Digital photos, prints and keepsakes may be purchased by clicking the link below. The “BigCountryPreps.com” watermark will be removed from all purchased photos.
Category: Mineral Wells Rams
GAME STORY: Prentice’s big night at the plate sends Mineral Wells to epic bi-district win
After singling in the first inning, Mineral Wells first baseman Kimber Prentice, a freshman, put together a career night as the Lady Rams claimed a 23-8 win over Frenship Memorial in a Region I-4A Division I bi-district game on Thursday night at Abilene Christian University’s Poly Wells Field.
Prentice tripled in her next three at-bats and drove in six runs in the game as the Lady Rams advanced to face either Decatur or Fort Worth Western Hills next week.
Entering the playoffs, Prentice was hitting .311 on the season with three triples. With a season-high five hits, she raised her batting average by 36 points to .347. The monster night came after she was forced to miss Mineral Wells’ regular-season finale after sustaining a concussion on April 14 against Stephenville.
Evan Ren’s 2026 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 that championship foundations are built upon.
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 2025-26 season.
Players are listed in no particular order.
Enjoy.
BIG COUNTRY PREPS PLAYER OF THE WEEK: Wall senior claims this week’s award
As one would expect, the Jim Ned Relays had a quality field of competition last week, opening the door for one of its athletes to snag Big Country Preps Player of the Week honors.
So it’s not surprising that its top performer sits atop of our weekly list of highlighted competitors from around the area.
Wall senior Bryson McFarden takes our weekly accolade after medaling five times in Tuscola with four golds and a silver.
BIG COUNTRY PREPS PLAYER OF WEEK: Jayton’s Stanaland takes this week’s spotlight
Our Big Country Preps Player of the Week earned the accolade on the state’s biggest stage.
Jayton senior guard Sean Stanaland was a big contributor in several areas for the Jaybirds in a surprisingly easy 78-45 win over Kennard in the Class 1A Division II state title game. This began with the 28 points he scored to help JHS to its third straight championship.
He also pulled down 15 rebounds to go with five assists and three steals as Jayton capped its season with a victory in San Antonio’s Alamodome.
FINAL Big Country Boys Basketball Statistical Leaders for 2026: Scoring, rebounding, assists, steals, FT Pct., pass deflections and blocks
Below are the current season statistical leaders for Big Country boys basketball through Feb. 19. With the end of the regular season, this will be the FINAL boys basketball leaders we post this year.
This database has been 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.
FINAL Big Country Girls Basketball Statistical Leaders for 2026 (Scoring, rebounding, assists, steals, FT Pct., pass deflections and blocks)
Below are the current season statistical leaders for Big Country girls basketball through Feb. 12. This will be our FINAL girls stat leaders for 2026.
This database has been 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 or her email for our weekly stats request. We’ll be happy to add them to our database after they arrive.
UIL REALIGNMENT: Area football landscape experiences major changes in biennial district reshuffling
Surprised — and in some cases, stressed out — faces could be seen in abundance Monday morning at Abilene’s Region 14 Education Services Center, where coaches from throughout the area and beyond gathered to learn their new district homes as part of the University Interscholastic League’s biennial realignment.
In what can best be described as a seismic shift in the Big Country football landscape, a majority of area schools were placed in unfamiliar environs — be that a new district with new foes or even a new region entirely.
The now venerated process by which the UIL releases the packet containing the new district alignments for football, basketball and volleyball is frequently compared by coaches to waking up on Christmas morning to find what presents await under the three. And on this day, in particular, few found the gifts they were expecting.
EVAN REN’S 2025 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.
2025 All-Big Country Preps Football Team: First-Team Roster
Here are our first-team selections for the 2025 All-Big Country Preps football team. For the rest of this year’s selections, click the links below.
2025 All-Big Country Preps Football Team: Second-Team Roster
Here are our second-team selections for the 2025 All-Big Country Preps football team. For the rest of this year’s selections, click the links below.
2025 All-Big Country Preps Football Team: Third-Team Roster (w/honorable mention)
Here are our selections for the 2024 All-Big Country Preps Football Team (Third-Team roster). For the rest of this year’s selections, click the links below.
