Month: February 2023

by Daniel Youngblood

GAME STORY: Wylie boys see season end with 54-46 play-in loss to Lubbock Cooper

COLORADO CITY — Leading Lubbock Cooper 40-37 after the first three quarters of its District 4-5A play-in game, the Wylie boys basketball ran out of steam in the fourth Friday.

After outscoring the Pirates 32-25 over the middle two periods to pull ahead by as many as five points in the third quarter, The Bulldogs were outscored 17-6 over the final eight minutes to see their season end with a 54-46 loss at the Colorado High School gymnasium. 

Wylie closed its campaign at 13-19, capping a  roller coaster of a year that saw the Bulldogs go from a 1-4 start to district to finish 5-7 in league play and force Friday’s winner-take-all rubber match with the Pirates.

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by Daniel Youngblood

GAME STORY: Allen, lockdown defense fuel No. 14 Highland past Roby in area round win

COLORADO CITY — The 14th-ranked Highland girls basketball team overcame a slow offensive start with a sterling defensive effort Friday, limiting Roby to just six total field goals in a 31-16 area round win.

The Lady Hornets held the Lady Lions to three points in three of the four quarters and rallied from a 3-2 deficit at the end of one period to take a double-digit lead early in the second half.

Senior standout Taylor Allen fueled the winning effort for Highland, scoring 19 points to outscore Roby herself in leading the Lady Hornets into the Region II-1A quarterfinals, where they’ll face District 14-1A rival Westbrook next week.

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by Evan Ren

GAME STORY: Huge Plowgirl rally falls short in tough area round loss to Sundown

POST — Plagued by an early case of nerves that led to missed shots from pointblank range and multiple turnovers, the Roscoe Plowgirls had dug a first-half hole for themselves in Friday’s 2A area round clash with Sundown. 

By night’s end, Roscoe came close enough to put a serious scare into Sundown, but eventually fell 56-47 at Antelope Arena. 

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by Brandon McAuliffe

GAME STORY: Eula starts fast and rolls past Rotan, earns quarterfinals rematch with Hermleigh

ANSON — The Eula Lady Pirates, ranked No. 16 in the state in Class 1A, wasted no time in putting an end to any hopes Rotan had of a second straight playoff upset Friday night at Tiger Gymnasium.

The Lady Pirates jumped out to a double-digit lead in the first four minutes of the game on their way to a 41-16 win, earning a Region II-1A quarterfinal date with No. 12 Hermleigh on Tuesday at Jim Ned’s Bill Thornton Arena.

Eula was led offensively by Hailie Cauthen and Nyellie Lee. Cauthen had 15 of her game-high 17 points in the first half, while Lee scored 11 points.

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by Daniel Youngblood

Big Country Preps Preseason Softball Position Rankings: Utility Players

After recognizing the top pitchers, catchers, infielders and outfielders that the Big Country softball scene has to offer, we close our position ranking series with a celebration of versatility.

For the final installment in our five-part series, we take a look at the top utility players, ranking our top-10 multi-position standouts with some others to watch in 2023.

We hope you’ve enjoyed reading through these lists and encourage you to come back next week when we’ll feature the top baseball players in the Big Country.

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by Daniel Youngblood

GAME STORY: No. 2 Jim Ned passes area round test against scrappy Breckenridge squad

EULA — For a half, the Breckenridge girls basketball team gave No. 2 Jim Ned all it could handle Thursday in a Region I-3A area round matchup at Mary Mosley Gymnasium.

But a Lady Indians squad not accustomed to playing in tight games rose up to meet the challenge in the second half, using an 11-6 run through the third quarter to create some cushion in a 42-30 win.

The victory — just Jim Ned’s seventh this year by less than 14 points — earned the Lady Indians (33-1 on the season) a region quarterfinal matchup next week with District 6-3A mate Ballinger, which knocked off Wichita Falls City View 56-46 on Thursday.

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by Brandon McAuliffe

GAME STORY: Big second half lifts No. 3 Holliday to area round win over Wall

ANSON — Wall coach Jerry McSherry knew his squad would have a tough time in Thursday’s Region I-3A area round game against third-ranked Holliday.

While the Lady Hawks struggled offensively, they dominated on the defensive end of the floor in the first half, building a six-point lead at the break.

A much different story unfolded in the second half, however, as the Lady Eagles pulled away for a 46-33 win, ending the Lady Hawks’ season at 28-6.

