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.
Category: Brownwood Lions
Big Country Softball Statistical Leaders (Through March 28)
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.
Evan Ren’s 2024 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 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.
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.
- Girls Superlative Award Winners
- Girls First Team
- Girls Second Team
- Girls Third Team (w/ honorable mention)
- Boys Superlative Award Winners
- Boys First Team
- Boys Second Team
- Boys Third Team (w/ honorable mention)
- Gym Rat Team: The toughest, hardest-working teammates in the Big Country! (Sunday)
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.
- Girls Superlative Award Winners
- Girls First Team
- Girls Second Team
- Girls Third Team (w/ honorable mention)
- Boys 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! (Sunday)
BIG COUNTRY PREPS PLAYER OF THE WEEK: Wall junior has huge day in San Angelo to capture our award
Wall junior Briggs Jones may be on the verge of a major breakout season in area track and field.
Our Big Country Player of the Week not only won five medals at the coveted Angelo State Spring Break meet, but he broke two solo school records and helped break a third. It seldom gets much better than that.
Aside from setting school marks in the long jump at 23-9.5 (for gold) and the triple jump at 45-2 (for gold), Jones was part of the 800 relay team’s silver medal performance of 1:28.49 — another Wall school mark.
PHOTO GALLERY: AISD Icebreaker Softball Tournament Day 3 (94 images)
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PHOTO GALLERY: Quad-team softball scrimmage at Cooper (102 images)
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PHOTO GALLERY: Brownwood-Stephenville basketball doubleheader (128 images)
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GAME STORY: Stephenville girls get defensive in big home win over Brownwood; Jackets rally past Lions
STEPHENVILLE — Needing a win over rival Brownwood to lock up the No. 2 playoff seed out of District 6-4A, the Stephenville Honeybees turned up the defensive pressure Friday night on their home floor.
SHS limited the visiting Lady Lions to just six field goals and didn’t allow more than seven points in any quarter on their way to a thorough 38-24 victory.
The win, which avenged a 43-37 road loss to Brownwood on Jan. 17, kicked off a doubleheader sweep for Stephenville, which saw their boys rally from an early deficit to pull away for a 52-39 victory.
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:
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.
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.
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.
THIS WEEK IN GIRLS BASKETBALL: A look ahead and a look back in area girls hoops
As always, the Big Country has its share of intriguing matchups this week.
Here’s a quick peek at next week’s marquee games on the girls’ side long with the most important results from a week ago.
We’ll see you on the road!
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.
All-Big Country Preps Superlatives: Player of the year, Offensive, Defensive and special teams MVPs, top newcomers and Coach of the Year
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.
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.
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.
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.
PHOTO GALLERY: Evan Ren’s top 100 football photos for 2023
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PHOTO GALLERY: Abilene High-Brownwood boys basketball (38 images)
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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.
Big Country Preps playoff forecast: 11 area teams still alive with December approaching
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.
GAME STORY: Jim Ned girls cruise past Brownwood to kick off doubleheader sweep
TUSCOLA — Hosting a Brownwood squad that entered Tuesday’s nondistrict matchup with six wins in its first eight games, the Jim Ned Lady Indians showed why they’re the second-ranked team in Class 3A, riding a dominant all-around performance to a 61-13 victory at Bill Thornton Arena.
Coach Hunter Cooley’s team took control early and never relinquished it, following a 16-4 run through the first quarter with a 13-1 surge through the second to take a commanding 29-5 advantage. And the Lady Indians would only grow that lead after halftime.
The thorough victory improved Jim Ned to 7-1 on the year with its only loss coming by six points to Class 4A No. 2 Glen Rose at the Pug Parris Classic in Abilene.
PHOTO GALLERY: Brownwood-Springtown football playoff (26 images)
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GAME STORY: Brownwood into the regional finals for first time since 2015 after thumping Springtown
CROWLEY — When the Brownwood offense is rolling, the Lions are hard to beat.
Friday night at Crowley ISD Stadium, the Lions had just 306 yards of offense, but they took advantage of four turnovers by Springtown to pull away in the fourth quarter for a 37-17 win in a Region I-4A Division I semifinal.
The victory marked the sixth scoring output of at least 30 points since the Lions (12-1) suffered their only loss this year Sept. 29 against Stephenville.
EVAN REN’S THANKSGIVING WEEK PLAYOFF PICKS: Big Country takes 16 teams from 1A through 5A into Turkey Day weekend
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!
BIG COUNTRY PREPS PLAYOFF FORECAST: BCP carries 33 teams into Week 13, but how many will move on?
