Boys basketball: Seven Lakes in it to get tied

This wasn't exactly the district season the Seven Lake Spartans were looking for, but after an 0-2 start to District 19-5A play they were able to salvage most of it with a strong regular-season finish.

Their win over Morton Ranch, which sent them to 0-2, in the second round of district allowed them to keep pace with the Mavericks, and potentially grab the second seed for the boys basketball playoffs next week.

Cinco Ranch began the season with high hopes after being young last year, but through the first 11 district games wasn't able to topple one of the top teams in Strake Jesuit, Morton Ranch and Seven Lakes.

ABOUT THE GAME

• Matchup: Seven Lakes vs. Cinco Ranch

• When: 7 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 15

• Where: Cinco Ranch High School gym

• What's at stake: A win in the regular-season finale won't put the Cougars in the playoffs, but it could send them into the offseason with momentum. The Spartans beat Cinco Ranch by 11 points at home in the first round, but with this one at Cinco it's definitely not a given, and they need the victory to have a chance of boosting their playoff seeding.

• Seven Lakes players to watch: G Atif Russell, PF Jaylon Jones, PG Trey Pinkney, SG Princeton Onwas

• Cinco Ranch players to watch: PG Chris Saiz, SG Garrett Wilson, F Nate Gregory, F Kyle Douglas

TEAM HIGHLIGHTS

• Seven Lakes: After their 0-2 district start, the Spartans won their next five games, proving they could overcome their early struggles. But they still couldn't overcome Strake Jesuit the second time around. The Crusaders won 48-44 at Seven Lakes, with Sulaimon netting 18 points. Erick Roberson led Seven Lakes with 12 points. … The Spartans did, however, avenge their first-round district loss to Morton Ranch, winning 57-37 at Morton Ranch to snap the Mavericks' long winning streak. Jaylon Jones had 22 points for Seven Lakes and Princeton Onwas added 12 points. … The Spartans edged Memorial in their second meeting 47-45 on the road. Atif Russell had 19 points in that one.

• Cinco Ranch: The Cougars went just 16-19 overall and broke even at 5-5 in district, but it was enough to get them into the playoffs and help them pick up some momentum for this season, which they started 5-0. And even though they've been slightly better overall this year, a deeper district race will keep them out of the postseason. … Cinco swept Taylor in two district meetings and knocked off Katy and Mayde Creek in the first round, but it wasn't able to make noise against 19-5A's top squads. This is their last chance.