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Category: Boys basketball
GAME STORY: Putback at buzzer lifts Memorial to win over Cooper boys in District 4-5A opener
After struggling for most of the game to put the ball through the net, and spending the first 28 minutes trailing as a result, the Cooper boys basketball team rallied late in the fourth quarter to put itself in position to steal a district-opening win over Wichita Falls Memorial on Friday at Cougar Gym.
But the Mavericks scored seven second-chance points in the final three minutes — the last two on a putback by Nash Melton as time expired — to escape Abilene with a dramatic 38-36 win.
The buzzer-beater by Melton completed a doubleheader sweep for Memorial, which picked up a 54-29 win in the girls game earlier in the evening.
Big Country Boys Basketball Statistical Leaders (through Jan. 15): Scoring, rebounding, assists, steals, FT Pct., pass deflections and blocks
Below are the current season statistical leaders for Big Country boys basketball through Jan.15.
This database will be continually updated for our subscribers throughout the regular season, using only those statistics submitted by area coaches.
Is your favorite team missing? If so, please pass along a friendly reminder to your coach to check his email for our weekly stats request. We’ll be happy to add them to our database after they arrive.
GAME STORY: Anson boys, Hawley girls earn wins in Jones County Showdown
ANSON — Tuesday night featured a pair of thrilling finishes at Tiger Gymnasium as the Hawley girls claimed a 50-47 win in overtime while the Anson boys held on for a 47-46 win in District 10-2A play.
It wasn’t just the scores that were nearly identical as both games featured a frenetic end to regulation.
The girls game featured a Hawley turnover in the offensive end with 7.69 seconds to play before Anson was called for a travel with four seconds left on the clock. The Hawley boys missed a layup with 11 seconds to play before the Tigers were called for an over-and-back violation with four seconds left.
BIG COUNTRY PREPS PLAYER OF THE WEEK: Sipe takes our weekly award with unbelievable shooting night
There are memorable shooting nights. Then there are shooting nights one is unlikely to ever forget.
Wylie senior guard Swade Sipe had one of the latter on Friday night, with a 33-point effort in a 74-62 win over Brock.
During the course of this performance, Sipe was 11 of 11 from the field, 6 of 6 from 3-point range, 5 of 5 from two-point range and 5 of 6 from the foul line.
This explosive, nearly perfect effort against a very good 4A Brock team earns Sipe our Big Country Preps Player of the Week award, during a week when several players posted numbers good enough to claim the accolade.
THIS WEEK IN BOYS BASKETBALL: Several games on the docket with district title implications
With district play either underway or starting this week for all area boys basketball teams, it’s time to start taking a closer look at how our Big Country hoops races are shaping up.
And as we’ve done in the past, we’ll break down our top upcoming matchups, the top results from the previous week and the area’s biggest surprise right here each Sunday, starting with this column.
We hope you enjoy a look at this week in area boys basketball.
PHOTO GALLERY: Sweetwater-Jim Ned basketball doubleheader (39 images)
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GAME STORY: Jim Ned sweeps varsity doubleheader with Sweetwater (+two boxscores)
TUSCOLA — While the two games took on a different character, both ends of Tuesday’s varsity doubleheader between Jim Ned and Sweetwater had one thing in common: both were frustrating for SHS.
In Game 1, the Jim Ned girls used a 14-0 start and a 38-point night by Lily Bryant to hand Sweetwater a 56-39 loss at Bill Thornton Arena. The nightcap saw the Indians down Sweetwater 49-47 in a physical, slow-tempo duel in which Jim Ned executed just well enough down the stretch to keep the Mustangs at bay.
GAME STORY: Fast start, 33-point night from Sipe lift Wylie to 74-62 nondistrict win over Brock
Hosting Brock for a strong nondistrict test, the Wylie boys basketball put together one of its most complete performances of the season on Tuesday, racing out to a 10-2 lead and maintaining that pace the rest of the way for a 74-62 win at Bulldog Gym.
The Bulldogs (8-10) never trailed, stretching a 22-15 first-quarter advantage to 42-28 by halftime and answering every BHS run from there to roll to the double-digit victory.