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 COUNTRY PREPS PLAYER OF THE WEEK: Hico’s Powell takes this week’s accolade
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.
2023 BIG COUNTRY PREPS BOYS BASKETBALL PREVIEW: The area’s top teams in each class throughout the BCP coverage area
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.
DISTRICT 2-4A DIV. I WEEK 11 REPORT: Andrews tops Big Spring to lock up third playoff seed
Andrews 62, Big Spring 27 — JaeSean DeBouse ran for 337 yards and six touchdowns to lead the Mustangs to a comfortable win over the Steers in a battle for the league’s No. 3 playoff seed.
Andrews (5-5, 2-2), which led 38-21 by halftime, rushed for 469 yards as a team, getting 59 yards from Jeremiah Mullin and 49 yards and two scores from Merq Saiz.
BIG COUNTRY PREPS GAME OF THE WEEK: Wylie, Cooper clash in burgeoning rivalry game
LAST WEEK: 47-5, .903
SEASON TOTAL: 438-91, .827
With the column hitting at more than 90 percent accuracy last week, we now close the regular season on the upswing and with something uncommon: A local Big Country Preps Game of the Week.
While our weekly picks column generally highlights the top area game outside of the Abilene city limits, this week seems to call for us to stay at home with rivals Wylie (6-3, 3-1) and Cooper (4-5, 3-1) fighting for sole possession of the No. 2 seed in District 2-5A Division II.
Big Country Volleyball Statistical Leaders (as submitted by area coaches through Oct. 31)
NOTE: This will be our final installment of Big Country Volleyball Statistical Leaders for the 2023 season
Big Country Preps is publishing area volleyball statistical leaders each Tuesday at 7 p.m. roughout the regular season.
This database will be continually updated for our subscribers throughout the remainder of the season, using only those statistics submitted by area coaches.
DISTRICT 2-4A DIV. I WEEK 10 REPORT: Brownwood clinches outright title; Estacado pulls away from Big Spring
Brownwood 28, Andrews 14 — Ike Hall ran for 193 yards and two touchdowns and Levi Pearson added 106 yards and a pair of rushing scores to fuel the Lions to a win over the Mustangs in their final game of the regular season.
Brownwood (9-1, 4-0), which clinched the outright district title with the victory, led 14-0 after a quarter and held off Andrews from there to win by two scores.
BIG COUNTRY PREPS GAME OF THE WEEK: Bulldogs, Bearcats meet with district title in the balance
LAST WEEK: 44-7, .862
SEASON TOTAL: 391-86, .820
It really didn’t take long for people to start talking about the Hawley – Stamford matchup in 2023. In fact, this one was on our calendar as a possible Game of the Week before the season even started.
Who will win? That depends on who you speak with. Our Twitter poll is split virtually down the middle and even the computers see this one as a near tossup.
Stamford (7-0, 4-0 District 4-2A DII) enters this game scarcely challenged, rolling over the opposition by an average tally of 45-8. Hawley (6-2, 4-0), on the other hand, comes in with some battle scars after a brutal schedule featuring Jim Ned, Lubbock Roosevelt and Albany.
Big Country Volleyball Statistical Leaders (as submitted by area coaches through Oct. 24)
Big Country Preps is publishing area volleyball statistical leaders each Tuesday at 7 p.m. roughout the regular season.
This database will be continually updated for our subscribers throughout the remainder of the season, using only those statistics submitted by area coaches.
DISTRICT 2-4A DIV. I WEEK 9 REPORT: Ford’s monster game fuels Big Spring past Lake View
Big Spring 63, San Angelo Lake View 43 — Kavien Ford rushed for 374 yards and seven touchdowns to help the Steers snap a five-game losing streak with a comfortable win over the Chiefs.
Gavin Padron added 207 yards and a touchdown passing for Big Spring (2-6, 1-1), which got solid receiving days from Jose Munoz (4-78), Keyshaun Woodruff (6-71, 1 TD) and Zeyire Franklin (3-50). The Steers, who outgained Lake View 634-326 and won the turnover battle 2-0, built a 34-7 halftime lead and led 48-21 after three quarters.
GAME REPORT: Hall, defense lead Brownwood to lopsided road win over Estacado
Photos by Mandi McDonald, HubCityPreps.com
LUBBOCK — The Brownwood Lions clinched at least a share of the District 2-4A Division I championship Thursday at Lowrey Field, riding a big rushing performance from quarterback Ike Hall and a dominant defensive effort to a 35-14 win over Lubbock Estacado.
