Category: Abilene High Eagles

by Evan Ren

2024 All-Big Country Preps Boys Basketball Rising Stars Team: The top freshmen and sophomores in the area!

Here is our 2024 All-Big Country Preps boys basketball Rising Stars team, comprised of the top freshmen and sophomores in the area. For the rest of this year’s boys and girls basketball selections, click the links below.

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by Evan Ren

2024 All-Big Country Preps Girls Basketball Rising Stars Team: The top freshmen and sophomores in the area!

Here is our 2024 All-Big Country Preps girls basketball Rising Stars team, comprised of the top freshmen and sophomores in the area. For the rest of this year’s boys and girls basketball selections, click the links below.

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by Brandon McAuliffe

GAME STORY: Clutch triple by Briscoe propels Wylie to crosstown win over AHS

The Abilene High and Wylie baseball teams spent the first three innings of Friday night’s showdown for the District 4-5A lead at Blackburn Field searching for a critical hit that would create some momentum.

Wylie’s Tye Briscoe delivered it on a full count pitch leading off the fourth with a triple to right that kickstarted a run of three hits in four batters as the Bulldogs knocked off the Eagles 6-2 in front of a rowdy crowd.

Both Wylie coach Grant Martin and his AHS counterpart, Brad Harman, said it was the most important at-bat of the contest.

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by Daniel Youngblood

GAME STORY: Abilene High ace Silva notches 300th career strikeout in 6-0 win over Coronado

Abilene High senior Diana Silva struck out 11 batters over 5.2 shutout innings Tuesday to pitch the Lady Eagles to a 6-0 home win over Lubbock Coronado, reaching an impressive milestone in the process.

The AHS right-hander closed her outing with the 300th punchout of her career to move within 85 strikeouts of the school record set by 2019 graduate Kaylen Washington.

Silva’s performance, which featured just one Lady Mustangs hit and a pair of walks, was one of many highlights in the game for the Lady Eagles, who pounded out 12 hits in improving to 14-10-1 overall and 3-2 in District 4-5A play.

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by Brandon McAuliffe

GAME STORY: Big innings, solid pitching from Bennett lift AHS into tie for District 4-5A lead

Saturday’s are quickly earning a new name around the Abilene High baseball program — Brady-day.

A week after Brady Bennett led the Eagles to a 2-1 win over crosstown rival Cooper, the senior took the mound against Lubbock Cooper and dominated again, leading AHS to a 13-5 win over the District 4-5A leader entering the day.

The win moved AHS into a tie for first place in the district standings with the Pirates at 4-1.

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by Daniel Youngblood

GAME STORY: Silva, Lady Eagles too much for Cooper in 9-0 crosstown win

Coming off a difficult 3-2 loss to Wylie in its District 4-5A opener with a full week to think about that result, the Abilene High softball team bounced back with an impressive showing Tuesday afternoon against rival Cooper.

Led by senior Diana Silva, who pitched four dominant innings while going 2 for 2 at the plate, the Lady Eagles cruised to a 9-0 home win over the Lady Cougars, evening their league record to 1-1 in the process.

After managing just three hits in the loss to Wylie, AHS (12-9-1 overall) pounded out 12 singles against Cooper freshman Payton Ellis while adding four walks and a hit batsman to put constant pressure on the Lady Coogs defense. Leading 7-0 after three innings, the Lady Eagles were never able to put the run-rule into effect, but they maintained firm control throughout the contest.

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by Daniel Youngblood

GAME STORY: Senior ace Bennett pitches, hits Abilene High to walk-off win over rival Cooper

A whirlwind of a week ended on a thrilling note for the Abilene High baseball team on Saturday, as the Eagles scored a 2-1 walk-off win over archrival Cooper in a District 4-5A matchup at Blackburn Field.

Closing out the rain-soaked Abilene ISD Invitational, AHS followed up a weather-suspended matchup with Wylie on Friday night with a gritty, emotional win over another crosstown opponent less than 20 hours later to improve to 8-5-1 overall and 2-0 in district play.