Senior Swade Sipe was at the heart of that effort, knocking down half of his team’s 12 3-pointers to lead all scorers with 33 points. The 6-foot-5 sharpshooter had at least six points in every quarter to keep a talented and resilient Eagles squad from ever fighting its way back into the game.
BIG COUNTRY PREPS PLAYER OF THE WEEK: Wall big man takes our first award of 2026
Nobody played a tougher schedule over the holidays than the Wall boys. And nobody had a bigger impact on their successful run through a brutal five-game stretch than 6-foot-7 big man Paxton Brake who takes our first Big Country Preps Player of the Week for 2026.
Brake, a junior, scored a combined 70 points through the break, averaging 14 points, 9.2 boards and 3.2 assists to help the Hawks go 4-1 over the break with wins over Decatur, Lorena, Ponder and Sweetwater, along with a close loss to perennial power Brock.
Wall enters this week at 17-5 overall.
TOURNAMENT CENTRAL: Holliday tops Jim Ned boys for title; Graford routs Christoval in third-place game
EULA — The Jim Ned boys basketball team fell just short of the Eula Holiday Classic championship on Wednesday, dropping a hard-fought game to a familiar foil in the event’s title game at Mary Mosley Gymnasium.
The Indians got off to a fast start against region rival Holliday, building an early 17-9 lead, but they couldn’t maintain that momentum in a 42-36 loss to the Eagles.
That matchup capped a strong boys tournament for area teams, as Graford placed third with a 64-33 win over Christoval and Clyde took fifth with a 45-36 win over Andrews. Other noteworthy results involving area squads included a 36-34 loss by Tolar to Bells in the seventh-place game and 69-64 loss by Eula to New Deal in the consolation third-place game.
TOURNAMENT CENTRAL: Jim Ned outlasts Christoval in Eula Holiday Classic semis to earn title title with Holliday
EULA — The Jim Ned boys basketball team outlasted Christoval in the semifinals of the Eula Holiday Classic on Tuesday to earn a spot in Wednesday’s championship game against regional nemesis Holliday, which routed Graford in Tuesday’s other semifinal to set up the title game between the two Region I-3A contenders.
Trailing 32-31 with less than five minutes to play, the Indians closed the game on a 7-0 run to defeat the Cougars in their semifinal matchup. The Eagles, meanwhile, cruised past the Jackrabbits, outscoring GHS 31-7 in the second half on their way to a 57-26 victory.
With those victories, Jim Ned and Holliday advance to play for the tournament championship at 4 p.m. at Mary Mosley Gymnasium, while Graford and Chrisoval will play for third place at 1:20 p.m. at the same site.
TOURNAMENT CENTRAL: Graford boys cruise into semifinals, Holliday nips Clyde in OT on Day 1 of Eula Holiday Classic
EULA — The Graford boys basketball team encountered little resistance on the opening day of the Eula Holiday Classic, following a 97-18 win over Abilene TLCA in its tournament opener with a 68-37 quarterfinals win over Tolar to become the first area team to earn a spot in the event’s semifinals.
Clyde almost joined the Jackrabbits, after earning a 58-53 win over Eula in the first round. But the Bulldogs were edged 59-56 in overtime by Holliday in the quarterfinals, leaving Graford to play the Eagles in the semifinals on Tuesday for a spot in Wednesday’s championship game.
Jim Ned, which defeated Muenster 47-37 in its opener, is the only other area team remaining with a chance at the tournament title. The Indians will play Bells in the quarterfinals at 9:20 a.m. Tuesday, while Christoval and Andrews will face off in the final quarterfinals matchup at 10:40 a.m.
BIG COUNTRY PREPS PLAYER OF THE WEEK: Jaybird takes our final award for 2025 with remarkable effort
In helping the Jayton Jaybirds to a second-straight state title last week, senior running back Bode Ham not only produced the top game in our coverage area, but his performance will likely remain part of six-man lore forever.
