Tigers girls basketball team started 0-2 in district play.
It’s no wonder Houston couldn’t recall. That’s because it hadn’t previously happened on her watch since becoming the Tigers’ leader in the 2014-15 season.
It has happened this season, but with Thanksgiving still days away and a third district game on the agenda Tuesday, the Tigers have time to right the ship.
In a week that’s all about feasting, Conroe (5-5, 0-2) hopes to get cooking against New Caney (2-8, 1-0) 4 p.m. at home in the third District 13-6A game of the season.
The Tigers came up short twice last week in very competitive games that just didn’t bounce their way after the buzzer sounded in the fourth quarter.
Conroe fell 37-34 to College Park Tuesday night after nipping at the Cavaliers down the stretch, but unable to tie the game or take control.
On Friday night, Conroe led The Woodlands by three points early in the fourth quarter before the Highlanders reeled off nine straight points and played keep away to drain the clock for a 38-35 win.
The Tigers haven’t started 0-2 in district play since the 2012-13 season and its worst district season in program history came the year before when they didn’t register a win.
Houston came on board as the Conroe coach in 2014 and the Tigers went 2-10 in district play, but took a win in the second contest during what ultimately became a 1-8 start.
Conroe can prevent missteps like that and heading into Thanksgiving break feeling good if it can take care of business against a New Caney team it hasn’t had many issues with in recent meetings.
New Caney comes in on a 45-28 win over Cleveland to start district play Friday night. It had a bye on Tuesday and fell to Dayton in the final chapter of a four-game losing streak.
The Tigers are 4-0 against the Eagles since the latter elevated to Class 6A ahead of the 2023-24 season. Conroe’s average margin of victory in those games is 29.3 points per game.
In last year’s December meeting, Conroe won 56-25 as senior Alisa Sneed rattled in 14 points (behind 2024 graduate Makenzie Castille’s 15 points).
The Tigers then beat New Caney again in January, 42-24. In that one, freshman-at-the-time Carly Boothe led with 10 points while current junior Damiri Anderson followed with nine.
Junior Emily McCants will be one to stop on New Caney as she’s averaging around 13 points per game.
Conroe’s offensive identity right now is balance.
On any night, it could be forwards Riley Gross or Taylor Smith contributing or Sneed might handle the offensive flow from her point guard spot.
The Tigers inserted three new starters against the Highlanders on Friday night – Maliyah Harrison, Kayleigh Phillips and Ahmaj Brundridge – in hopes of inspiring the roster.
Conroe hasn’t had a double-digit producer since Smith put in 13 points in a Nov. 15 win over Liberty, the Tigers’ most recent victory.
Overall, Conroe is 6-3 against New Caney since 2010, and hasn’t lost to the Eagles since a Christmas tournament in 2019.
New Caney, now under new coach Nakazi Glover, has won just seven district games over the past two seasons. The Eagles last made the playoffs – as a 5A program – in 2021.
This is Conroe’s last district game until Dec. 10 when it travels to Oak Ridge.
Conroe sophomore Maliyah Harrison (15) defends against The Woodlands on Nov. 22, 2024 (Chris Zorzi/SportCast Media)
