Final chance to get in gear for Cougars, Eagles

With league openers just around the corner for both clubs, Cy Falls (17-5A) and Tomball (13-5A) want to continue to improve and develop consistency and confidence before heading into difficult district territory.

Cy Falls is tabbed as the team to beat in 17-5A by the Texas Association of Basketball Coaches, while Tomball isn't picked to finish among the top four in 13-5A (at least by the TABC), but the same was said for Tomball's 10-3 football team that won a couple of playoff games this season.

ABOUT THE GAME

• Matchup: Tomball at Cy Falls

• When: 7 p.m. Friday, Dec. 17

• Where: Cy Falls High School

• What's at stake: A predistrict victory and more momentum with district games coming quickly

• Cy Falls players to watch: PG Mitchell Badillo, F Matt Slade, G Kerry Kang, P Kavin Gilder-Tilbury, F Kole Batiste, P Matt Hochstrasser

• Tomball players to watch: G Marque Booker, G Ronnie Harrison, G Tyler Pavlas, F Daniel Prince, F Ian Bates, G-F Malcom Scott, F Jonathan Budrean, P Seth Michaelson, G Brian Angelle, G Justin Dvorak, G Jameson Johnson

TEAM HIGHLIGHTS

• Cy Falls: The Eagles are led in scoring by Badillo (13.8), Slade (11.8), Kang (10.9), Gilder-Tilbury (8.5), Hochstrasser (6.6) and Batiste (5.1), and Gilder-Tilbury, a 6-5 sophomore, is the top rebounder (7.7), and 5-8 junior Badillo is best in assists (5.5) ... Cy Falls downed Cy Creek 59-43 for third place at the Cy-Fair ISD Tournament last week behind 23 points from Badillo and 16 by Gilder-Tilbury. The Eagles also beat Nimtiz 57-45 and Katy Taylor 52-39 before falling to Klein Forest 57-50 in the championship semifinals ... Cy Falls comes out of the holidays to play in the Kingwood Classic on Dec. 27-28, and the Eagles begin district by hosting Cy Ridge at 7 p.m. on Jan. 4.

• Tomball: The Cougars got 23 points from Booker, 18 from Harrison and 13 from Budrean in a 61-39 win against Conroe. Tomball also downed Reagan 56-51 and Montgomery 47-27, and fell to Bryan Rudder 89-84 at the event ... Booker, Harrison and Pavlas continue to be the scoring leaders, but with the addition of four from football and the other regulars continuing to settle into the rotation, the Cougars hope it all comes together before the 13-5A opener at 2 p.m. on Jan. 31 against Spring in Tomball.