With Jayton topping Richland Springs 99-54, Ham’s numbers were nothing short of shocking, with 430 yards rushing and a state championship record 10 TDs on 28 carries.
For good measure, he was 3 of 4 through the air for 118 yards and an additional three scores, giving him 548 total yards and a direct hand in a state championship-record 13 touchdowns at AT&T Stadium in Arlington.
BIG COUNTRY PREPS PLAYER OF THE WEEK: Wylie senior earns this week’s award
It’s one thing to pour in points.
It’s quite another to do it against difficult competition in a big-school tournament. Wylie senior Swade Sipe, our Big Country Preps Player of the Week, did exactly that in last week’s Granbury tournament, helping the Bulldogs to a 2-2 mark in the challenging event.
Sipe’s weekend began with a 22-point effort in a 54-48 win over Saginaw. It continued with 12 points in a 56-50 loss to Prosper Rock Hill, 20 points in a 59-51 win over Midland Christian and a 33-point night in a 46-43 loss to Arlington Lamar.
TOURNAMENT CENTRAL: Abilene High, Cooper kick off Key City Classic with victories
The Abilene High and Cooper boys basketball teams both scored impressive wins on the opening night of the Fyzical Therapy and Balance Centers Key City Classic on Thursday evening to earn their way into the championship bracket for the remainder of the three-day event.
AHS whipped El Paso Jefferson 73-33 at Eagle Gym in its opener, while Cooper downed Cleburne 49-42 at Cougar Gym.
For full results of the tournament’s first day and the schedule for Friday’s second-round action, click here.
TOURNAMENT CENTRAL: 2025 Fyzical Therapy and Balance Centers Key City Classic schedule, results
Here are the 2025 Fyzical Therapy and Balance Centers Key City Classic boys basketball tournament matchups and results: Continue reading “TOURNAMENT CENTRAL: 2025 Fyzical Therapy and Balance Centers Key City Classic schedule, results”
BIG COUNTRY PREPS PLAYER OF THE WEEK: Brock junior takes the top spot
Big-time performances are the norm this year for the 13-0 Brock Eagles, who earned a trip to the Region I-4A DII championship game with last week’s 66-3 win over Seminole.
At the forefront of that: This week’s Big Country Preps Player of the Week, junior running back Bryer McDonald.
And with good reason.
BIG COUNTRY PREPS PLAYER OF THE WEEK: Graham senior Jace Gill takes this week’s accolade
Not only is our Big Country Preps Player of the Week holding down the top spot with big numbers, but his performance in Graham’s 35-28 area round win over Lubbock Cooper Liberty was a virtual seminar on poise.
Helping the Steers (9-3) to overcome three separate deficits, senior QB/kicker/punter Jace Gill was 15 of 28 for 239 yards and three TDs. He also rushed 12 times for 118 yards and another score.
BIG COUNTRY PREPS PLAYER OF THE WEEK: Abilene High’s Henry takes award after record-setting performance
You have to love a great all-around performance and in the case of Brayden Henry, our Big Country Preps Player of the Week, his effort in last week’s 84-25 bi-district win over El Paso Bel Air was a record-setter.
Aside from going 6 of 7 through the air or 56 yards and one TD, he also rushed five times for 137 yards and three more scores.
Big Country Preps Boys Basketball Position Rankings: Posts
After highlighting the Big Country’s top guards and forwards the past two nights, we now take a look at the area’s best big men.
For the final installment in our three-part boys basketball position rankings series, we rank the Big Country’s top 10 post players for the 2025-26 season with several others to watch.
We hope you’ve enjoyed reading through our rankings, and make sure to check back for all our boys and girls basketball coverage this season.
Big Country Preps Boys Basketball Position Rankings: Forwards
After kicking off our boys basketball position rankings series on Tuesday with the guards, we now shift our attention to the forwards.
For the second installment in our three-part series, we rank the area’s top-10 players at that position for 2025-26 with a list of others to watch.
We hope you enjoy our list.
Big Country Preps Boys Basketball Position Rankings: Guards
With boys basketball season set to begin later this week, it’s time to shine a spotlight on some of the players you’ll be reading about throughout the 2025-26 season.
