Author: Daniel Youngblood

by Daniel Youngblood

2023 All-Big Country Preps Boys Basketball Superlatives: Williams, Rigdon, Raschke, Reed and Bleiker claim awards

Here are our superlative award winners for the 2023 All-Big Country Preps girls basketball team. For the rest of this year’s girls and boys basketball selections, click the links below.

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by Daniel Youngblood

2023 All-Big Country Preps Boys Basketball Team: First-Team Roster

Here are our first-team selections for the 2023 All-Big Country Preps boys basketball team. For the rest of this year’s boys and girls basketball selections, click the links below.

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by Daniel Youngblood

2023 All-Big Country Preps Boys Basketball Team: Second-Team Roster

Here are our second-team selections for the 2023 All-Big Country Preps boys basketball team. For the rest of this year’s boys and girls basketball selections, click the links below.

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by Daniel Youngblood

2023 All-Big Country Preps Boys Basketball Team: Third-Team Roster (w/ honorable mention)

Here are our third-team selections for the 2023 All-Big Country Preps boys basketball team. For the rest of this year’s boys and girls basketball selections, click the links below.

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by Daniel Youngblood

2023 All-Big Country Preps Girls Basketball Superlatives: Applin, Allen, Galvin, Crain and Gill nab honors

Here are our superlative award winners for the 2023 All-Big Country Preps girls basketball team. For the rest of this year’s girls and boys basketball selections, click the links below.

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by Daniel Youngblood

2023 All-Big Country Preps Girls Basketball Team: First-Team Roster

Here are our first-team selections for the 2023 All-Big Country Preps girls basketball team. For the rest of this year’s boys and girls basketball selections, click the links below.

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by Daniel Youngblood

2023 All-Big Country Preps Girls Basketball Team: Second-Team Roster

Here are our second-team selections for the 2023 All-Big Country Preps girls basketball team. For the rest of this year’s boys and girls basketball selections, click the links below.

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by Daniel Youngblood

2023 All-Big Country Preps Girls Basketball Team: Third-Team Roster (w/ honorable mention)

Here are our third-team selections for the 2023 All-Big Country Preps girls basketball team. For the rest of this year’s boys and girls basketball selections, click the links below.

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by Daniel Youngblood

GAME STORY: Cooper can’t get bats going in 6-2 loss to Lubbock Monterey

The Cooper baseball could never solve Lubbock Monterey starter Hector Villegas on Saturday, tallying just two hits off the right-hander in a 6-2 loss to the Plainsmen at Cougar Field.

Villegas kept the Cougars off balance all game, pitching around four walks and two hit batsmen by drawing weak contact more often that not.

The Monterey starter struck out only three, but he drew nine groundouts and four pop outs in helping the Plainsmen (8-11 overall) improve to 4-1 in District 4-5A play. Cooper, which managed single runs in the first and fourth innings, fell to 10-6 on the year and 2-3 in league action.

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by Daniel Youngblood

GAME STORY: Wylie softball uses big fourth inning to down rival Cooper 7-4

The Wylie softball team stayed perfect in District 4-5A play Thursday, using a big fourth inning to break a 3-all tie and eventually beat crosstown rival Cooper 7-4 at Bulldog Field.

After scoring one run in each of the first three innings, the Lady Bulldogs erupted for four runs in the fourth — all with two outs — to build a lead they would protect the rest of the way.

The victory improved Wylie to 18-4 overall and 2-0 in league play, while Cooper fell to 1-2 in District 4-5A action with its second loss to a crosstown rival this week.

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by Daniel Youngblood

GAME STORY: Abilene High starts fast, pitches well in 8-1 win over Cooper

The Abilene High softball team got a strong pitching performance from Avah Reyes and Diana Silva and took advantage of four Cooper errors Tuesday in an 8-1 win over the Lady Cougars at Cougar Diamond.

The Lady Eagles led 1-0 after an inning, before taking control of the game with a three-run top of the third. That was all the support needed by Reyes and Silva, who combined to limit their crosstown rivals to just one run on six hits in the victory.