2025 BIG COUNTRY PREPS RISING STARS TEAM: The top underclassmen in the Big Country
Here are our selections for the 2024 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.
THIS WEEK IN BOYS BASKETBALL: District races taking shape as title, playoff favorites begin to emerge
District races are heating up throughout the Big Country and the cream is quickly rising to the top in our area leagues.
Last week and helped provide some clarity in a number of district’s throughout the BCP coverage area, and this week will, no doubt, do the same.
Without further ado, let’s go ahead and dive into this week’s column and take a look at the biggest games on this week’s slate and some of the top results last week had to offer.
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.
GAME STORY: Brownwood uses defense, two big runs to stop Lady Rams
BROWNWOOD — A sluggish start was nothing that a 14-1 run couldn’t fix.
Trailing Mineral Wells 8-7 after one quarter, the sixth-ranked Brownwood girls combined a zone trap with solid halfcourt defense to take control of the game on the way to a 47-27 win in the District 6-4A opener for both clubs.
Nylah Hall scored 12 points and Trinity Roberts added 11 more to lead Brownwood (21-3, 1-0), which turned the 8-7 deficit into a 21-9 lead by the 3:05 mark of the second quarter.
Mineral Wells (14-11, 0-1) was led by Addyson Moore with 10 points. Jentry Jeter and Aniya Richardson added six apiece.
“We’ve got to put it all together,” Brownwood coach Heather Hohertz said. “This is where it counts and we are thankful and grateful for this victory. But we’ve got to get better.”
DISTRICT 3-4A DIV. II WEEK 11 REPORT: Graham holds off Eagle Mountain for No. 2 seed; Mineral Wells, Brock roll
Graham 20, Saginaw Eagle Mountain 18 — A 213-yard rushing and a big defensive play by Jordan Alexander were enough to fuel the Steers to a thrilling win over the Knights in a matchup for the district’s No. 2 playoff seed.
Jace Gill passed for 110 yards and ran for 108, while Colt Taylor (13-54) and Dylan Cox (7-30) had rushing touchdowns to lead Graham offensively. And Alexander had a pick-six on the other side of the football to help the Steers improve to 7-3 overall and 4-1 in league play.
DISTRICT 3-4A DIV. II WEEK 10 REPORT: Brock takes care of Graham; Eagle Mountain edges Mineral Wells
Brock 28, Graham 7 — Holt Frazier passed for 246 yards with touchdowns to three different receivers, and the Eagles defense put together a dominant effort in a comfortable win over the Steers.
Colt Matlock (3-85), Davis Lee (1-68) and Braeden Ray (3-39) all caught TD passes for Brock (9-0, 4-0), which also got 93 yards rushing from Bryer McDonald. Behind that group, the Eagles stretched a 21-0 halftime lead to four touchdowns before Graham finally got on the board late in the third quarter.
PHOTO GALLERY: Graham-Mineral Wells football (62 images)
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Continue reading “PHOTO GALLERY: Graham-Mineral Wells football (62 images)”
DISTRICT 3-4A DIV. II WEEK 9 REPORT: Brock blasts Burkburnett; Graham, Eagle Mountain earn shutout wins
Brock 66, Burkburnett 7 — Bryer McDonald ran for 143 yards and three touchdowns and Holt Frazier threw for 259 yards and four scores to lead the Eagles to a runaway win over the Bulldogs.
Colt Matlock also went over the century mark receiving, finishing with three catches for 107 yards and two TDs for Brock (8-0, 3-0), which won the turnover battle 3-0 in a dominating effort.
GAME STORY: Sophomore Cox, stout defensive effort lead Graham to shutout win over Mineral Wells
MINERAL WELLS — After moving their District 3-4A Division II game up 24 hours anticipating bad weather on Friday, the Graham and Mineral Wells football teams were less than 10 minutes from kickoff at Ram Stadium on Thursday when Mother Nature showed up anyways.
Following the 32-minute lightning delay, Graham forced a three-and-out and scored in the first 1:57 as the Steers rolled to a 42-0 win, setting up a showdown with Brock on Halloween for the expected district championship.
Graham coach Clay McChristian was proud of how his team dealt with the unexpected shift in schedules this week.