For the first installment in a three-part series that will cover all positions on the area boys basketball scene, we’ll be taking a look at the Big Country’s top guards, ranking our top 10 with a list of others to watch this winter.
We hope you enjoy reading through our list.
PHOTO GALLERY: FCA Big Country boys basketball all-star game (40 images)
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GAME STORY: FCA basketball doubleheader ends with an OT bang
ABILENE — While some may say that it’s difficult to create intrigue with an all-star game, the Fellowship of Christian Athletes managed to do so in the nightcap of Friday’s FCA doubleheader at Abilene Christian University’s Moody Coliseum.
Following Game 1 which saw the girls Blue Team defeat their Red Team counterparts 48-36, the boys took the floor for a topsy-turvy overtime battle that saw the Blue Team rally for 68-61 win.
At the final horn, the Blue Team cheerleaders and supporters stormed the floor in celebration, bringing an end to a raucous evening of basketball.
Final Area Softball Stat Leaders (through April 24)
Here are the area’s softball statistical leaders through April 24:
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.
If your favorite team is missing, please give your head coach a friendly reminder to check his or her email for our weekly stat request or send Evan Ren a note at Evan.Ren@BigCountryPreps.com.
Evan Ren’s 2025 Gym Rat Team: The hardest-working players in the Big Country!
While scoring and rebounding garner much of the attention in basketball, there are other elements, crucial to success that seldom grab headlines.
Behind the scenes is where character, effort and sacrifice set the foundation for teams to reach their full potential. And it is with our Big Country Preps Gym Rat Team that we salute the individuals who bring these elements to the table.
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 outworking, outhustling and outgiving everyone around you, both on the floor and off. Hard-working, honest, selfless, tough, coachable kids are what we seek for this roster.
A Gym Rat Team member can be your best player or the last player off the bench. But the one thing all of them bring is an uncompromisingly good attitude.
It is for that reason that our Gym Rat Team is selected entirely by area coaches. And Big Country Preps is truly honored to present these individuals to you — the best “team players” (boys and girls) that the area had to offer during the 2024-25 season.
Players are listed in no particular order.
Enjoy.
2025 All-BCP Boys Basketball Superlatives: Sanderson, Gaylor, Matlock, Harrison, Bleiker take top spots)
Here are our superlative award winners for the 2025 All-Big Country Preps boys basketball team. For the rest of this year’s girls and boys basketball selections, click the links below.
- Girls First Team
- Girls Second Team
- Girls Third Team (w/ honorable mention)
- Girls Rising Stars Team (area’s top underclassmen)
- Girls Superlative Award Winners
- Boys First Team
- Boys Second Team
- Boys Third Team (w/ honorable mention)
- Boys Rising Stars Team (area’s top underclassmen)
- Gym Rat Team: The toughest, hardest-working teammates in the Big Country! (Monday)
2025 All-Big Country Preps Boys Basketball Rising Stars Team
Here is our 2025 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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- Girls First Team
- Girls Second Team
- Girls Third Team (w/ honorable mention)
- Girls Rising Stars Team (area’s top underclassmen)
- Girls Superlative Award Winners
- Boys Superlative Award Winners
- Boys FirstTeam
- Boys Second Team
- Boys Third Team (w/ honorable mention)
- Gym Rat Team: The toughest, hardest-working teammates in the Big Country! (Monday)
2025 All-Big Country Preps Boys Basketball Team: First-Team Roster
Here are our first-team selections for the 2025 All-Big Country Preps boys basketball team. For the rest of this year’s boys and girls basketball selections, click the links below.
- Girls Superlative Award Winners
- Girls First Team
- Girls Second Team
- Girls Third Team (w/ honorable mention)
- Girls Rising Stars Team (area’s top underclassmen)
- Boys Superlative Award Winners
- Boys Second Team
- Boys Third Team (w/ honorable mention)
- Boys Rising Stars Team (area’s top underclassmen)
- Gym Rat Team: The toughest, hardest-working teammates in the Big Country! (Sunday)
BIG COUNTRY PREPS PLAYER OF THE WEEK: Eula’s Hailie Cauthen earns this week’s spotlight
Fresh off a successful basketball season, Eula’s Hailie Cauthen has transitioned to softball as though she were in mid-season form.