The win improved AHS (17-3 overall) to 1-1 in District 4-5A play, while Cooper fell to the same record in league action. AHS had opened district with a 6-4 loss to Wylie last week, while the Lady Cougars opened 4-5A play with an 8-6 win over Lubbock Cooper.

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by Daniel Youngblood

GAME STORY: Top-ranked Graford holds off No. 2 Jayton in OT to repeat as Class 1A champs

SAN ANTONIO — Entering the Class 1A state championship game, neither top-ranked Graford or No. 2 Jayton had been beaten by a team in their own classification.

At the end of four quarters Saturday morning at the Alamodome, that was still true.

But after the teams had traded punches on their way to a stalemate in regulation, the Jackrabbits outscored the Jaybirds 8-3 in overtime to hold off Jayton for a 49-44 win and claim their second consecutive state title.

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by Daniel Youngblood

CLASS 1A STATE CHAMPIONSHIP PREVIEW: No. 2 Jayton ready to test mettle against top-ranked Graford

Ranked No. 1 and 2, respectively, for most of the season, the Graford and Jayton boys basketball teams surprised no one by reaching the Class 1A state championship game.

But in pulling away to double-digit semifinal wins on Thursday, the Jackrabbits and Jaybirds set up a title game matchup that should prove quite a treat for small-school basketball fans.

Graford, the defending Class 1A state champion, brings with it to Saturday’s 8:30 a.m. clash a 36-3 record that features losses only to ranked larger school squads from North Hopkins, Lipan and Holliday. Jayton, at 37-2, has lost only to larger school playoff teams from Sweetwater and Reagan County.

Combined, the two have rolled through every Class 1A opponent put in front of them, adding just a little more intrigue to a matchup Jayton coach Ryan Bleiker called “a really exciting game.”

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by Daniel Youngblood

GAME STORY: Brock drops overtime heartbreaker to Childress in Region I-3A title game

WOLFFORTH — Playing their third game this week to go to down to the final minute, the Brock Eagles finally ran out of late-game magic Saturday in a 56-55 overtime loss to Childress in the Region I-3A championship game. 

After defeating Vernon 40-36 on Monday in a region quarterfinal matchup that was tied with just over two minutes remaining and getting a bucket just before the horn to win an overtime thriller over Shallowater in Friday’s region semifinals, BHS couldn’t get a buzzer-beating 3-pointer to fall against Childress on Saturday, seeing its season end one basket short of a state tournament berth for the second consecutive year.

The 10th-ranked Eagles closed their campaign at 29-10, while the No. 5 Bobcats (27-7) earned a trip to San Antonio next week, joining Hooks, No. 2 Hitchcock and No. 7 Lytle in the Class 3A state field.

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by Daniel Youngblood

GAME REPORT: Nazareth rallies past Huckabay girls for 30-20 win in Class 1A state title game

SAN ANTONIO — For two quarters, the Huckabay girls basketball team had the Nazareth Swiftettes right where it wanted them in the Class 1A state championship game Saturday morning at the Alamodome. But leading 14-9 at halftime, the Lady Indians went cold in the final 16 minutes of a tough 30-20 loss.

Nazareth used a 13-3 run through the third quarter to turn the halftime deficit into a five-point lead and held the Lady Indians to just three more points in the fourth to claim its 25th state title in its 31st state tournament appearance.

The loss ended Huckabay’s season at 40-3, denying the Lady Indians’ their first state championship. It was the second year in a row for coach Barry Gill’s squad to fall to the eventual state champion in San Antonio, after HHS lost to Ackerly Sands in the 2022 state semifinals.

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by Daniel Youngblood

GAME STORY: Disastrous first half dooms Munday in II-1A semifinals loss to Garden City

SNYDER — It was just one of those days for the Munday Moguls on Friday in their Region II-1A semifinal matchup with No. 7 Garden City.

