Highlanders Riding High

ANNA STRICKLAND, PAIGE BRADLEY & MAGHEN LORMAND

During the preseason I used a little sarcasm to poke fun at the rankings and called The Woodlands “The UNRANKED Woodlands”. It’s a judgment call and there are times when I’m wrong however it’s usually a transfer or injury involved when I make my mistakes. After seeing what the Highlanders did last season along with the players they had coming back, no logic was involved on why they were not ranked. To reach different generations, I have to adjust the message and the best way to do that is take a couple of verses from Encore by Beyonce’s husband and tie it in with rankings

“Record companies told me I couldn’t cut it, now look at me, all star-studded”

ASHLYN HARGRAVES

Star studded to say the least as The Woodlands lead the area with four next level players from Class of 2012. Paige Bradley (Denver), Ashlyn Hargraves (Lubbock Baptist), Anna Strickland (Harding) and Maghen Lormand (Concordia). They also have one of the most coveted posts in the area from the Class of 2013, Kelsey Lang who just happens to be 6’4. Right now, they are on the verge of capturing the District 14 5A title, something they shared with Atascocita last season however this squad is more poised than they were last season as their 22-2 record shows. Ranked No.14 by TABC, their two losses have been to Top 10 teams, Mansfield Summit and Desoto, by two points each, so in other words, they could be undefeated if they hit an additional three pointer in both games and they have several players who can knock them down starting with Hargraves. Winning district is one thing, reaching state is another because Desoto, Pflugerville and Dekaney are some of the teams possibly standing in their way. Here’s the deal, you never know how this stuff will turn out and to count The Woodlands out, well let’s go back to the lyrics.

KELSEY LANG