Senior ace Brady Bennett was the hero on the mound and at the plate, allowing one unearned run over a three-hit complete game while coming through with the game-winning sacrifice fly in the bottom of the seventh.

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by Evan Ren

BIG COUNTRY PREPS PLAYER OF THE WEEK: Colorado City freshman takes this week’s award

As if the Big Country’s collection of softball catchers wasn’t already “scary-good,” the area can count a worrisome new addition to its ranks: Colorado City freshman Bryanna Munoz, our Big Country Preps Player of the Week for the week ending March 2.

How’s this for frightening? 

Munoz, who was in junior high only a year ago, was an absolute wrecking ball in last week’s Brownfield Tournament, hitting a combined .818 in the event with an 18 of 22 tally at the plate. But that’s not the half of it. 

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by Evan Ren

BIG COUNTRY PREPS PLAYER OF THE WEEK: Anson freshman takes the spotlight

It may be a little too early to label Anson freshman softball pitcher Kayme Elrod as a star in the making. But our Big Country Preps Player of the Week is off to a pretty good start.

Last week her performance was nothing short of startling, both offensively and defensively.

In the circle, Elrod finished with a 5-0 record with a five-inning no hitter, a 0.77 ERA and 46 strikeouts in 27 innings of work.

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by Evan Ren

BIG COUNTRY PREPS PLAYER OF THE WEEK: Merkel senior closes the curtain in a big way.

Merkel senior Kooper Darby picked the right time to post the best all-around game of his high school career. 

Playing in his final basketball game as a Merkel Badger, our Big Country Preps Player of the Week tallied a career-high 44 points to go with 16 rebounds, five assists, five steals in a 79-42 win over San Angelo Grape Creek. 

With the Badgers (17-16) missing the playoffs, Darby had a final opportunity to make an impact as a high schooler and he did — like a meteor. 

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by Daniel Youngblood

GAME STORY: Cooper boys knock off AHS to keep playoff hopes alive, deny Eagles share of district title

Hosting Cooper with a chance to clinch a share of the District 4-5A title, the Abilene High boys basketball team had plenty to play for Tuesday at Eagle Gym.

The stakes were even higher for the Cougars, who were playing their fourth straight must-win game after opening league play with a 2-6 record.

In the end, desperation won out, as Cooper kept its playoff hopes alive once again, knocking off its chief rival 57-49 in the regular season finale for both teams to force a play-in game against Wylie on Friday for the district’s fourth and final playoff spot.

The victory marked the fourth in as many games for the Cougars, who have beaten two of the top three teams in 4-5A during their improbable district-closing run.

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by Daniel Youngblood

THIS WEEK IN BOYS BASKETBALL: There’s still plenty to be decided as we approach end of regular season

We’re down to the final scheduled date of the boys basketball regular season, but there’s still plenty to be decided on the Big Country hoops scene.

Included on Tuesday’s slate are a number of matchups with district title implications and several others that will either decide or help decide playoff berths.

Here’s a peek at some of the biggest games on tap this week, as well as a look back at some of last week’s most influential results:

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by Daniel Youngblood

GAME STORY: Abilene High wins wild one at Wylie to stay in District 4-5A title hunt

Needing a road win over Wylie to stay in the District 4-5A title race, the Abilene High boys basketball team secured the result it was looking for Friday at Bulldog Gym. But getting there was anything but easy.

The Eagles got all they could handle from a shorthanded Bulldogs squad, which rallied from a trio of 13-point deficits in the third quarter to take a five-point lead with less than four minutes remaining in the game. But coach Justin Reese’s squad had the final run in a second half that was full of them to escape with a thrilling 65-64 victory.

Down 61-56 with 3:53 to play, AHS responded with nine consecutive points, using a pair of Tyson Thompson free throws to ice the game late before a Will Evans 3-pointer at the buzzer pulled the final margin to one. Continue reading “GAME STORY: Abilene High wins wild one at Wylie to stay in District 4-5A title hunt” →

by Daniel Youngblood

SIGNING DAY 2024: Abilene schools combine for more than 20 signees across five sports

With athletes across the country putting pen to paper to make their college choices official Wednesday, Abilene’s local high schools were as active as they’ve ever been on National Signing Day.