Making its first region tournament appearances since 2013, MHS could do no right in the first half and the Bearkats could do no wrong.

After allowing the game’s first 15 points and falling behind 38-8 by halftime, the 20th-ranked Moguls looked much more like themselves in the second half. But the damage was long since done by that point in a 54-34 loss.

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by Daniel Youngblood

GAME STORY: Fast start propels feisty Benjamin Mustangs past No. 4 Irion County, into II-1A final

SNYDER — Playing the defending Region II-1A champion and fourth-ranked Irion County Hornets in the opening game of their first regional tournament in program history, it was the No. 19 Benjamin Mustangs who looked like state tournament veterans Friday at The Coliseum. 

BHS raced out to a quick 10-0 lead and answered every Irion County run from there to claim a 67-52 wire-to-wire victory over a Hornets squad that was widely considered to be the region favorite again this year.

The win, which might have come as a surprise to some, was no such thing for the Mustangs, who will play for their first state berth at 2 p.m. Saturday against No. 7 Garden City, which defeated Munday 54-34 in Friday’s other semifinal matchup.

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by Daniel Youngblood

BIG COUNTRY BOYS BASKETBALL REGIONAL PREVIEW: Six Big Country Preps teams remain

After four months of intense and entertaining action, the high school boys basketball season is nearing its end. But for six teams in the Big Country Preps coverage area, the most important games remain in front of them.

With Brock in the Region I-3A tournament and five area Class 1A teams — Jayton, Benjamin, Munday, Huckabay and Gordon — spread across three regions, there’s still plenty of meaningful basketball to be played.

And with two more wins, any of those six could be headed to San Antonio next week for the state tournament.

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by Daniel Youngblood

GAME REPORT: Baccus, Huckabay girls too much for Irion County in Class 1A state semis

SAN ANTONIO — After returning all but two players from a squad that ended its season the Class 1A state semifinals last year, the top-ranked Huckabay girls basketball team entered that same round Thursday hoping to earn one more game in the Alamo City than it did a year ago.

Fueled by a 23-point effort by senior Rion Baccus, the Lady Indians accomplished exactly that with a workmanlike 47-35 win over Irion County.

Trailing 10-7 after a quarter, Huckabay outscored the the Lady Hornets in each of the final three periods to pull away for a 12-point win that pushed the Lady Indians into the Class 1A title game, where they’ll face off with state power Nazareth at 8:30 a.m. Saturday.

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by Daniel Youngblood

STATE PREVIEW: Experienced Huckabay girls looking for extended stay in San Antonio this time around

As Huckabay’s excursion to San Antonio for the girls basketball state tournament began to take shape earlier this week, Tuesday was, per coach Barry Gill, a “fun, stress-free” day.

The Lady Indians saw a good portion of the historic Texas city, including the picturesque San Antonio River Walk, on which the team snaked around town that evening by boat, reveling in the eclectic mix of light, sound and savory aromas that marked every turn of the rudder. Among many reasons the Alamo City has evolved into one of Texas’ more popular destinations, the river ranks near the top.

So, coincidentally, does the Huckabay girls program.

Gill has been at the school two years. The conclusion of both has included a trip to the Alamodome, where the state’s four best teams in each classification vie to determine which one hoists the championship trophy.

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by Daniel Youngblood

GAME STORY: Munday outlasts Aspermont for first regional tournament berth since 2003

The first time Adrian Daniel coached in regional quarterfinal game at his alma mater, McMurry University, the Munday boys basketball team saw a 32-25 third-quarter lead evaporate in a 53-39 loss to Jayton in 2019.

Facing a similar situation Tuesday on the same floor, the Moguls got the job done against Aspermont.

Leading 25-13 after a half and, as fate would have it, 32-25 after three quarters, Daniel’s squad saw a 12-point advantage with 6:21 remaining trimmed to three with 45 seconds to play. But Munday made the stops and free throws it needed down the stretch to escape with a 50-46 win and advance to the regional tournament for the first time since 2013.