DISTRICT 3-4A DIV. II WEEK 8 REPORT: Brock blasts Mineral Wells; Graham cruises past Bridgeport
Brock 55, Mineral Wells 7 — Holt Frazier passed for 334 yards and four touchdowns, and Colt Matlock received for 134 yards and two scores to lead the Eagles to a lopsided win over the Rams.
Dash Lindsey (8-85, 2 TDs rushing; 1-17, 1 TD receiving) and Bryer McDonald (8-72, 2 TDs) also had productive days for Brock (7-0, 2-0), which also got 60 yards and a TD receiving from Davis Lee.
FEATURE: Senior playmaker Fisher brings steady leadership, consistent production to injury-plagued Mineral Wells offense
Pretty much across the football landscape, there is one opponent nobody wants to play. He doesn’t wear a uniform, and he comes in all manner of configurations. But ask any coach, and he will tell you a bite by the “Injury Bug” can be as devastating as any heartbreaking scoreboard defeat.
Or, as in the case of the Mineral Wells Rams, you can suffer multiple chomps, keep on shooing, and convert disaster into what still might have the promise of a successful season.
It certainly helps the Rams’ cause that the primary swatter is six-feet tall, weighs 180 pounds, runs faster than a speeding cornerback and is able to leap tall safeties to catch pretty much any ball thrown his way.
But (much) more on Jaidun Fisher in a bit. First, consider why the Mineral Wells receiver has been so important this year.
DISTRICT 3-4A DIV. II WEEK 7 REPORT: Brock, Graham and Minerals Wells all open league play with lopsided wins
Brock 41, Saginaw Eagle Mountain 13 — Holt Frazier threw for 257 yards and three touchdowns, and Bryer McDonald ran for 90 yards and two scores to lead the Eagles to a comfortable win over the Knights.
Charles Hibbler (2-96 receiving), Davis Lee (3-50) and Casen Christenson (4-38) all had receiving TDs for Brock (6-0, 1-0), which shut Eagle Mountain out in the second half after going to halftime up 28-13.
DISTRICT 4-4A DIV. I WEEK 6 REPORT: Brownwood, Stephenville, Lampasas, Burnet, Marble Falls all score wins
Brownwwood 62, Ingleside 0
The Lions (3-3) rolled up 548 yards in total offense to reach the .500 mark for the first time this year.
Trent Buffington rushed for 111 yards and two TDs while Carson Noe and Grant Gray threw two touchdown passes each to lead Brownwood, which had built a 55-0 lead by halftime.
Limited to only 36 total yards, Ingleside fell to 2-4.
DISTRICT 3-4A DIV. II WEEK 5 REPORT: Taylor’s big game fuels Steers to win; Brock cruises to 5-0
Graham 35, Lake Worth 10 — Leading just 14-10 at halftime, the Steers shut the Bullfrogs out over the final two quarters to pull away for a convincing win.
Graham, which got 186 yards and three touchdowns rushing from Colt Taylor in the victory, scored a pair of third-quarter TDs to increase its lead to 28-10 by the start of the final period and was never threatened again after that.
DISTRICT 3-4A DIV. II WEEK 4 REPORT: Brock blasts Southwest to stay unbeaten; Graham, Mineral Wells both fall
Brock 69, Fort Worth Southwest 0 — Holt Frazier passed for 258 yards and six touchdowns, and the Eagles defense pitched a shutout in a runaway win over the Raiders.
Colt Matlock (2-87 receiving) and Braden Ray (4-63) both had two receiving touchdowns apiece to lead Brock, while Davis Lee (2-43) and Charles Hibbler (3-37) also caught scoring passes.
GAME STORY: Special teams, long drives key Quinlan Ford win over Mineral Wells
MINERAL WELLS — The Quinlan Ford football team entered Thursday’s nondistrict contest with Mineral Wells at Ram Stadium having scored 49 points in each of their first three games this year.
After being shut out in the first quarter for the first time all season, the Panthers dominated the second quarter and took a 35-21 win over the Rams.
The second quarter saw Quinlan Ford score a touchdown on a blocked punt and put together a pair of scoring drives of more than 90 yards as the Panthers moved to 4-0 on the year while Mineral Wells fell to 2-2.
