Clear Lake Falconhoops

5A Rankings (Nov. 13, 2011)

1. Fort Bend Travis

2. FB Bush

3. Strake Jesuit

4. Seven Lakes

5. Westfield

6. North Shore

7. The Woodlands

8. Clear Springs

9. Hightower

10. Cy Falls

11. Klein Forest

12. Elsik

13. Bellaire

14. Clear Lake

15. Elkins

With only five returning lettermen on the team do not make the mistake of thinking the Falcons will be in the middle of the District 24-5A pack. In his third season at Clear Lake, Coach Penders efforts to mold the team into what he wants is beginning to come together. Coach Penders is blessed with a great bunch of kids who work hard, enjoy playing together, and like each other which is very important.

Lake is picked to make the playoffs this season and some expect the Falcons to win District 24-5A. One state ranking (TABC) has Lake at #21 in the state. Perhaps that is a stretch. We shall see. The Houston Chronicle has Lake ranked at #14 in the region. Expect major district competition from Clear Springs, Clear Brook, and Pearland.

The Falcons will field a large squad (14): 7 Seniors, 3 Juniors, 3 Sophomores, and 1 Freshman. The team is loaded with good guards including returning team MVP Rob Lewis who can do it all. Depth off the bench is the best it has been since '07 when Lake made it to the regional finals under the guidance of Coach Lynn McDonald. This year's team shoots the ball from outside exceptionally well and penetrates better than any Lake team in the last decade. Look for Alden Miles, Paris Clayton, and Colton Torrance to light 'em up. Strong support from varsity newcomers Will West and Jordan Davis will help as well. Fans will also be pleased when they see a much improved defensive ball club. Lake's free throw shooting last season was a meager 65% so expect to see better free throw shooting this season.  Against the really good teams, most of Lake's troubles will come in the paint on both ends of the floor.

This is going to be a fun season but the faint of heart should stay out of the gym.

Class 5A (8 of 20 teams in Region III)

1. Flower Mound Marcus

2. Fort Bend Travis*

3. Fort Bend Bush*

4. North Crowley

5. DeSoto

6. Houston Strake Jesuit*

7. San Antonio Churchill

8. Richardson Berkner

9. Garland Naaman Forest

10. Plano West

11. Alief Elsik*

12. Lewisville

13. South Grand Prairie

14. Houston Bellaire*

15. Spring Westfield*

16. Rowlett

17. Fort Bend Hightower*

18. Clear Springs*

19. San Antonio Clark

20. San Antonio MacArthur

* Region III

Class 4A

1. Dallas Kimball

2. Houston yates

3. Dallas Lincoln

4. Lamar Consolidated

5. Crowley

6. Dallas Woodrow Wilson

7. Humble

8. Fort Worth Arlington Heights

9. The Colony

10. Killeen