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by Daniel Youngblood

Big Country Preps Preseason Softball Position Rankings: Outfielders

After spending the first three days of our softball position rankings series in the dirt, we move the grass for Day 4.

For the penultimate installment of our five-part series, we take a look at the top outfielders in the Big Country, ranking our top 10 with others to watch in 2023.

We hope you enjoy our list.

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by Daniel Youngblood

Big Country Preps Preseason Softball Position Rankings: Infielders

After highlighting the top pitchers and catchers on the Big Country softball scene the past two nights, it’s time to turn our spotlight to the field.

For the third installment in our five-part position rankings series, we list our top-10 infielders in the area for the 2023 season.

We hope you enjoy reading through our rankings.

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by Evan Ren

GAME STORY: Westbrook, Highland sweep bi-district girls doubleheader at Winters

WINTERS — Beware of No. 3 seeds from tough districts. It’s been a hard lesson learned by multiple teams each year, the latest of which are the Cross Plains Lady Buffaloes, who were eliminated by third-seeded Westbrook in a girls Class 1A bi-district game on Tuesday, 35-32 at the Winters High School gym. 

Westbrook’s victory was followed by another for District 14-1A, which closed the evening with 57-22 win by Roscoe Highland over May in the nightcap. 

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by Daniel Youngblood

GAME STORY: Cooper tops Abilene High 52-36 on Senior Night, clinches No. 2 playoff seed

Abilene High traveled to Cougar Gym on Tuesday needing a win in its District 4-5A finale to keep its playoff hopes alive. Cooper needed a victory to clinch the league’s No. 2 playoff seed.

In the end, the Cougars were just too much for the Eagles in a 52-36 Senior Night victory.

CHS, which capped the regular season at 18-12 overall and 8-4 in district play, raced out to a 14-7 lead after a quarter and outscored AHS in each of the following three periods to close out the regular season with an impressive crosstown win.

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by Brandon McAuliffe

GAME STORY: Hawley uses late run against Albany to claim first district title in nearly four decades

HAWLEY — They are bound to be partying like it’s the 1980s in Hawley this week after a 20-0 game-ending run gave Hawley a 65-47 win over Albany and the outright District 10-2A basketball championship.

It’s the first time the Bearcats have won a district title in boys basketball since 1987.

Kason O’Shields had 17 points in the first quarter and bookended a 37-point night with 12 more points in the fourth quarter to fuel HHS.

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by Daniel Youngblood

Big Country Preps Preseason Softball Position Rankings: Catchers

After kicking off our softball position rankings series on Monday with the pitchers, we now shift our attention to their battery mates.

For the second installment in our five-part series, we rank the area’s top 10 catchers with others to watch for in 2023.

We hope you enjoy our list.

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by Daniel Youngblood

GAME STORY: Stephenville girls stymie Snyder in 66-30 bi-district win

TUSCOLA — The 10th-ranked Stephenville girls basketball team got its postseason started with a dominating performance Monday, using its patented pressure defense to fluster Snyder in a 66-30 bi-district win at Jim Ned’s Bill Thornton Arena.

The Honeybees shut the Lady Tigers out in the first quarter and built a 25-4 lead by halftime, ending the competitive phase of the game before the start of the third period.

The victory earned coach Jason Hodges’ team a highly anticipated area-round date with No. 11 Sanger (28-5), which routed Springtown 81-17 in its bi-district game on Monday. That matchup is slated for 6 p.m. Thursday in Weatherford.

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by Evan Ren

GAME STORY: Merkel girls eliminate nervous Brady, 54-33

WINTERS — On paper, everything was on Brady’s side heading into Monday’s 54-33 loss to Merkel in the Class 3A girls bi-district round.

The second-seeded Lady Bulldogs had momentum, winning five of their last six games, while third-seeded Merkel was on a downswing, having lost three straight. 

There was just one problem: Merkel, which is housed in District 6 with the likes of No. 2 Jim Ned and No. 15 Wall, isn’t your run-of-the-mill third seed.  And the Lady Badgers quickly demonstrated that in a convincing win at Winters High School.

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by Daniel Youngblood

Big Country Preps Preseason Softball Position Rankings: Pitchers

With softball season kicking off this week, it’s time to take a look at the players who will be making the biggest impact throughout the Big Country Preps coverage area in 2023.

