A few days later than planned, Athlete’s Connection editor Dave Purpura looks back at 2008 and peeks ahead at 2009: Best game The Westside baseball team’s 6-5 win against Baytown Sterling in Game 2 of their regional semifinal series May 23.

  The following is a list of high school and high school-related sporting events from The Athlete's Connection's coverage area. If you see an event missing and would like to notify us, call our office at (713) 339-4400 during regular business hours or e-mail to dpurpura@athletesconnection.com.

  A month-by-month chronology of memorable high-school sports events from 2008: JANUARY 5: Stratford quarterback Andrew Luck throws two touchdown passes in the U.S.

  Our Athlete’s Connection team passes on a few of their sports-themed wishes just before Christmas 2008: Dave Purpura An early signing period for football.

Hit the gym next year in Under Armour’s strength shorts. Under Armour’s shorts provide the best defense against heat and irritation when working out. The shorts have a HeatGear® micropique that keeps you cool, dry and comfortable.

  MONDAY Boys basketball Houston ISD Tournament, semifinals and finals at Delmar [championship game at 7:30] Katy at Klein Oak, 1 p.m. MacArthur at Baytown Sterling, 1 p.m. Clements at Crosby, 2 p.m. C.E.

  A little bit of Texas – or, perhaps more appropriately, two tall orders – might go a long way in determining the fates of two California women’s basketball teams. Briana Gilbreath, a USC freshman from Cinco Ranch, has started all eight games for the Trojans and leads them in scoring. Three hundred miles up the Pacific coast, Stanford freshman Nneka Ogwumike – last year’s 5A Player of the Year for the state champion Cy-Fair Bobcats – has become an integral part of the No.

  MONDAY Boys basketball Cinco Ranch at MacArthur, 7 p.m. Humble at Fort Bend Austin, 7 p.m. Katy Taylor at Kingwood 7 p.m. Girls basketball Conroe at Cy-Fair, 7 p.m. Kingwood at Katy Taylor, 7 p.m. Morton Ranch at Hastings, 7 p.m. Terry at Katy, 7 p.m.   TUESDAY Boys basketball  Alief Taylor at Clear Brook, 7 p.m. Cypress Falls at Cypress Ridge, 7 p.m. Cy-Fair at Cypress Creek, 7 p.m. Cypress Springs at Cypress Woods, 7 p.m. Jersey Village at Langham Creek, 7 p.m. Dulles at Barbers Hill, 7:30 Northbrook at Baytown Lee, 7:30 Girls basketball Fort Bend Bush vs.

Work out in style for the New Year by going to Dick’s Sporting Goods and purchasing a pair of Under Armour’s all season pants. The pants have a loose fit that provides ultimate comfort and easy layering.

  Are you looking for a new running shoe that offers a blend of cushioning and support? Foot Locker has the Kayano XII that will satisfy anyone’s running needs. The Kayano XII has a Biomorphic Fit that offers enhanced upper fit and comfort.

  MONDAY Girls basketball Cinco Ranch at Pearland, 7 p.m. Mayde Creek at Baytown Lee, 7:30   TUESDAY Boys basketball Alief Taylor at Cy-Fair, 5:30 Beaumont West Brook at Strake Jesuit, 7 p.m. Cypress Falls at Elkins, 7 p.m. Cypress Woods at Cinco Ranch, 7 p.m. Dekaney at Cypress Springs, 7 p.m. Dulles at Pearland, 7 p.m. Hastings at Fort Bend Austin, 7 p.m. HCYA at Kinkaid, 7 p.m. Katy at Northbrook, 7 p.m. Katy Taylor at Langham Creek , 7 p.m. Stratford at Mayde Creek, 7 p.m. Seven Lakes at Yates, 7:30 Westside at Westbury Christian, 7:30 Baytown Sterling at Spring Woods, 7:30 Jersey Village at Sharpstown, 7:30 Memorial at Foster, 7:30 Girls basketball Clements vs.

  The Athlete's Connection has a few ideas to help you jumpstart holiday shopping for your favorite sports fan or fans: North Face TKA 100 Glacier 1/4 Zip Fleece Top from Sports Authority Getting ready for the winter and need something to keep you warm? Sports Authority has the North Face fleece top that is perfect for the cold weather.

  MONDAY Boys basketball St.