DISTRICT 3-4A DIV. II WEEK 3 REPORT: Graham, Mineral Wells and Brock victorious as league goes 4-2
Graham 35, Whitesboro 7 — Jace Gill passed for 202 yards and a touchdown and ran for 72 yards and two more scores to fuel the Steers to a blowout win over the Bearcats.
Dylan Cox (8-41 rushing) also had two rushing touchdowns for Graham, which was led in receiving by Brodie Martin (3-57, 1 TD), Parker Hale (4-51) and Walker Bennett (2-48).
DISTRICT 3-4A DIV. II WEEK 2 REPORT: Brock blasts Lake Worth; Mineral Wells, Graham fall
Brock 67, Lake Worth 7 — Holt Frazier passed for 195 yards and five touchdowns, hitting Colt Matlock three ties for 132 yards and three scores, to fuel the Eagles to a blowout win over the Bullfrogs.
Levi Dean (5-100, 1 TD), Bryer McDonald (5-83, 1 TD) and Dash Lindsey (8-74, 1 TD) all added nice rushing days for Brock (2-0), which finished with 561 yards of total offense.
DISTRICT 3-4A DIV. II WEEK 1 REPORT: Brock, Graham, Mineral Wells all victorious in openers
Brock 52, Decatur 31 — Bryer McDonald and Dash Lindsey both topped 120 yards rushing and Holt Frazier passed for 194 yards and four scores to fuel BHS to a three-touchdown win over Decatur.
Colt Matlock was Frazier’s favorite target in the passing game, hauling in eight passes for 140 yards and three TDs, while Braeden Ray also had a receiving score.
EVAN REN: Top games worth traveling for during the 2025 football season
Got the truck started yet?
Ready to jump on one of those farm-to-market roads to watch high school football into the late hours on a Friday night?
You’re not alone.
And, as tradition would have it, I tip my cap to those of you who will be hitting the trails each week in search of pigskin. My method: a preseason menu of sorts.
Each week for the next 11 weeks, Big Country Preps will be searching for its Game of the Week, and we’re already looking ahead. We now present our preliminary list of Big Country Games worth traveling for, but keep in mind: the following list is subject to change as surprises and disappointments emerge.
And as we all know … surprises and disappointments always emerge.
So, without further delay, here is our list of Big Country games worth traveling for in 2025.
I’ll see you on the road.
MINERAL WELLS FEATURE: Senior DE Yowell ready to be leaned on heavily in final season
In the two seasons he’s been on varsity, Mineral Wells defensive end Trent Yowell has been named his district’s Newcomer of the Year and Defensive Lineman of the Year.
Blessed with an excellent mix of size and athleticism, the now 6-foot-3, 215-pound senior has been a standout for coach Cody Worrell’s entire tenure with the Rams.
Now entering his final run with his coaches and MWHS teammates, Yowell is hoping to make his last season in a Rams uniform his best. And his coach is looking forward to seeing just what kind of finale he has planned.
2025 MINERAL WELLS FOOTBALL PREVIEW: Rams hope to start playoff streak after breakthrough campaign in ’24
Mineral Wells made a breakthrough in 2024, going 7-4 in coach Cody Worrell’s second season to snap a two-year playoff drought and claim the program’s first winning season since 2018.
This year, despite graduating a talented group of 16 lettermen, including seven offensive and five defensive starters, the Rams are hoping to prove they have some staying power.
MWHS, which has never had more than three consecutive playoff seasons, has an opportunity to achieve just the fifth postseason streak in its history with another trip to the playoffs this fall. And Worrell likes the determination he’s seen from his team to build on the foundation that was laid the last two seasons.
COUNTDOWN TO TWO-A-DAYS: The Mineral Wells Rams … eight days to two-a-days
Football is just around the corner, and we at BigCountryPreps.com are committed to bringing you the information you need to prepare for your favorite team’s season.
We’ll be releasing our Big Country Preps Preseason Football Preview, the most comprehensive look at the upcoming Big Country football season anywhere, on Wednesday, Aug. 20. But you won’t have to wait until then to sate your gridiron appetite.