For the first installment in a five-part series that will cover all position groups on the area softball scene, we’ll be taking a look at the Big Country’s top pitchers, ranking our top 10 with a list of others to watch this spring.

We hope you enjoy reading through our list.

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by Evan Ren

BIG COUNTRY PREPS PLAYER OF THE WEEK: Coleman’s Smith takes this week’s award

With our recent bad weather pushing an extra game into last week for the Coleman Bluecats, it gave senior guard Braxton Smith three chances to pile up big numbers. 

And he did exactly that. 

Our Big Country Preps Player of the Week opened with 19 points and nine steals in a win over Bangs last Monday. He followed that with 13 points, eight assists and 10 steals in a near-triple double in a win over Winters. 

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by Daniel Youngblood

FEATURE: Young Brock Lady Eagles balancing promising present, bright future

At 29-6 and ranked 14th in Class 3A heading into the playoffs, the Brock girls basketball team has a lot to like about its present. 

After finishing second to No. 6 Peaster in District 8-3A, the Lady Eagles will open the postseason Monday night with a bi-district matchup against Wichita Falls City View (22-10) in hopes of making a run in a brutal Region I-3A bracket.

But as laser focused as BHS coach Alex Stephenson and his team are on accomplishing the goals they’ve set for this season, it’s hard not to peak ahead to a future that could be even brighter. With a nine-player roster that features three freshmen and three sophomores to go with their three seniors, the Lady Eagles have much to look forward to as well. 

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by Yale Youngblood, Special to Big Country Preps

FEATURE: No. 2 Jim Ned girls hoping to ride near-sighted approach to long-term goals

As Jim Ned coach Hunter Cooley peers into the figurative rearview mirror at his team’s perfect 14-0 run through District 6-3A and looks ahead to a challenging collection of prospective Region 1-3A playoff opponents, there’s a completely different focal point he’s emphasizing with the Lady Indians.

It can be described in three words: the next opponent. 

No matter what Jim Ned has done before, and what the Lady Indians might be able to do in the future, Cooley has learned in two-decades-plus at the school that the only game that matters on the schedule is the upcoming one. And he has made that the team’s mantra as it prepares to open postseason play on Monday against Llano.

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by Daniel Youngblood

THIS WEEK IN BOYS BASKETBALL: Plenty of intrigue remains in final week of regular season

We’ve reached the final week of the boys basketball regular season and some districts have already had their champions and playoff representatives decided. But that’s not to say that the final slate of games on Tuesday won’t be packed with intrigue.

With a couple winner-take-all championship games and several matchups that will be critical in deciding playoff qualifiers and seeding, there’s still a lot of great boys basketball to be watched, if you know where to find it.

Here’s a look at some of the biggest games this week, as well as some of last week’s most important results:

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by Evan Ren

THIS WEEK IN BIG COUNTRY GIRLS BASKETBALL: Playoffs open with multiple bi-district matchups worth looking at

The second season has arrived. 

The Texas high school girls playoffs will get underway Monday and Tuesday with bi-district play. And as always, dozens of Big Country teams are taking part in the dance, which will conclude at the UIL State Tournament in San Antonio beginning on Thursday, March 2. 

With that, let’s take a look at some of the top early matchups involving area teams. And don’t forget to click the link at the bottom of the page which will take you to our pairings list. 

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by Daniel Youngblood

GAME STORY: Abilene High outlasts Wylie for thrilling 48-44 win on Senior Night

In District 4-5A boys basketball, anything can happen — and it usually does.

That was was the case again Friday night, when an Abilene High squad that had lost five of its previous six games cooled off the red-hot Wylie Bulldogs with a 48-44 Senior Night win to reignite its dimming playoff hopes heading into its final game Tuesday.

That victory was part of an upset-filled night in 4-5A that saw Lubbock Cooper top Abilene Cooper 44-41 and Lubbock Coronado down district champion Lubbock Monterey 77-62 to create ties for second and fourth place in the league standings heading into the final day of games on Tuesday.

AHS (12-16 overall, 4-7 in district) remains outside of the playoff picture for now, but with Friday’s win, the sixth-place Eagles trail Wylie (13-18, 5-7) and Lubbock Cooper (17-14, 5-6) by just one game in the win column heading into their regular-season finale against archrival Abilene Cooper.