MONDAY Boys basketball Aldine at Katy Taylor, 7 p.m. Cinco Ranch at Willowridge, 7 p.m. Cy-Fair vs.

    Cypress Falls volleyball player Kendall Cleveland, Cy-Fair swimmer Kaelee Mader and Bobcats diver Hunter Rains signed national letters of intent at the tail end of the national signing period, which ended Wednesday.   Cleveland signed with Arkansas.

  Cleaning out the notebook ahead of another busy weekend of football: So long, Bo The remarkable and sometimes overlooked career of Pasadena Memorial running back Bo Snelson came to an end Saturday when the Mavericks lost 51-35 to Beaumont West Brook in a bi-district game. Snelson, who also played some quarterback this year, finished with 5,063 yards rushing.

  MONDAY Boys basketball Fort Bend Bush at Cinco Ranch, 7 p.m. Girls basketball Booker T.

Five Cypress-Fairbanks ISD senior athletes signed national letters of intent on Wednesday — the first day of the fall early signing period — to play on the collegiate level next season: * Cypress Ridge baseball player Chris Fritts signed with Tennessee. * Langham Creek swimmer Andrew Keily signed with The Ohio State University. * Jersey Village volleyball player Ally Judkins signed with LSU. * Cypress Springs basketball player Erik Williams signed with Marquette. * Cypress Falls softball player Brittany Taylor signed with North Texas.

  Three Memorial High School athletes signed their letters of intent Wednesday afternoon, with two baseball players signing to play at the two major colleges in Houston while a basketball player heads to New Mexico. Baseball infielder Michael Ratterree signed to play at Rice next season.

  While the playoffs begin in football and continue in volleyball, the regular-season begins for girls basketball this week.

This is the final week of the high school football regular-season and the start of the volleyball playoffs, and you'll find the schedule for all area teams here.   As playoff sites are subject to last-minute change, the Athlete's Connection is not responsible for changes in site, time, etc.

  Volleyball's regular-season wraps up this week, most districts are holding their cross country championships and football winds down to Week Nine in this week's event schedule for the Athlete's Connection's coverage area.   If you see an event omitted or would like to add one, call the Athlete's Connection at (713) 339-4400 or e-mail to dpurpura@athletesconnection.com.

  Here is this week's event schedule for schools in the Athlete's Connection's coverage area.   The Athlete's Connection is not responsible for last-minute changes in time, site, etc.

  Seniors Chelsea Nuttall and Mayank Aranke were named the 2008 Clements High School homecoming queen and king before the Rangers' game against Elkins on Saturday afternoon at Mercer Stadium. Nuttall, the daughter of Robert Nutall of Sugar Land, is the school vice president for Habitat for Humanity, a member of PALS, Yearbook and Young Life.

  Macy Ramos and Kris Mixon were named the Kempner High School homecoming king and queen before the Austin-Kempner game Friday night at Mercer Stadium. Both seniors were in the homecoming court which included football players Felipe Marin, Quyalon Ewing, volleyball player Paige Lavoie, and basketball player Kenny Onyechi.

    Mary Claire Unverferth was crowned Cypress Woods’ Homecoming Queen at halftime of Friday night’s game against Cypress Springs at Pridgeon Stadium.

  Here is this week's event schedule for schools in the Athlete's Connection's coverage area.   The Athlete's Connection is not responsible for last-minute changes in time, site, etc.

            Brooke Strake was crowned Memorial High School’s Homecoming Queen at halftime of Friday night’s game against Northbrook at Tully Stadium.

  Here is this week's event schedule for schools in the Athlete's Connection's coverage area.   As sports schedules continue to change in the wake of Hurricane Ike, the Athlete's Connection is not responsible for last-minute changes in time, site, etc.

        St.

  The Memorial-Stratford rivalry – or, if one is west of the Sam Houston Tollway, the Stratford-Memorial rivalry – features the typical trappings of the co-existence of two schools located about five miles apart.   Each school names the week of the football game after the other school – i.e.

  The return of full football and volleyball schedules highlights this week's event schedule for the Athlete's Connection's coverage area.   Most area sports teams resume their regular schedules this week.

    Ten honorees on Thursday night were recognized and inducted onto the Cypress-Fairbanks ISD Wall of Fame for their commitment and contributions to the district’s educational and extracurricular excellence. Dr.

  Updated 3:47 p.m. Monday with Cy-Fair ISD volleyball reschedulings. Varsity sports return in many areas this week as schools re-open after closures because of Hurricane Ike.   Some area districts will insert makeup games into their schedules the next few weeks.