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by Daniel Youngblood

GAME STORY: 10th-ranked Brock boys hold off Vernon rally, advance to Region I-3A tournament

GRAHAM — Facing off in the Region I-3A quarterfinals with an athletic Vernon squad that had cruised through its first two playoff tests, the Brock boys basketball team knew it would get all the Lions had Monday at the Graham High School gymnasium. 

But as it turned out, the 10th-ranked Eagles had just a little bit more.

After stretching a 23-20 halftime lead to eight points early in the fourth quarter, BHS saw Vernon rally to tie the game at 36 with just over two minutes remaining. But rather than panic as the tension and noise level rose, the Eagles responded with a game-closing 4-0 run to take a 40-36 win and advance to the Region I-3A tournament for the seventh consecutive year and 12th time since 2010. 

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by Daniel Youngblood

GAME STORY: Hermleigh can’t find offense late in heartbreaking loss to Irion County

SNYDER — After scoring the first nine points of the game, the 12th-ranked Hermleigh Lady Cardinals led Irion County for 28½ of the 32 minutes in their Region II-2A semifinal Friday at The Coliseum. But a late scoring drought for the Lady Cardinals opened a window, and the Lady Hornets flew through for a dramatic 36-33 win.

Hermleigh, which led 15-5 after a quarter and still held an eight-point lead (30-22) as late as the 4:15 mark of the third period, was outscored 14-3 over the final 12 minutes, resulting in a heartbreaking loss for coach Tommy Cross’ squad.

The Lady Cardinals’ only points of the fourth quarter came on a layup by senior Juli Munoz that gave HHS a 33-30 lead with about 6:45 to play in the game. But Irion County scored the final six points, escaping with the come-from-behind victory when Syreah Callaway’s game-tying 3-point attempt rimmed out just before the final buzzer.

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by Daniel Youngblood

GAME STORY: Slow start, missed opportunities cost Highland in tough OT loss to Veribest

SNYDER — The Highland girls basketball team rebounded from a slow start and bevy of missed opportunities in the first three quarters Friday to force overtime in its Region II-1A semifinal matchup with sixth-ranked Veribest. But the Lady Hornets couldn’t quite close the deal in a 36-31 loss to the Lady Falcons at The Coliseum.

HHS, which trailed 10-4 at the end the first quarter, missed a load of layups and went just 1 of 6 from the free-throw line in the first half, twice missing the front end of one-and-one situations. Despite this, the Lady Hornets found themselves up on two occasions in the fourth quarter — the last at 27-25 with just over a minute remaining.

But Veribest, which led for the vast majority of contest, evened things up with a pair of late free throws and outscored Highland 9-4 in overtime to end the Lady Hornets’ season at 30-8.

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by Daniel Youngblood

Big Country Preps Preseason Baseball Position Rankings: Utility Players

After recognizing the Big Country’s top pitchers, catchers, infielders and outfielders, we wrap up our baseball position rankings series with the area’s multi-position standouts.

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

We hope you’ve enjoyed reading through these lists and are as excited as we are that baseball season is underway.

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by Daniel Youngblood

Big Country Preps Preseason Baseball Position Rankings: Outfielders

For the fourth installment of our five-part baseball position rankings series, we shift our focus from the infield dirt to the outfield grass.

After highlighting the Big Country’s top pitchers, catchers and infielders earlier this week, we now do the same with the area’s best outfielders, 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 Baseball Position Rankings: Infielders

After ranking  the top pitchers and catchers on the Big Country baseball scene the past two nights, we now turn our attention to the infield.

For the third installment in our five-part position rankings series, we list our top-10 infielders in the area with a list of others to watch in 2023.

We hope you enjoy reading through our rankings.

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by Daniel Youngblood

GAME STORY: Snyder boys shut down Stephenville in second half to claim 41-38 bi-district win

Not much separated the Snyder and Stephenville boys basketball teams in their Region I-4A bi-district matchup Tuesday at McMurry’s Kimbrell Arena.

Three points, to be exact.

