Football: Cougars looking back on season with pride

One bad afternoon doesn't spoil a season, especially when it's been the best in two decades, so for the Cy Creek Cougars, and in particular a standout senior class, there's plenty to be proud of.

A little bad-taste-in-the-mouth feeling may still linger from a season-ending 54-7 region semifinals loss to undefeated Pearland last week in Baytown, but a trip to the third round and a 9-4 finish are worth remembering.

Senior quarterback Chuckie Keeton and his classmates grabbed plenty of headlines on the way to and during the playoffs, and no doubt they'll be missed, and one area where graduation will hit particularly hard is the offensive line.

Against Pearland, junior starting center Virak Tho was missing due to a concussion suffered in a 54-28 postseason blowout of Cinco Ranch, so the Cougars started an all-senior offensive front of tackles Kyle Bocheloh and Dylan Johnson, and guards Jake Zagst and Will Marchand and Adam Welch, who moved from guard to play center for the first time since his freshman season.

"Welch himself was just coming back from an injury, and to then have to start at center in the region semifinals, well, let's just say it was pretty interesting," Cy Creek offensive line coach Shaun McDowell said. "Our group worked their tails off this season, and we've had some pretty good talent in the backfield who make us look pretty good.

"Overall, this is one of the most talented senior classes I've ever been around, and we really are going to miss all of them."

Tho and junior Julian Perez will be the only returning offensive linemen who have logged significant varsity minutes, and at tight end, the Cougars lose senior Ryan Pyper and bring back junior Jarred Gipson.

"It's going to be the same type of situation next season because Bocheloh and Johnson were the only returning starters coming back this season, and these guys came together to form a very good unit," McDowell said. "Our linemen needed to be more physical in a new offensive system this season, and I believe we were."

Cy Falls girls net No. 1 position

An 8-0 start shot Cy Falls to the top of the Texas Association of Basketball Coaches Class 5A girls rankings that had Atascocita second and Katy Taylor third.

The 5A girls top 25 also included Hightower at No. 7, North Shore No. 8, Cy-Fair 10th, Elsik 13th, Dekaney 16th and Mayde Creek 25th.

Langham Creek moved into the 5A boys rankings at No. 20 before falling to No. 12 Kingwood.

Other area teams in the 5A boys poll are No. 2 Fort Bend Travis, No. 13 Dekaney, No. 16 Bellaire, No. 17 Strake Jesuit, No. 18 Bush, No. 21 Seven Lakes, No. 22 Klein Forest and No. 25 Clear Creek.

Cy Woods basketball

With several basketball lettermen still playing football, Cy Woods has been forced to use some younger and less-experienced players early on, but coach Chris Draudt's Wildcats did record a 44-42 victory against Klein Oak during the Border Battle last week at Spring High School.

Junior forward Cody Thomas led Cy Woods with 15 points and eight rebounds in a contest where the Wildcats jumped to leads of 20-13 after one quarter and 34-24 at halftime, and then held on for the win.

There's a definite basketball feel to Cy Woods' fast-break football attack, and the 67 points scored against Katy Taylor and 52 against Clear Creek in the last two playoff games is more than the basketball Wildcats put up in any of their first three outings.

Tourney time for area squads

Basketball is in full swing and that means it's tournament time for just about every team, including seven Cy-Fair ISD schools at this week's Katy ISD Classic.

The Cy Falls, Cy-Fair, Cy Ranch, Cy Creek and Jersey Village girls, and the Cy Springs and Langham Creek boys compete in the Katy event that runs from Thursday through Saturday, Dec. 2-4.

The Cy Woods boys are at this week's 79th Carlisle/Krueger Classic hosted by the Clear Creek ISD and played at Clear Lake and Clear Creek High Schools.

Cy Woods meets Bryan at 4:30 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 2, at Clear Creek in its tournament opener.

The event was called the Clear Creek ISD Classic in the past, but was renamed for former Clear Creek ISD coaches George Carlisle, his son Buddy Carlisle, and National High School Hall of Fame member Bill Krueger.

According to organizers, it's the oldest high school tournament in Texas.