Wylie had a school-record 10 athletes across four sports take part in a single ceremony Wednesday afternoon, while Abilene High had nine athletes from three sports sign their letters of intent over the course of the day and Cooper had four football players represented at its Signing Day ceremony.

In all, more than 20 local athletes made pledges to 13 schools, spanning all level of collegiate athletics.

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by Brandon McAuliffe

GAME STORY: Lubbock-Cooper escapes AHS with fourth-quarter rally

Fans showed up to Eagle Gym on Friday night with the expectation of seeing a massive showdown for the District 4-5A boys basketball lead between Abilene High and Lubbock Cooper.

The Eagles entered the contest with a 9-1 record this year on their home court and claimed a 57-56 win at Lubbock Cooper during the first round of district play.

Lubbock Cooper returned the favor with a 61-57 win, tightening its grip on the district lead with three games to go as the Pirates search for their first district championship since 2003.

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by Daniel Youngblood

UIL REALIGNMENT: Local football teams spared surprises on ‘uneventful’ realignment day

While the University Interscholastic League’s biennial realignment offered surprises for many coaches across the state, Abilene’s local football mentors were spared any real suspense when they opened their packets containing new districts for the next two school years.

When the news became official at 9 a.m. Thursday, Abilene High’s Mike Fullen, Cooper’s Aaron Roan and Wylie’s Clay Martin found their schools where they expected to in the Region I landscape.

Fullen’s Eagles will once again be in District 2-5A Division I, sharing a league with familiar opponents Amarillo High, Amarillo Caprock, Amarillo Tascosa, Lubbock Coronado and Lubbock Monterey, while adding a lone newcomer in Lubbock High. Cooper and Wylie, meanwhile, will be in District 2-5A DII with Amarillo Palo Duro, Lubbock Cooper, Plainview and new Wichita Falls ISD schools Legacy and Memorial.

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by Evan Ren

BIG COUNTRY PREPS PLAYER OF THE WEEK: Eula’s Clayton Gray claims this week’s top spot

The 15th-ranked Eula Pirates (22-3) needed sweep of Baird and Cross Plains to finish the first half of district play at 5-0 and they did just that with the help of our Big Country Preps Player of the Week. 

Senior forward Clayton Gray posted big numbers in both contests, beginning with a double-double of 32 points and 14 boards in the Baird win. 

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by Daniel Youngblood

THIS WEEK IN BOYS BASKETBALL: Several district leads on the line in loaded area slate

As a fan of high school basketball, I generally have no trouble finding area matchups I find interesting. Browsing this week’s slate, I had more trouble finding games that weren’t.

As we continue to barrel toward the boys basketball playoffs, we’ll see a number of Big Country district races take shape this week as league leads will be on the line in a number of marquee matchups.

If, like me, you enjoy hoops action, there should be plenty to pique your interest on both Tuesday and Friday. Here’s a look at the week to come:

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by Daniel Youngblood

GAME STORY: Abilene High girls gut out big home win over Lubbock High; boys cruise past Westerners

Entering Friday with just a one-game lead on crosstown rival Cooper after the Lady Cougars upset Wylie on Tuesday, the Abilene High girls basketball team needed to protect its home court against Lubbock High to maintain a comfortable hold on District 4-5A’s fourth playoff spot.

Led by junior guard Myra Thomas and senior forward Samara Padgitt, the Lady Eagles did just that, fending off a spirited effort from the Lady Westerners to secure a 66-61 win at Eagle Gym.

Thomas scored a game-high 17 points, while Padgitt came off the bench to provide 15 points — 13 in the second half — to kick off a doubleheader sweep for AHS, which saw its boys cruise to 54-21 win Friday’s late game.

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by Evan Ren

Big Country Boys Basketball Statistical Leaders (through Jan. 25): Scoring, rebounding, assists, steals, FT Pct., pass deflections and blocks

Below are the current season statistical leaders for Big Country boys basketball through Jan. 25.