Hall ran for 176 yards and four of the Lions’ five touchdowns, while the BHS defense limited a talented Matadors offense to just 64 total yards and three first downs in a thorough victory.
The win improved the Lions to 8-1 overall and 3-0 in league play, putting coach Sammy Burnett’s squad in position to clinch the title outright next week when it closes out the regular season with a home game against Andrews.
BIG COUNTRY PREPS GAME OF THE WEEK: Stephenville hosts China Spring (w/ Evan Ren’s Big Country Picks)
LAST WEEK: 40-8, .833
SEASON TOTAL: 347-79, .814
As Week 9 of the 2023Texas High School football season gets underway, there are multiple high-profile games that would qualify as our Big Country Preps Game of the Week.
But we’re settling for a rare Thursday night matchup at Tarleton State University where seventh-ranked 4A DI Stephenville (5-2, 1-0) will play host to fourth-ranked China Spring (6-2, 2-0) in a game will give the victor sole possession of first place in District 5.
Picking who wins it may come down to throwing darts, but I do believe China Spring has one key advantage.
DISTRICT 2-4A DIV. I WEEK 8 REPORT: Hall fuels Brownwood to blowout win over Chiefs
Brownwood 66, San Angelo Lake View 0 — Ike Hall rushed for 185 yards and two touchdowns and passed for 176 yards and another score to lead the Lions to a blowout win over the Chiefs.
Brownwood (7-1, 2-0) also got productive rushing games from Logan McKibben (7-86, 2 TDs), Xavier Zepeda (11-72, TD) and Levi Pearson (9-52, 2 TDs), while Aaron Edmonds (5-55) and Stone Ratliff (2-59) led the team in receiving.
BIG COUNTRY PREPS GAME OF THE WEEK: Hico hosts Dawson with high playoff seeds in the balance (w/ Evan Ren’s Big Country Picks)
LAST WEEK: 41-7, .854
SEASON TOTAL: 307-71, .812
Big Country Preps makes a point of sharing the love and we look for opportunities to take our Game of the Week to as many different places that make sense each year.
Yet since our inaugural season in 2018, a rebuilding Hico football team missed our spotlight game for five straight seasons.
That drought ends this week when BCP visits Hico for the first time as the Tigers (5-2, 2-1 District 10-2A DII) host Dawson (5-1, 2-0) in a crucial matchup with high seed implications.
DISTRICT 2-4A DIV. I WEEK 7 REPORT: Brownwood, Andrews open league play with blowout wins
Brownwood 56, Big Spring 7 — Ike Hall passed for 139 yards and two touchdowns, ran for 110 yards and two TDs and received for 41 yards and a fifth score as Brownwood cruised to a blowout win over the Steers in the district opener for both teams.
The Lions outgained Big Spring 543-347, getting big games from Levi Pearson (21-151, 2 TDs rushing; 2-65, 1 TD receiving) and Xavier Zepeda (2-90, 1 TD rushing) as well. Brownwood (6-1, 1-0) led 14-0 after a quarter and used a 28-point second quarter to take a 42-7 lead into halftime.
BIG COUNTRY PREPS GAME OF THE WEEK: Clyde heads to Vernon for district-opening battle of unbeatens
LAST WEEK: 37-3, .925
SEASON TOTAL: 266-64, .806
Contrast in styles games make for excellent entertainment and are usually high on our list of potential Big Country Preps Games of the Week.
Friday we have such a matchup when Clyde (5-0) travels to Vernon (5-0) in the District 3-3A DI opener for both clubs. Clyde and its power spread offense capable of running or throwing the ball well, against a run-based multiple attack used by Vernon that seems almost out of the 1950s.
Both clubs are good at what they do. Both are physical and both are fully aware of how important this league opener is. In fact, this may end up ranking as one of the more physical Games of the Week we’ll see in 2023.
DISTRICT 2-4A DIV. I WEEK 6 REPORT: Big Spring, Brownwood fall in final week of nondistrict play
Seminole 51, Big Spring 33 — The Steers put up more than 500 yards of offense but ultimately couldn’t keep pace with the unbeaten Indians, suffering a three-score loss to close out nondistrict play at 1-5.
Gavin Padron passed for 300 yards and two touchdowns, while Kavien Ford rushed for 174 yards and a TD and Zeyire Franklin received for 189 yards and three scores, but it wasn’t enough as Seminole stretched a 30-19 halftime lead to 44-25 heading into the final period.