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.
Big moments attract big-time players and our Big Country Preps Player of the Week, certainly made the most of his opportunity over the weekend. 
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.
GRAHAM — Records can be deceiving. And in the case of the Seymour Panthers (16-15) that was certainly the case during Tuesday’s 81-50 win over Cisco in a Region II-2A bi-district matchup at Graham High School. 
GRAHAM — If one were to rely on the “eyeball test” prior to Tuesday’s Region II-2A girls quarterfinal between 15th-ranked Cisco and No. 9 Nocona, one may have surmised that a far bigger Cisco team would be favored to eliminate the Lady Indians. 
Doing a bit of everything is a specialty of Cisco senior guard Cole Thompson, who takes our Big Country Preps Player of the Week award after a pair of big nights in an 88-53 win over Hamlin and a 57-51 loss to Albany last week.
Benjamin’s Grayson Rigdon has been posting such overwhelming numbers for so long, that people scarcely blink when upon hearing of his latest exploits. 
She’s third in the Big Country in scoring (17.9 points per game). She’s tied for 10th in the area with more than 40 made 3s. She hits 74 percent of her foul shots (12th in the Big Country). She’s second in the area in steals at 5.8 per game and she’s second the Big Country in pass deflections at 6.0. 
CISCO — A pair of fast starts led to consecutive wins for Cisco in Friday’s varsity doubleheader with visiting Stamford. 
Nobody needed a pair of district wins more than the Cooper Lady Cougars last week, and with the help of our Big Country Preps Player of the Week, J’Lee Sloan, they did just that. 
It’s been a while since we’ve seen a Class 1A girls team from the outer reaches of our coverage area land our Big Country Preps Player of the Week award. But Gordon’s Caitlyn Parsons put an end to the drought with a huge performance in the Mesquite Pit Classic in Poolville. 
SWEETWATER — After a season-long battle with low numbers, limited experience and a difficult schedule, the Cisco Loboes finally closed their 2023 campaign on Friday with a 52-21 loss to New Deal in the Class 2A DI area round. 
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. 
Hawley 28, Cisco 17 — The Bearcats (8-2, 6-0) clinched the district title with a difficult road win over Cisco. 
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. 
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. 
Winters 48, Colorado City 7 — The Blizzards (1-8, 1-4) rolled up 374 yards rushing to earn their first win of the year. 
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.
Stamford 28, Cisco 13 — The Bulldogs set themselves up for a potential district title showdown with Hawley with a tough win at Cisco. 
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. 
One top-notch performance after another. 
Cisco 40, Olney 13 — Kannon Orsagh had 216 yards passing for three TDs on only six completions and rushed for 48 yards on only 10 carries to lead Cisco to a lopsided road win.