Here are the standings for all boys basketball districts involving Big Country schools through Jan. 18 (with last week’s results, Tuesday’s schedule):
Category: Bangs Dragons
Evan Ren’s 2020 True Grit Team: The toughest, hardest-working players in the Big Country!
Most of us know a football player who lives in the weight room, who’s always dependable and who always does what his coaches ask him. He always puts the team first. He’s early to arrive and late to leave. And he seldom needs direction because he always pays attention.
You know the type. But you seldom hear about them, since there is no specific category to put them in and the media doesn’t recognize these qualities.
This is the guy who always sets a good example. He doesn’t complain and above all else, is tough mentally and physically. He’s not necessarily the best player on his team (though some are). But he’s definitely the guy who gets the most out of whatever talent he was born with.
Welcome to the 2020 “True Grit” team — the one place in the Big Country where guys who fall into this category are recognized for it.
All-Big Country Preps Superlatives: Wishert, Morton, Dillingham and Fanning take top honors
Here are our superlative award winners for the 2020 All-Big Country Preps football team. For the rest of this year’s selections, click the links below.
All-Big Country Preps Football Team: First-Team Roster
Here are our first-team selections for the 2020 All-Big Country Preps football team. For the rest of this year’s selections, click the links below.
All-Big Country Preps Football Team: Second-Team Roster
Here are our second-team selections for the 2020 All-Big Country Preps football team. For the rest of this year’s selections, click the links below.
All-Big Country Preps Football Team: Third-Team Roster (w/ honorable mention)
Here are our third-team selections for the 2020 All-Big Country Preps football team. For the rest of this year’s selections, click the links below.
PHOTO GALLERY: Evan Ren’s top 100 football photos for 2020
Photos may be purchased for $7 each by clicking on the small shopping cart emblem below the lower right corner of the gallery. The “BigCountryPreps.com” watermark will be removed from all purchased photos.
CAPITAL FARM CREDIT WEDNESDAY NIGHT PODCAST: Cisco’s Kevin Stennett joins the show talks about CHS’ upcoming regional semifinal with Hawley
VIDEO PODCAST NO. 11: Cisco coach Kevin Stennett joins the show and to talk about his experience at CHS and this week’s regional semifinal clash with Hawley. Evan Ren and Daniel Youngblood examine this week’s regional semifinal pairings.
Top games of this week discussed: All playoff pairings involving Big Country teams from Class 1A-4A this week are mentioned.
Top games of last week discussed: Sweetwater vs. Celina, Hawley vs. Sundown, Albany vs. Ralls, Wall vs. Bushland, Brock vs. Denver City, Jim Ned vs. Dalhart, San Saba vs. Panhandle.
Class 3A Area Round Report: Jim Ned rolls through Dalhart, earns shot at Brock
REGION I-3A DIV. I
Jim Ned 31, Dalhart 14 — Xavier Wishert had a game-high 131 yards rushing and two scores on 25 carries to lead lead Jim Ned to its first regional semifinal in 16 years.
The Indians built a 24-0 halftime lead before holding on for the win. Tate Yardley led Jim Ned through the air with 200 yards on 13-of-16 passing.
Class 3A Bi-District Round Report: Jim Ned rallies past Paradise, moves on to area round
REGION I-3A DIV. I
Jim Ned 21, Paradise 18 — Trailing 10-7 after three quarters, the Indians outscored the Panthers 14-8 over the final period to rally for the victory Friday.
A Xavier Wishert rushing touchdown early in the fourth quarter was followed a Tate Yardley touchdown pass to give Jim Ned (9-1) a 21-10 lead and the Indians held on from there to escape with the win.
Wishert rushed for 177 yards and two scores in the victory, while Yardley passed for 116 yards a the one TD to Austin Martin. Zach Henderson led the Indians in receiving with three catches for 48 yards.
Evan Ren’s regional football projections and bi-district picks
LAST WEEK: 26-4, .866
SEASON TOTAL: 377-81, .823
Week 12 of the football season is here. And you know what that means.