  Most area school districts will re-open next week after as much as 10 days off in the wake of Hurricane Ike. Cy-Fair, Fort Bend and Katy independent school districts, as well as Strake Jesuit and St.

  Some high school football stadiums are quiet as the recovery efforts from Hurricane Ike continue.

  Where will I play next week? That is a question many student-athletes are asking in the aftermath of Hurricane Ike. Many schools along the coastline are damaged and in some cases the schools may no longer be standing. While many may not be driven to get back to school really fast, many student-athletes will say they want to get back to practice and get ready to play football, volleyball, tennis or whatever sport they live.

  FORT WORTH — Right about this time seven years ago, a beautiful sight inspired me to write a column.   One beautiful September afternoon I decided to spend at a driving range, I looked up and saw a plane.

  Updated 10:24 a.m. Wednesday  All area school districts, and consequently the majority pf extracurricular activities, will remain closed through most of this week in the wake of Hurricane Ike.

  All weekend sports events, including those Thursday night, have been canceled ahead of the expected onslaught of Hurricane Ike.   Spring Branch, Katy, Houston, Cy-Fair and Fort Bend ISDs have canceled or postponed all weekend activities, starting tonight.

  Some particularly intriguing football matchups, including North Shore trying to earn its 73rd consecutive regular-season win and Memorial squaring off with 2-0 Pearland, highlight the schedule of high school sporting events in the Athlete's Connection's coverage area.   Schedules were provided by area school districts and organizations.

  The Woodlands High School will be awarded its second consecutive Class 5A Dodge Lone Star Cup trophy Friday night during its varsity football game against Katy. The University Interscholastic League and the Texas Dodge Dealers will be on hand to present the trophy and check to the winning school. With their state championship in cross country and their impressive performances in soccer, The Woodlands earned 84 total points for the 2007-08 school year. Defending 5A Dodge Lone Star Cup champion, Plano West, came in fourth this year with 68 points, sandwiched by Southlake Carroll (80), which won back-to-back 4A Cups in 2001 and 2002, and Cinco Ranch.

  Perhaps it’s fitting that after the wackiest recruiting season in recent memory, some of the phenomenal now-college freshmen who made headlines then now are making immediate impacts for their college teams. Katy graduate Bo Levi Mitchell was SMU’s starting quarterback in his first-ever college game Friday night, a 56-27 loss to Rice at Rice Stadium.

  A slew of compelling non-district volleyball matchups and Week One of the high school football season highlight this week's schedule of events from The Athlete's Connection's coverage area.

  The start of the high school football regular-season and the 76-team Pearland volleyball tournament highlight the schedule of this week's events involving teams from The Athlete's Connection's coverage area.   Schedules were provided by area school districts and organizations.

Being able to compete was all she wanted. So losing her sight bothered Jordan Mouton. But losing sport bothered her as much – if not more. Rather than sulk and wonder the infamous "Why me?" Mouton and her parents sought to find a new outlet for the athletic girl with an innate passion for sports. Select soccer was out.

  The following is a list of high school and high school-related sporting events from The Athlete's Connection's coverage area. If you see an event missing and would like to notify us, call our office at (713) 339-4400.   Schedules were provided by area school districts and organizations. The Athlete's Connection is not responsible for last-minute changes of site, time, etc.   TUESDAY Volleyball The Woodlands at Seven Lakes, 5 p.m. Morton Ranch at Cypress Springs, 5:30 Second Baptist at Bellaire, 6 p.m.

          Before they were honored one-by-one Wednesday night, the 30 members of the Touchdown Club of Houston’s 2008 Pre-Season High School All-Greater Houston Team got a reminder.   “This is a preseason honor.

  The following is a list of high school and high school-related sporting events from The Athlete's Connection's coverage area. If you see an event missing and would like to notify us, call our office at (713) 339-4400.   Schedules were provided by area school districts and organizations.

  Reagan football coach Harry Colon knows there’s no way to improve on a 100-percent graduation rate except making sure it doesn’t decrease.That’s a big reason the former NFL player is so high on the Play It Smart program, a National Football Foundation initiative aimed helping student-athletes succeed in the classroom.“It’s a very successful program that should be implemented in every high school,” Colon said at a recent Touchdown Club of Houston luncheon.