The Woodlands added to its championship legacy last season, going 11-1 in District 14-5A en route to the district title. It also won 28 games and advanced to the area playoffs. “It was a good season,” coach Dale Reed said. “We wish we could have gone further in the playoffs. “We didn’t play very well against Austin Anderson, but they were really good.” That second-round loss provided the impetus to work hard this offseason.

The top player back is Cody Mason, their second-leading scorer a year ago. He has a bigger role this season and he worked had to improve his game, and make sure he was ready, in the offseason. Center Xavier Valdes, a 6-10 senior, also is back for one more go, but he, too, has battled injuries, slowing his progress this year. Valdes sprained an ankle in The Woodlands’ opener and only recently returned to action. “He’s getting back into it, he’s getting better, and he keeps working at it,” Reed said.Senior guards Zach Manning, Shane Moran and Kyle Schnakenburg also play key roles. Moran and Schnakenburg share the point guard duties. Together, they helped propel The Woodlands to a 14-5 record, including a 2-0 mark through two 14-5A contests. The Highlanders beat Conroe and A&M Consolidated before Christmas.

Lufkin is up next. The two teams meet at 7 p.m. Friday at The Woodlands. “Lufkin’s always a good opponent, so that will always be a tough one,” Reed said. “And Bryan’s much-improved from last year, College Park’s really good, Oak Ridge is much-improved, so it’s going to be a tough district.”

And, if the Highlanders are lucky, they’ll emerge unscathed an ready to make another playoff run.