Photos by Amanda Tabor
ALBANY — Kiana Roberson knows she can be a state champion this year.
After all, the Albany senior was close to accomplishing that feat twice last spring. Roberson was nine inches shy of gold in the Class 2A discus and a mere 2.5 inches shy in the shot put.
“When I got second last year at state, I was happy because it was better than the previous year,” Roberson said. “But with that being said, it just shows me it’s possible to win it all, and that’s my plan this year.”
Here are the area’s softball statistical leaders through April 11.
Statistics are from throughout the Big Country Preps circulation area as submitted by coaches. These lists will be continually updated as we receive more submissions.
While we normally try to share the love in our Big Country Preps Player of the Week column, five district titles in one week isn’t easy to sidestep.
And while Wall’s Briggs Jones has already pulled down our award once this year, he earned a second with his showing at the District 6-3A meet in Clyde last week by sweeping the long jump (23-2), the triple jump (44-10.75), the 200 meters (21.92), the 100 meters (10.72) and assisting the 800 relay team to gold with a 1:29.68 split.
Here are the area’s baseball statistical leaders through April 4.
Statistics are from throughout the Big Country Preps circulation area as submitted by coaches. These lists will be continually updated as we receive more submissions.
Here are the area’s softball statistical leaders through April 4.
Statistics are from throughout the Big Country Preps circulation area as submitted by coaches. These lists will be continually updated as we receive more submissions.
Here are the area’s baseball statistical leaders through March 28.
Statistics are from throughout the Big Country Preps circulation area as submitted by coaches. These lists will be continually updated as we receive more submissions.
Here are the area’s softball statistical leaders through March 28.
Statistics are from throughout the Big Country Preps circulation area as submitted by coaches. These lists will be continually updated as we receive more submissions.
Sometimes the mercy rule and cheat a player a bit, limiting their number of plate appearances or the number of innings they can pitch.
But in District 15-1A, there is an added mercy rule, beyond the standard 10-run lead after five innings. There, a 15-run lead after three frames is enough to end a game early, which left our Big Country Preps Player of the Week (Hermleigh’s Summer Smith) short of what may have been a staggering set of numbers.
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 upon which championship foundations are built.
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 2023-24 season.
Players are listed in no particular order.
Enjoy.
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.
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.
Digital photos, prints and keepsakes may be purchased by clicking the link below. The “BigCountryPreps.com” watermark will be removed from all purchased photos.
Continue reading “PHOTO GALLERY: Albany-Hawley baseball (56 images)”
HAWLEY — Hawley baseball coach Jamie Seago said that he’s been preaching to catcher Keegan Ables all year that its okay to get hit by a pitch when batting.
Tuesday night, with the bases loaded and one out in the bottom of the sixth, Ables took one right off the hip to bring home the tying run in what turned out to be a thrilling 4-3 win over Albany in the District 8-2A opener for both teams.
Creed Ernst followed with a walk that drove in Drew Siller for the winning run.
Digital photos, prints and keepsakes may be purchased by clicking the link below. The “BigCountryPreps.com” watermark will be removed from all purchased photos.
Continue reading “PHOTO GALLERY: Albany-Windthorst boys basketball bi-district playoff (58 images)”
BRECKENRIDGE — Leading Windthorst by 15 points heading into the fourth quarter, the Albany boys basketball team appeared poised to cruise to a comfortable victory in its playoff opener Monday at the Breckenridge ISD Athletic and Fine Arts Center.
But a furious comeback by the Trojans left the Lions anything but comfortable over the final eight minutes of the game.
Coach Ryder Peacock’s squad found itself tied at 47-all with just over two minutes remaining and led by just a single bucket (49-47) until a pair of Wyatt Windham free throws all but iced things with 14.1 seconds to play, allowing the Lions to escape with a nerve-wracking 51-50 bi-district win.
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:
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:
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.
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.
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.
Digital photos, prints and keepsakes may be purchased by clicking the link below. The “BigCountryPreps.com” watermark will be removed from all purchased photos.
Continue reading “PHOTO GALLERY: Albany-Hawley basketball doubleheader (36 images)”
HAWLEY — With Hawley, Albany and Cisco locked in a tight battle at the top of the District 10-2A boys basketball race, one constant has emerged in that any of them can win on any given night.
Friday night at Bearcat Gym, Albany had the hosts on the ropes with a 27-13 lead at halftime as Adam Hill and Chip Chambers each scored nine points in the first 16 minutes.
