From the Press Box

Basketball season is underway for both boys’ and girls’ teams.

College Park used a smothering full-court pressure defense to win its way to a second consecutive Conroe Tigerettes Tournament championship.

But the Lady Cavaliers no doubt still miss Priyanka Duvvuru, who tore an ACL in a scrimmage game prior to the season opener. College Park, No. 14 state-ranked, bowed to No. 10 Hightower 73-55 on Monday. It was College Park’s first loss of the 2009-10 season after raising the curtain with five consecutive victories.

Katie Mitchell, fresh from a three-deep trip into the volleyball playoffs, led College Park in scoring with 21 points. She will add much needed height to a team that lost Nicole Morgan, who will concentrate on softball, a sport in which she earned a college scholarship (if I’m not mistaken) to Texas A&M.

Coach Kip Anderson is confident that Duvvuru could return to the team in January with some intense rehab. No surgery was required.

The Woodlands High School boys’ basketball team, like that of Oak Ridge, opened the season Monday night with victories. The Highlanders won on the road, taking down Westfield 70-51 while the War Eagles turned back Klein Oak 62-50 at the Eagles Nest.

Wes Cole scored 22 points to lead The Woodlands in the scoring column. Davis Tucker added 12 points for the Highlanders, who got off to a shaky start trailing 19-14 at the quarter before a stifling defense limited the Mustangs to just five second-quarter points. The Woodlands grabbed a 27-24 lead at halftime and then outscored their hosts 43-27 over the final two periods.

Oak Ridge was equally successful in its season opener. The War Eagles jumped out to a 19-9 lead and held off their visitors. Sean Kovar pumped in 21 points to lead the way. Scott Bastian added 11 points in the victory.

I had a chance to scout some of the other talent in District 14-5A boys’ basketball. I saw Conroe take it on the chin at Klein Collins. The hosting Tigers ran off and left their visitors from the north, 93-49. Conroe has talent but had an off-night shooting and got absolutely hammered on the boards.

The College Park boys’ basketball team opens its season at home tonight against No. 18 state-ranked Cy-Woods. Tip-off is scheduled for 7 p.m. Todd and I will have tag-team coverage of tonight’s game. So check back to www.woodlandsonline.com after the final whistle has sounded for Todd’s recap of all the action and reaction as well as photos from yours truly.