The horses are at the starting gate with a finish line set up in Arlington for the state championship games.
More than 97 percent of the teams won’t make it. And by the time Thanksgiving arrives, 75 percent of them will already be finished. Such is the magnitude of our postseason.
In the meantime, hundreds of teams from Class 1A through 4A have their dreams of reaching Jerry World still intact. Classes 5A and 6A will start their postseason journeys in mid December, after having their seasons delayed by COVID-19.
That said, it’s time to choose which of our Big Country entries have the best shot of conquering their regions. Who are the favorites? Who are the dark horses? An perhaps most importantly, where are the elephants in the room — the teams from outside of our area with the most potential to spoil the Big Country’s chances?
Let’s get started, shall we?
Big Country football playoff pairings, results
Here are the updated Big Country football playoff pairings, results:
Continue reading “Big Country football playoff pairings, results”
PHOTO GALLERY: Bangs-Ballinger football (84 images)
Photos may be purchased for $7 each by clicking on the small shopping cart emblem below the lower right corner of the gallery. The “BigCountryPreps.com” watermark will be removed from all purchased photos.
BCP GAME OF THE WEEK: Ballinger controls second half, tops Bangs
BALLINGER — It had been a while since the Bangs Dragons had played for a district championship. So long ago, in fact, that most of their current players were in elementary school at the time.
It showed on Friday when the Dragons were outexecuted down the stretch in a 25-13 loss to Ballinger before an electric crowd at Bearcat Stadium.
Garrett Dixon rushed for 130 yards and two scores to lift Ballinger (9-1, 4-0), which can lock up a district title with a win at Sonora next week.
Bangs (7-1, 3-1) was led by Ethan Sanchez, who charted 160 yards rushing, including a 96-yard touchdown run to tie the game at 7-7 in the second quarter.
District 2-3A Div. II Week 10 Report: Brady locks up playoff berth with win over Moore
Brady 53, Ingram Moore 34 — The Bulldogs (4-5, 2-2) locked up a playoff berth and eliminated Moore (5-4, 0-4) in the process.
A Brady loss would have created a fourth-place tie, with Moore owning the tie-breaker. But a 24-7 first-half effort that saw the Bulldogs chart 300 total yards before the break, gave BHS control throughout the night.
District 2-3A Div. II Week 9 Report: Dragons dominate Sonora, set up district showdown with Ballinger
Bangs 48, Sonora 14 — Ethan Cortez had one of his best nights as a first-year move-in, throwing for 243 yards and three scores and rushing for 97 yards and two more TDs to keep the Dragons (7-0, 3-0) in district title contention.
District 2-3A Div. II Week 8 Report: Dragons overcome slow start to rout Moore
Bangs 47, Ingram Moore 15 — Bangs overcame a slow start with big nights from Ethan Sanchez and Ethan Cortez to improve to 7-0 overall and 2-0 in district.
Leading 19-15 at the break, the Dragons blew the game open with 28 unanswered second-half points.
PHOTO GALLERY: Dublin at Bangs volleyball (30 images)
Photos may be purchased for $7 each by clicking on the small shopping cart emblem below the lower right corner of the gallery. The “BigCountryPreps.com” watermark will be removed from all purchased photos.
GAME STORY: Bangs defeats Dublin in four sets (by Seth LaRue, special to Big Country Preps).
The Bangs Lady Dragons handily defeated Dublin Lady Tuesday night in four sets: 25-5, 14-25, 25-12, 25-19. 
Skylar Hutchins, had 23 digs, with additional help from Halle Lance and Jacee Miller to lead Bangs. The Lady Dragons’ offensive front capitalized on the help, with a total of 29 kills as a team.
“My girls started out really strong and were ready to come out and beat Dublin.” Bangs coach Cheyanne Lovelady said. “They were indeed ready as some of the girls showed out in a big way tonight, most notably from the serve line.”