In fact, the senior shortstop was good enough through five games last week to take our Big Country Preps Player of the Week award for the Week ending March 8.
CLASS 2A DII STATE CHAMPIONSHIP: Martin’s Mill pulls away late to end Lipan’s three-peat bid
SAN ANTONIO — It took the better part of three years, but the Lipan Indians finally met their match Thursday at the Alamodome.
Taking on Martin’s Mill for the Class 2A Division II state championship and a chance at a rare three-peat, LHS was done in by some uncharacteristic struggles on the offensive end in a 55-43 loss to the Mustangs.
The Indians shot just 31.9 percent from the field, made only four of 18 3-point attempts and had a negative assist-to-turnover ratio in the loss, which snapped a streak of 19 consecutive playoff victories for coach Brent Gaylor and his LHS program. Despite this, Lipan still had its opportunities throughout the game, trailing by just three points at halftime (23-20) and five early in the fourth quarter (42-37) before Martin’s Mill closed the contest on a 13-6 run.
CLASS 1A DI STATE CHAMPIONSHIP: Perrin-Whitt speeds way to 65-46 win over larger Valley
SAN ANTONIO — Facing off with a much larger squad from Turkey Valley on Thursday, the Perrin-Whitt Pirates knew they’d need to speed up the Patriots and convert turnovers into transition points if they hoped to leave the Alamodome with the Class 1A Division I state championship trophy.
Fortunately for coach Todd McCormick and his team, that’s a game plan the Pirates are well accustomed to employing and have experienced unprecedented success with this season.
Utilizing a speed and quickness advantage on both ends of the court, Perrin-Whitt turned 15 takeaways into an 18-0 edge in fast-break points to pull away in the second half for a 65-46 victory, claiming the program’s first state title in its first state trip since earning a runner-up finish in 1946.
CLASS 1A DII STATE CHAMPIONSHIP: Jayton dominates Bryson to claim second straight title
SAN ANTONIO — A near-perfect defensive effort by the Jayton Jaybirds ended the competitive phase of the Class 1A Division II state title game by halftime Thursday, as coach Ryan Bleiker’s squad held Bryson without a field goal in the first two quarters on its way to a dominating 70-36 win at the Alamodome.
The Jaybirds, who overcame a slow offensive start to build a 35-3 lead by the break, forced more than twice as many turnovers (25) as field goals allowed (12), making for a comfortable defense of last year’s state championship — the first in program history.
Now back-to-back champions with five state trips in the past seven seasons, Jayton further cemented its place as one of the premier programs in Texas small school basketball — a fact not lost on Bleiker, who led the Jaybirds to their first-ever state trip in 2019.
PHOTO GALLERY: Goldthwaite-Martin’s Mill boys basketball state semifinal playoff (30 images)
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GAME STORY: Top-ranked Martin’s Mill ends Goldthwaite’s season in state semis
CHINA SPRING — After battling through Region IV as an unranked team, the Goldthwaite Eagles had one final hurdle to clear in order to make it to their first-ever state championship game.
As luck would have it, however, the Eagles’ final challenge on the road to San Antonio was the toughest that Texas could provide in top-ranked Martin’s Mill.
The Mustangs ended the Eagles’ remarkable postseason run with a 66-33 loss on Tuesday at China Spring High School.
PHOTO GALLERY: Lipan-New Home boys basketball state semifinal playoff (42 images)
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GAME REPORT: Jayton rallies past Texline in second half of foul-heavy state semifinal matchup
LUBBOCK — The Jayton boys basketball team won a war of attrition Monday, outlasting former region rival Texline for a 56-43 win in a Class 1A Division II state semifinal matchup that featured 54 total fouls and saw six players foul out.