The second half was a different story as Hawley switched to a full-court trap that the Lions struggled to break through against and the Bearcats were able to pull away in the fourth quarter for a 42-35 win.
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.
Here are our superlative award winners for the 2023 All-Big Country Preps football team. For the rest of this year’s selections, click the links below.
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.
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.
Digital photos, prints and keepsakes may be purchased by clicking the link below. The “BigCountryPreps.com” watermark will be removed from all purchased photos.
Continue reading “PHOTO GALLERY: Evan Ren’s top 100 football photos 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.
Due to UIL regulations, photo sales from state championship events are not permitted.
Continue reading “PHOTO GALLERY: Albany-Mart football state championship (84 images)”
ARLINGTON — Coming into Thursday’s Class 2A Division II state title game, the Mart football team was averaging 48.5 points per game, having been held below 30 points only once on its way to a 15-0 record.
But during that run to AT&T Stadium, the Panthers hadn’t faced a defense quite like Albany’s.
On Thursday, Mart learned that lesson the hard way, managing just 200 yards of total offense and a single touchdown in a 28-10 loss. In the process, the Panthers were forced to accept and acknowledge the same truth each of the Lions’ previous 15 opponents were: The 2023 Albany defense is every bit as good as advertised.
ARLINGTON — The Albany Lions had been dominating the opposition all season with an overwhelming defense and an efficient, balanced offense. And in Thursday’s Class 2A Division II state title game, the Lions stuck to the script in a workmanlike 28-10 win over the Mart Panthers.
Adam Hill rushed for 132 yards and two scores and Chip Chambers threw for 91 yards and two more TDs to lead Albany (16-0), which claimed its second straight state title and fourth overall. The Lions finished with 249 yards in total offense (158 rush, 91 pass) while limiting a high-powered Mart club to 200.
In the process, Hill captured Offensive MVP honors, Zane Waggoner took the Defensive MVP award and Albany, for the second time in its history, captured back-to-back state championships (the first two coming in 1960 and 1961).
LAST WEEK: 1-1, .500
SEASON TOTAL: 555-114, .830
Five minutes ago (or so it seems), Dan Youngblood and I were on our annual Big Country photo tour, prepping for the upcoming 2023 season.
Now, here we are in Week 17, with four Big Country area teams playing for state championships at AT&T Stadium.
By Thursday afternoon the 2023 season will be in our rearview mirror and I don’t care what anyone says — these football seasons go by faster every year.
A week ago, I missed the mark on one of two picks, with Albany advancing as expected and Brock falling to Malakoff. This week, I’ll take a stab at all of this week’s state title games, with a closer look at Albany vs. Mart in the Class 2A DII title game set for Thursday. Don’t forget, area six-man teams from Westbrook, Gordon and Benjamin will all by vying for titles as well.
Let’s dive in. Here’s this week’s forecast.
LUBBOCK — A year ago, Albany coach Denney Faith won the first state championship of his lengthy, distinguished career with a win over Mart in Arlington. Thursday night in Lubbock, the dean of Big Country football coaches pulled to within one win of taking his second title with a 34-14 win over Sunray in a Class 2A DII state semifinal at Lubbock’s Lowrey Field.
Adam Hill rushed for 164 yards and three scores to lead Albany (15-0), which will face either Mart (14-0) or Chilton (13-1) in the state championship game on Thurs., Dec. 14 at 11 a.m. at AT&T Stadium in Arlington.
“I’m excited for our guys to go after this new opportunity,” said Faith, who has been the head coach at Albany since 1987. “It will be even more exciting if we can go and do what we need to do.
“Just getting there isn’t enough. We need to go and compete.”
LAST WEEK: 8-3, .727
SEASON TOTAL: 554-113, .831
As we enter Week 16 only two teams in the Big Country Preps coverage area — Brock and Albany — have reached the state semifinals in the 11-man ranks. And both will take the field Thursday night with a trip to AT&T Stadium in Arlington in the balance.
Brock will take on Malakoff at The Star in Frisco, while Albany will tangle with Sunray at Lowrey Field in Lubbock. The winners will advance to next week’s state championship games at “Jerry World,” where they will join three Big Country six-man teams (Westbrook, Gordon and Benjamin) who have already qualified for their respective state title games and are enjoying a bye week.