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 Evan Ren

Big Country Girls Basketball Statistical Leaders (through Jan. 25): Scoring, rebounding, assists, steals, FT Pct., pass deflections and blocks

Below are the current season statistical leaders for Big Country girls basketball through Jan. 25.

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

THIS WEEK IN BOYS BASKETBALL: Key games dot schedule as most district races reach midpoint

We’ve reached the midway point of the district schedule in most area boys basketball leagues, and district championship and playoff races are heating up.

As one might expect with February approaching, the Big Country slate is full of meaningful games. 

With that in mind, it’s time to renew our winter custom of taking a look at the most important games on the horizon and a peak back at last week’s most important results.

We hope you enjoy.

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by Daniel Youngblood

GAME STORY: Abilene High boys edge Cooper in back-and-forth thriller; Lady Eagles cruise to win

Following his team’s 68-58 win over Wylie on Tuesday, Abilene High boys basketball coach Justin Reese said he was expecting a tough road test from crosstown rival Cooper on Friday. 

As it turned out, he and his Eagles got that and then some from the Cougars.

But at the end of a hotly contested game that featured eight ties and 11 lead changes — seven of those in the final quarter — AHS maintained its unbeaten status in District 4-5A play with a gutsy 45-44 win in front of a capacity crowd at Cougar Gym.

The victory, which capped a perfect 6-0 run through the first half of league play for the Eagles, secured a doubleheader sweep for Abilene High, which saw its girls team rout the Lady Cougars 79-46 in Friday’s early game.

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by Evan Ren

Evan Ren’s 2023 True Grit Team: The toughest, hardest-working players in the Big Country!

Most high school football teams have that one player acknowledged by the coaching staff as the prime example of what a teammate should be. 

He’s the guy who seldom misses any practice time and is a regular in the weight room. He’s early to arrive. He’s late to leave and takes pride in being coachable, though he seldom needs direction. 

He always sets the right example for younger players. He doesn’t complain and above all else, he’s tough enough to make all the aforementioned traits consistently possible. 

Know someone like that? Here is where they are honored. 

Welcome to Big Country Preps’ “True Grit” team — a collection of area players nominated by their head coaches and Big Country Preps staff, who exemplify the character traits football mentors want throughout their roster. 

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by Evan Ren

BIG COUNTRY PREPS RISING STARS TEAM: The top football under classmen in the Big Country for 2023

Here are our selections for the 2023 All-Big Country Preps Rising Stars Team — an honor reserved for the area’s top freshman and sophomore football players. For the rest of this year’s selections, click the links below.

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by Daniel Youngblood

GAME STORY: Abilene High boys pass first crosstown test; Wylie girls knock off Lady Eagles

Entering Tuesday night alone atop the District 4-5A standings at a perfect 4-0, the Abilene High boys basketball team took Wylie’s best shot early in its first of two crosstown matchups this week. But trailing 16-12 after one quarter, the Eagles outscored the Bulldogs 39-18 over the middle two periods to build some separation for a key 68-58 victory at Eagle Gym.

Abilene High, which will head across town to take on Cooper on Friday, stretched its lead to 18 points on two occasions in the second half — at 49-31 late in the third quarter and 52-34 late in the fourth — before holding off a late Wylie run that saw the Bulldogs pull within nine in the final minute.

The Eagles’ victory, which came in front of a packed crowd at Eagle Gym, capped a doubleheader split, as Wylie took down the AHS girls 52-34 in Tuesday’s early game.

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by Daniel Youngblood

FEATURE: Deep, unselfish Abilene High boys squad enjoying remarkable turnaround

Last year at this time, a young Abilene High boys basketball team was in the early stages of grinding its way to a forgettable 4-8 record and sixth-place finish out of seven schools in District 4-5A.

Twelve months later, with most of the same players in their rotation, the Eagles find themselves at 18-7 overall and alone atop the district standings at 4-0 in league play.

