The Woodlands senior forward Cody Mason, right, and senior center Xavier Valdes team up for a rebound against North Shore during the championship game of the 2013 Kingwood Insperity Holiday Classic at Kingwood High School on Saturday.

North Shore junior post Jarrey Foster, left, passes around the defense of The Woodlands senior guard Aaron Kovach during the championship game of the 2013 Kingwood Insperity Holiday Classic at Kingwood High School on Saturday.

North Shore junior post Jarrey Foster skies for a dunk in front of The Woodlands senior forward Garrett Smith (#40) during the championship game of the 2013 Kingwood Insperity Holiday Classic at Kingwood High School on Saturday.

North Shore’s coaches and players were all smiles during their halftime shootaround. The Mustangs were having fun on the court after accumulating an 18-point lead when the second quarter concluded. And North Shore’s pleasant mood continued, as it opened the first five minutes of the third quarter on a 16-2 run to put The Woodlands away.

North Shore defeated The Woodlands 66-40 in the championship round of the Insperity Holiday Classic atKingwood High School with an attacking defense that forced the Highlanders into turnovers and allowed the Mustangs to get into transition. It was North Shore coach David Green’s 500th career victory.

“It’s a great accomplishment, but I’m more proud of those kids and what they accomplished today,” Green said. “There was a lot of domination by our kids and getting better and trying to put themselves in position to win a state title.”

North Shore, the No. 3 Class 5A team in the state according to the Texas Association of Basketball Coaches, was expected to win the Holiday Classic and took care of business by also defeating Del Valle, Cy-Fair and Fort Bend Travis, with only one victory by fewer than 20 points. click here for additional photos and complete story