In a evenly-matched game that close throughout, the Tigers escaped with a 41-38 win that wasn’t decided until the final buzzer, shortly before which Payton Poston’s game-tying 3-point attempt bounced off the rim and out, finally allowing the Snyder coaches and players to exhale and eventually celebrate.

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by Daniel Youngblood

Big Country Preps Preseason Baseball Position Rankings: Catchers

After opening our baseball position rankings series with the pitchers on Thursday, it’s time to shift our attention to their battery mates.

For the second installment in our five-part series, we celebrate the Big Country’s top catchers, ranking our top 10 with a list of others to watch in 2023.

We hope you enjoy our list.

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by Daniel Youngblood

GAME STORY: Westbrook uses third-quarter run to pull away from Rising Star

Third-seeded Rising Star gave the District 13-1A runner-up Westbrook Wildcats all they wanted in Monday’s Region II-1A bi-district matchup at McMurry’s Kimbrell Arena, but ultimately, coach Homer Matlock’s team was just a little too much in a 49-40 victory.

Leading by one point after a quarter and two points at halftime, WHS used a 14-8 run through the third quarter to create the separation it needed to pull away for the win and advance to the area round, where it will face the winner between Knox City and Crowell later this week.

Junior guard Parker Matlock fueled the effort for Westbrook, tying a game high with 18 points, while Grayson Jeffrey hit three of the Wildcats’ seven 3-pointers to overcome a game effort by Rising Star.

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by Daniel Youngblood

GAME STORY: Moses, Reed lead Cross Plains to emotional win over shorthanded Hermleigh

Playing without seniors Brenson Halford and Tyler Stewart, who were seriously injured in a car accident near Lubbock on Feb. 11, the Hermleigh boys basketball team struggled to contain the Cross Plains duo of Noah Moses and Ryan Reed on Monday night in a 39-34 bi-district upset at McMurry University’s Kimbrell Arena.

Moses and Reed scored 16 and 14 points, respectively, to lead the fourth-seeded Buffaloes, who used a 10-8 run through the fourth quarter to protect a lead that had been trimmed to three points (29-26) heading into the final eight minutes.

In a game that was tight throughout, Cross Plains held the District 14-1A champion Cardinals under 10 points in three of the four quarters to advance to the Region II-1A area round, where it will face off with the winner of Aspermont and Electra later this week.

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by Daniel Youngblood

Big Country Preps Preseason Baseball Position Rankings: Pitchers

After kicking off the spring sports season with our softball position rankings last week, it’s time to turn our attention to the the baseball field and the players you’ll be reading about throughout the 2023 campaign.

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

We hope you enjoy reading through our list.

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by Daniel Youngblood

FEATURE: Cooper forward Rivera an imposing force on both ends for Coogs

At 6-foot-5, having scored 1,000-points-plus in a varsity career that began when he was a freshman,  Cooper’s Jaelyn Rivera is standing tall these days — both literally and figuratively. 

As the primary offensive force on a Cougar team that is 18-12 after finishing second in District 4-5A, Rivera will lead Cooper into its Region 1-5A bi-district game against Amarillo Palo Duro at 6 p.m. Tuesday in Lamesa.

While Cooper coach Bryan Conover can only speculate how his team’s deliberate-offense/stifling-defense style will match up against the Dons’ run/gun/launch-the-3-as-soon-as-it’s-open attack, he knows his team will be perched on Rivera’s sturdy shoulders when the game tips off.

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by Daniel Youngblood

FEATURE: Surging Mustangs ready for playoff challenge after overcoming 0-4 district start

Sitting at 0-4 in District 5-4A play on Jan. 25, the Sweetwater boys basketball team found itself at a crossroads.

The Mustangs’ campaign, which began with a promising 17-6 run through nondistrict play, was headed toward a disappointing end without some necessary course correction.

Coach Evan Grantham’s squad needed to right the ship and quickly if it hoped to finish its season in the playoffs. Fortunately, it did just that.

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