The turnaround from last year’s 12-17 product, while surprising to some, hasn’t necessarily caught those part of it off-guard. Coach Justin Reese, who’s now in his sixth season as the Abilene High boys coach, views this year’s success more as the natural progression of a deep and unselfish group of players who have just collectively dedicated themselves to competing at a higher level.

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by Evan Ren

Big Country Boys Basketball Statistical Leaders (through Jan. 11): Scoring, rebounding, assists, steals, FT Pct., pass deflections and blocks

Below are the current season statistical leaders for Big Country boys basketball through Jan. 11.

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 Evan Ren

Big Country Girls Basketball Statistical Leaders (through Jan. 11): Scoring, rebounding, assists, steals, FT Pct., pass deflections and blocks

Below are the current season statistical leaders for Big Country girls basketball through Jan. 11.

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 Evan Ren

BIG COUNTRY PREPS PLAYER OF THE WEEK: Benjamin’s Ridgon claims first award of 2024

Benjamin LogoWhile our Big Country Preps Player of the Week returns from its annual holiday break, there is nothing new about our first winner of the 2024 calendar year. 

Benjamin junior Grayson Rigdon, generally considered one of the top six-man level athletes in Texas high school history, has claimed our accolade with back-to- back monster performances. 

For starters, the Mustangs opened the week with an 82-47 rout of Crowell, during which Rigdon tallied 43 points, 13 boards, seven steals and four assists. 

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by Daniel Youngblood

GAME STORY: Colley’s big game fuels Eagles past Coronado; AHS girls win second straight

Connel Colley scored 21 points to lead a balanced offensive effort for Abilene High, and the Eagles cruised to an 84-58 win over Lubbock Coronado on Friday at Eagle Gym to claim their third consecutive victory to open District 4-5A play.

Only Jatyran Smith (12 points) and Tyson Thompson (11) also reached double figures for AHS, but 11 Eagles players cracked the scoring column as coach Justin Reese’s squad improved to 17-6 overall and 3-0 in league action.

The boys victory completed a doubleheader sweep for Abilene High, which enjoyed a 55-37 win in girls action in Friday’s early game.

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by Evan Ren

BIG COUNTRY PREPS PLAYER OF THE WEEK: Albany’s Hill, Waggoner share BCP’s final award for 2023

NOTE: This will be the final BCP Player of the Week for 2023.  It will return on Monday, Jan. 8. 

Very seldom will we go with co-players of the week here at Big Country Preps, but every now and then, the situation warrants it. 

So, our final BCP Player of the Week award for 2023 will be split between Albany teammates Adam Hill and Zane Waggoner, who were both instrumental in AHS winning its second straight Class 2A DII state football title last week in a 28-10 win over Mart in Arlington. 

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by Brandon McAuliffe

GAME STORY: Eagles flex their offensive power, hammer Brownwood

When he returned to his alma mater and took the helm as the Abilene High boys basketball coach, Justin Reese wanted to turn back the clock on the program in several ways.

First, he wanted to get the AHS student body back to packing Eagle Gym, creating a raucous atmosphere for every home game. And his second goal was to get the program back to where it could run the floor and play an up-tempo style like it did when he played for the Eagles and legendary coach Gerald Coppedge.

Playing after the Lady Eagles beat Cooper 43-34 in front of a packed house, Reese’s squad treated a strong crowd to an offensive show as the Eagles dismantled Brownwood 95-40 in nondistrict play.

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by Daniel Youngblood

GAME STORY: Abilene High girls hold off Cooper rally, score big district win over crosstown rival

Entering Friday’s Crosstown Showdown girls basketball matchup at Eagle Gym, both Abilene High and Cooper needed a win to avoid falling into an early 0-2 hole in the District 4-5A race. And for 32 minutes, both teams played with the urgency one might expect in such a situation.

But in the end, it was the homestanding Lady Eagles who came out on top, holding off a fourth-quarter rally by the Lady Cougars to pull out a gritty 43-34 victory over their rivals.

The win improved AHS to 11-7 overall while evening the Lady Eagles district record at 1-1 — a key development with No. 8 Lubbock Monterey set to visit on Tuesday.

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