The Jaybirds trailed 21-17 at halftime, but coach Ryan Bleiker’s squad regrouped at the break to outscore the Tornadoes 15-8 in the third quarter and 24-14 in the fourth, taking advantage of 42 fee-throw attempts to outscore Texline 23-9 from the foul line.
The victory sends JHS back to San Antonio for the third straight year and fifth time since 2019, giving the Jaybirds an opportunity to defend their state championship against the winner of Tuesday’s game between Bryson and Kennard at 11 a.m. Thursday at the Alamodome.
GAME STORY: Lipan runs away from New Home for 63-41 win in Class 2A DII state semifinals
ABILENE — After a competitive first quarter, the Lipan boys basketball team outscored New Home 52-31 over the final three periods Monday to cruise to a 63-41 win in a Class 2A Division II state semifinal clash at Abilene Christian University’s Moody Coliseum.
Facing off with the Leopards in the state semis for the third straight year, the two-time defending state champion Indians scored their most lopsided victory in the series, using a 16-8 run through the second quarter and a 15-6 run through the third to stretch a one-point lead after one period to 18 by the start of the final quarter.
New Home made one final surge, pulling with 12 points (45-33) with 6:37 to play. But Lipan followed a timeout with an 11-0 run to pull ahead by a game-high 23 points and coasted from there to earn its fifth consecutive trip to the Alamodome, where the Indians will play the winner of Tuesday’s matchup between Goldthwaite and Martin’s Mill for the championship at 1 p.m. on Thursday.
BIG COUNTRY PREPS PLAYER OF THE WEEK: Stephenville’s Gentry lands the top spot
While Stephenville’s Tristian Gentry is no stranger to this column, it’s usually via football that he lands in our Top 10 — especially after missing track last year due to injury.
Well, it’s track season again and it just so happens that the SHS senior is healthy this time around — returning as one of the area’s top guns in that sport. He’s already off to a great start, having captured four gold medals at a talent-loaded Brock meet last week.
Aside from first place leaps in the long jump (21-1) and triple jump (43-2), he also helped SHS’ 400 and 800 relay teams take gold with splits of 43.26 and 1:30.1, respectively.
PHOTO GALLERY: Huckabay-Perrin-Whitt boys basketball region championship playoff (56 images)
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PHOTO GALLERY: Lindsay-Lipan boys basketball region championship playoff (55 images)
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GAME STORY: Perrin-Whitt tops Huckabay 57-44 to claim Region III-1A DI championship
WEATHERFORD — Jack McCormick scored 25 points and Cole Keeney added 15 to help carry Perrin-Whitt to a 57-44 win over Huckabay in the Region III-1A Division I championship game Saturday.
With the victory, the Pirates improved to 32-5 and earned a berth in the next week’s state semifinals against Brookeland. Huckabay finished 24-12, but with most starters scheduled to return next winter, the future appears promising for the Indians.
McCormick, son of Perrin-Whitt coach Todd McCormick, helped lead dad’s attacking offense to near perfection, as the Pirates were able to consistently draw fouls and earn trips to the free-throw line. The quick — and quick-thinking — guard enjoyed a 13-for-20 day from the line, while Perrin-Whitt shot 35 foul shots in all.
PHOTO GALLERY: Jayton-Benjamin boys basketball region championship playoff (30 images)
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GAME STORY: No. 1 Jayton stifles Benjamin in rematch of 2024 state championship game
CLYDE — A rematch of last year’s Class 1A state title game rendered the same result but in much more convincing fashion Thursday, as the defending state champion Jayton Jaybirds hammered Benjamin 63-30 to claim the Region II-1A Division II championship at Bulldog Gym.
Colt Gentry led the way for Jayton, scoring 21 points in the first three quarters before spending most of the fourth as a spectator, while Sean Stanaland and Dayton Bleiker also reached double figures with 11 points apiece.
Using stifling defense and excellent ball movement to consistently generate open looks on the other end, the Jaybirds extended an 18-11 first-quarter lead to 40-16 by halftime and cruised from there to their third consecutive state semifinals appearance and fifth since 2019.