It’s another important week for the Conroe Tigers. Every week basically is from here on out as the program continues to fight for a seventh consecutive playoff spot.
After going 1-1 last week, the Tigers are still on the outside looking in with a District 13-6A record of 5-5, a full game behind fourth-place Oak Ridge, which wobbled to a 1-1 week.
Conroe (12-9 overall) carries the momentum of its best offensive performance of the season on Saturday as it plays host to second-place College Park (15-8, 8-1) 6:30 p.m. Wednesday. Conroe then takes to the road of its final Saturday matinee of the season at New Caney.
The Tigers hammered Cleveland for the season sweep after punishing the hoop for 78 points as three players reached double figures and ten contributed overall.
That came off another squeaker of a loss last Wednesday at The Woodlands, 55-50.
Senior Alisa Sneed has picked up the pace over the last three games as she’s led Conroe in scoring each game. Sneed scored a season-high 14 in The Woodlands loss before following that up with 12 on Saturday against the Indians. Sneed, who shared the district’s co-Defensive Most Valuable Player last year, is averaging a remarkable 3.9 steals per game.
Freshman Christy Rogers put together a solid week, capped by a near double-double of 11 points and nine rebounds against Cleveland. Fellow freshman Kayleigh Phillips had seven points and three steals. In her varsity debut – Everly Cumpian – who scored 40 points in a freshman game earlier this season, netted seven points against the Indians.
Conroe head coach Tamisha Houston has been proud of the balanced scoring this season, but Wednesday is an opportunity for anyone to step and go for a signature win.
The Tigers face a College Park team that’s having a strong year after barely missing the playoffs in 2024. The Cavaliers have won seven straight games, including a 44-22 win over New Caney in their only game last week. College Park hasn’t dropped a game Dec. 7 and its lone district loss came Dec. 3 in overtime against Grand Oaks.
Conroe and College Park kicked off the district season way back on Nov. 19 where the Cavaliers grinded out a win, 37-34. Conroe will look to overcome 25% shooting. The Tigers won the turnover battle that night, 19-14.
The Cavaliers are similar in Conroe in that they also rely on different players offensively. Like Conroe, College Park doesn’t have anyone averaging double figures per game, but Brooke Smith leads at 9.1 points per game while Katie Westwood is at 8.7 per game.
Conroe last defeated College Park in February of last season. The Tigers have won three of the last five against the Cavaliers.
Looking ahead to Saturday, Conroe will look to win its sixth straight against New Caney.
The Tigers defeated the Eagles 66-24 on Nov. 26 as sophomore Carly Boothe led the way with 15 points, including a pair of 3-pointers. Sneed added 12 points while junior Riley Gross had nine points and six rebounds. Junior Anastacha McGowen led Conroe in rebounding that night with 10.
Conroe will likely keep one eye on Oak Ridge from here on out. The War Eagles beat Caney Creek 46-43 last Wednesday and fell to The Woodlands 66-30 on Saturday.
Oak Ridge hosts Cleveland on Wednesday and travels to College Park on Saturday.
Conroe junior Damiri Anderson (5) looks to pass against The Woodlands on Jan. 8, 2025. (Chris Zorzi/SportCast Media)
