Category: Abilene Christian Panthers

by Evan Ren

Evan Ren’s 2026 Gym Rat Team: The hardest-working players in the Big Country!

Scoring and rebounding is only part of the story when it comes to basketball. Behind the scenes and beyond the view of the public, is where character is often measured. And it is with our Big Country Preps Gym Rat Team that we salute the individuals who exude the most of it. 

This team isn’t about who the best players are, though some of the area’s top players are on this list. 

The Gym Rat team is about effort, discipline, toughness, coachability and selflessness — traits that coaches love above all else and that championship foundations are built upon.

It is for that reason that our Gym Rat team is selected entirely by area coaches, described in their own words. And Big Country Preps is absolutely honored to present these individuals to you — the best “team players” (boys and girls) that the area had to offer during the 2025-26 season.

Players are listed in no particular order. 

Enjoy.

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by Evan Ren

BIG COUNTRY PREPS PLAYER OF WEEK: Jayton’s Stanaland takes this week’s spotlight

Our Big Country Preps Player of the Week earned the accolade on the state’s biggest stage. 

Jayton senior guard Sean Stanaland was a big contributor in several areas for the Jaybirds in a surprisingly easy 78-45 win over Kennard in the Class 1A Division II state title game. This began with the 28 points he scored to help JHS to its third straight championship.

He also pulled down 15 rebounds to go with five assists and three steals as Jayton capped its season with a victory in San Antonio’s Alamodome.

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by Daniel Youngblood

GAME REPORT: Waco Live Oak Classical tops No. 2 Abilene Christian in title game for second straight year

ROBINSON — The Abilene Christian girls basketball team’s bid for its first state championship since 1979 came to an end Thursday with a 56-48 loss to Waco Live Oak Classical in the Texas Association of Private and Parochial Schools Class 3A state title game at Waco Robinson High School.

For the second straight year, the top-ranked Lady Falcons used a big first quarter to grab an early lead and held off a spirited effort by the Lady Panthers the rest of the way to secure a single-digit win for the championship.

After racing out to an 11-4 first-quarter lead on its way to a 47-39 win that ended a Cinderella run for ACS last season, Live Oak sprinted out to a 19-11 advantage after the first quarter Thursday, leaving the second-ranked Lady Panthers to complete a comeback that never quite materialized in finishing as the TAPPS Class 3A runner-up for the second consecutive year.

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by Daniel Youngblood

GAME REPORT: No. 2 Abilene Christian girls cruise past Rockwall Heritage Christian, into state title game

WACO — The Abilene Christian girls basketball team is headed to the Texas Association of Private and Parochial Schools Class 3A state championship game for the second consecutive year after coasting to a 75-31 win over Rockwall Heritage Christian Academy on Wednesday afternoon at University High School.

The second-ranked Lady Panthers dominated the state semifinal matchup from the outset, stretching a 29-8 lead after one quarter to 49-17 by halftime to give themselves another shot at their first state championship since 1979.

With the win, ACS (22-3) earned a title game rematch with No. 1 Waco Live Oak Classical, which defeated San Antonio Lutheran in Wednesday’s other semifinal to punch its ticket to the final, which is scheduled for 10 a.m. Thursday at Waco Robinson High School. Live Oak defeated the Lady Panthers 47-38 in last year’s championship game. 

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