spot.

1/19 Willis vs. Cleveland

A second tough assignment came down the shute for the Indians, as they had to travel to Willis and face the red-hot Wildkats on their home floor.

High-flying Wildkat scorers kept Cleveland in check throughout the game, ensuring there was no upset in the works against them. Jeremy Clark and his boys were rewarded at the end of the night with a 68-50 win that keeps Willis in second place, behind only College Park.

1/19 Caney Creek vs. College Park

In the team’s only game of the week, the College Park Cavaliers made their way to Caney Creek, where the Panthers were waiting to attempt an upset of the district’s top team.

Unfortunately for Caney Creek, the upset hopes were dashed in the first quarter, which saw the Cavs post a 21-8 effort that set the tone for the rest of the game. A follow-up 22-11 second quarter gave College Park all the lead they would need, allowing them to ease off for the remainder of the matchup. Still, the Cavaliers ended the night with a dominant 76-57 win over Caney Creek, ending the series with College Park taking the sweep.