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by Brandon McAuliffe

GAME STORY: Albany upends Cisco, sets up district championship showdown with Hawley

ALBANY — Albany and Hawley both won state championships in football less than two months ago and are now set to square off for at least a share of the District 10-2A championship on Tuesday night.

The showdown comes after the Lions dominated Cisco 46-33 on Friday night, jumping out to a double-digit first quarter lead and never looking back.

It sets up a game with major playoff implications as the eventual runner-up between Hawley (12-4, 10-1) and Albany (13-3, 9-2) would face Class 2A’s top-ranked team, Lipan, in the second round of the playoffs. While the Bearcats lead the Lions by a game in the district standings, an AHS win would secure coach Ryder Peacock’s team the No. 1 playoff seed by virtue of its 51-48 win on Jan. 20.

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by Evan Ren

GAME STORY: Stamford girls stop Cisco in District 10-2A tiebreaker behind 28-point night from Applin

CLYDE — Having split their two regular season meetings and ending in a first-place tie, it was time for the Cisco and Stamford girls basketball teams to settle the issue on Friday in a District 10-2A tiebreaker for the No. 1 seed. 

By night’s end, it was Stamford leaving the Clyde gym with the league title, behind a 28-point effort from Laylonna Applin in a 58-52 win. Deavine Hoadley tossed in 11 points and Lainee Lefevere added 10 more to help the Lady Bulldogs improve to 29-4 overall. 

Cisco (25-7) was led by Brooklyn Hurtado with 14 points and Brayley Brunson with 10.  The Lady Loboes were hurt by 15 Stamford steals and more than 20 turnovers, yet still managed to give themselves a shot at winning the game in the fourth quarter.

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by Zach Duncan, Special to Big Country Preps

FEATURE: Wall’s Armstrong finally back to full strength after frustrating injuries

Everson Armstrong’s junior season was both trying and ironic. 

The Wall basketball player ran into a wall early in his first scrimmage. The result was that Armstrong snapped part of his arm, missing the first couple months. 

That injury combined with a broken thumb once he returned kept the Wall guard from becoming a dominant force during the 2021-22 season. 

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by Yale Youngblood, Special to Big Country Preps

FEATURE: Hawley gym rat Knight a constant as Bearcat teammates round into form

As Hawley was plowing through 16 opponents en route to the Class 2A Division I state football championship this past fall, there was only one setback of note attached to the historic season: The Bearcats basketball team had to wait until late December to get its varsity roster intact.

Even then, Mitch Ables, who coaches both sports at the school, had to wait a little while longer for some of his major prospective hoops contributors to recover from injuries sustained on the road to AT&T Stadium, where Hawley crushed Refugio 54-28 in the title game to claim the title.

Luckily for Ables, he didn’t have to wait a second for Teaghan Knight to be ready.

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by Evan Ren

Big Country Boys Basketball Statistical Leaders (through Feb. 9): Scoring, rebounding, assists, steals, FT Pct., pass deflections and blocks

Below are the current season statistical leaders for Big Country boys basketball through Feb. 9.

This database will be continually updated for our subscribers throughout the regular season, using only those statistics submitted by area coaches.

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by Daniel Youngblood

SIGNING DAY: Wylie’s Borho, Fernandez celebrate college choices during belated ceremony

Wylie seniors Reese Borho and Jadyn Fernandez waited seven extra days to celebrate their college signings due to the winter storm that blew through Texas last week, but the two finally got to do so Wednesday during a Signing Day ceremony at the Wylie Performing Arts Center.

Surrounded by friends, family, coaches and teammates, Borho formally announced his signing to play baseball at Abilene Christian University, while Fernandez made her commitment to play softball for Wayland Baptist University official.

It was a special day for both players, ending a stressful recruiting process in time for each to focus on their final seasons in purple in gold.

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by Zach Duncan, Special to Big Country Preps

FEATURE: Comanche’s Martinez a standout in multiple categories

Photos courtesy of Santos Gomez

As Richard Pringle walked off the floor a couple months ago after telling his Comanche boys basketball team he would be retiring after the season, senior Miguel Martinez jogged up and put his arm around him. 

“Looks like we’re going out together,” the point guard told Pringle. 

That timing isn’t by coincidence. Pringle had thought about calling it quits at the end of the 2021-22 season, but he admitted Martinez was one of the main reasons he hung around this season. 

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