That said, it’s time to take a look at the matchups involving
Big-time players come up with big-time performances in big games. And our Big Country Preps Player of the Week, Albany’s Adam Hill, is a big-time player.
Helping the Lions capture the Region II-2A DII title, Hill was a punisher out of the Lions’ backfield last Thursday in Iowa Park, rushing for 223 yards and four touchdowns on 29 carries in a 52-14 rout of a very good Collinsville team.
The Texas Tech-bound senior also caught a pair of passes for 31 yards and an additional touchdown as Albany improved to 14-0 on the year.
Digital photos, prints and keepsakes may be purchased by clicking the link below. The “BigCountryPreps.com” watermark will be removed from all purchased photos.
Continue reading “PHOTO GALLERY: Albany-Collinsville football playoff (44 images)”
IOWA PARK — Albany didn’t need any last-minute heroics Thursday night at Hawk Stadium.
A week after dodging Muenster, the top-ranked Lions manhandled No. 4 Collinsville from the beginning, scoring the first 31 points in a 52-14 victory.
Adam Hill led the charge with 223 rushing yards and four touchdowns, but the Lions defense also made a statement by picking off quarterback Logan Jenkins three times and holding the Pirates 38 points below their season average.
LAST WEEK: 11-2, .846
SEASON TOTAL: 546-110, .832
Week 15, if you can believe it, has arrived, with regional championship games dotting the landscape in the 11-man ranks and state semifinals deciding which six-man teams will go to Arlington.
As one may expect, there are tossups all over the board, so picking these things has become all the more difficult.
Why waste time?
Let’s dive in.
Digital photos, prints and keepsakes may be purchased by clicking the link below. The “BigCountryPreps.com” watermark will be removed from all purchased photos.
Continue reading “PHOTO GALLERY: Albany-Muenster football playoff (43 images)”
WEATHERFORD — Sometimes a defensive back just has to gamble and take a chance.
When it works, they come out a hero. If it fails, they get remembered for all the wrong reasons.
On Friday afternoon at Kangaroo Stadium, Albany defensive back Cason Fairchild took a gamble and it paid off with a game-clinching interception with 37 seconds left as the Lions hung on to beat Muenster 19-14 in a Region II-2A Division II semifinal.
LAST WEEK: 22-5, .814
SEASON TOTAL: 535-108, .832
Turkey Day has arrived and we’ve still got 16 Big Country football teams from 1A through 5A hitting the field this week.
That’s up from 13 a year ago, giving you some perspective on the overall quality of area football in 2023. And unless I miss my guess, we’ll have at least 10 area teams still slugging it out in December.
Not too shabby.
Of those, we have roughly seven or eight that have a shot at reaching Arlington and playing for a state championship, including four that I would consider favorites to win it all.
That said, let’s take a look at this week’s matchups, shall we?
Be safe going to your games!
Happy Thanksgiving everyone!
LAST WEEK: 36-5, .878
SEASON TOTAL: 513-103, .832
As we enter Week 13, the Big Country Preps coverage area still has 33 teams from 1A through 5A with a playoff pulse, including a handful with decent shot at a state championship.
However, as we all know, things begin to get much tougher when you get to the area round and unless I miss my guess, we’ll see around 15-17 of our area teams eliminated by Saturday.
The good news is, we should have 16-18 clubs playing over the Thanksgiving holiday, which is a pretty solid number for what will be the 14th week of the season.
So without further ado, let’s dive in.
Here’s this week’s playoff forecast:
Big numbers are always great to have when we decide the winner of our Big Country Preps Player of the Week award. Solid numbers across multiple tasks are even better.
That was the case with this week’s spotlight player, Buck Powell, of Hico, who helped the Tigers to a 47-14 rout of Maud in the Class 2A DII bi-district round on Friday.
Adam Hill has his sights set on Albany defending its Class 2A Division II state football championship.
But one of the Big Country’s best players also knows where he’ll call home after graduation.
Hill committed to Texas Tech on Sunday afternoon, choosing to make his decision now rather than waiting closer to the NCAA Division I football’s early signing period set for Dec. 20.
With a new season of boys high school basketball poised to begin, it’s time to take a look at what the Big Country will produce on the court.
Below you will find our top teams in each classification in the Big Country Preps coverage area, from Big Spring in the West, to Brock in the east and from Brady in the south to Munday in the north.
Our rankings of the top teams in each class are given, along with a season outlook, cataloguing our expectations for each club.
Here’s our preview. We’ll see you on the road.