Leading up to the first day of fall football practice on Aug. 4, we’ll be spotlighting each 11-man team in the area and posing some of the key questions they’ll face in 2025 as part of our annual “Countdown to Two-a-Days” series.
Today, we take a look at the Mineral Well Rams.
Evan Ren’s 2025 Big Country Preps All-Hustle Team (the hardest-working baseball and softball players in the area)
OTHER 2025 ALL-BIG COUNTRY PREPS TEAMS
- ALL BIG COUNTRY PREPS BASEBALL Superlative Awards (Pitcher of the Year, Offensive Player of the Year, etc)
- ALL-BIG COUNTRY PREPS BASEBALL: First-Team Selections
- ALL BIG COUNTRY PREPS BASEBALL: Second-Team Selections (plus honorable mention)
- ALL BIG COUNTRY PREPS SOFTBALL: Superlative Awards (Pitcher of the Year, Offensive Player of the Year, etc)
- ALL BIG COUNTRY PREPS SOFTBALL: First-Team Selections
- ALL BIG COUNTRY PREPS SOFTBALL: Second-Team Selections (plus honorable mention)
Our All-Big Country Preps Softball and Baseball Teams, released Saturday and Sunday, respectively, are in place to honor those who achieved the most on-field success in 2025. It is off the field, however, where character, grit, and work ethic are often measured. And it is with our Big Country Preps All-Hustle Team that we wish to honor those players, male and female, who were (simply put) the hardest-working, best teammates in the area this spring.
This team isn’t about who the best baseball and softball players were.
The All-Hustle team honors effort, discipline, toughness, coachability and selflessness — traits that coaches wish they had in every player and upon which championships are built.
It is for that reason that this team is largely selected by area coaches and described in their own words.
Big Country Preps is now honored to present these individuals to you — the best team players (boys and girls) that the Big Country had to offer during the 2025 season.
The players below are listed in no particular order.
2025 All-Big Country Preps Baseball Team: First-Team Roster
Here are our first-team selections for the 2025 All-Big Country Preps baseball team. For the rest of this year’s selections, click the links below.
2025 All-Big Country Preps Baseball Team: Second-Team Roster (w/ honorable mention)
Here are our second-team selections for the 2025 All-Big Country Preps baseball team. For the rest of this year’s selections, click the links below.
2025 Big Country Preps Rising Stars Baseball Team
Ladies and gentlemen, we are proud to release our 2025 All-Big Country Preps baseball teams.
Here, you will find our Rising Stars Team honoring the top freshmen and sophomores in the Big Country.
For the rest of this year’s baseball selections, please click the links below.
2025 All-Big Country Preps Softball Team: First-team Roster
Here are our first-team selections for the 2025 All-Big Country Preps softball team. For the rest of this year’s selections, click the links below.
- Superlative Award Winners (Pitcher of the Year, Offensive Player of the Year, etc.)
- All-Big Country Preps Second-Team Softball Selections (w/ honorable mention)
- All-Big Country Preps Rising Stars Team (the best freshman and sophomores in the area!)
- Big Country Preps All-Hustle Team (To be released Monday night)
2025 All-Big Country Preps Softball Team: Second-team Roster (w/ honorable mention)
Here are our second-team selections for the 2025 All-Big Country Preps softball team. For the rest of this year’s selections, click the links below.
- Superlative Award Winners (Pitcher of the Year, Offensive Player of the Year, etc.)
- All-Big Country Preps First-Team Softball Selections
- All-Big Country Preps Rising Stars Team (the best freshman and sophomores in the area!)
- Big Country Preps All-Hustle Team (To be released Monday night)
2025 Big Country Preps Rising Stars Softball Team
Ladies and gentlemen, we are proud to release our 2025 All-Big Country Preps Softball teams.
Here, you will find our Rising Stars Team honoring the top freshmen and sophomores in the Big Country.
For the rest of this year’s softball selections, please click the links below.
- Superlative Award Winners (Pitcher of the Year, Offensive Player of the Year, etc.)
- All-Big Country Preps First-Team Softball Selections
- All-Big Country Preps Second-Team Softball Selections
- Big Country Preps All-Hustle Team (To be released Monday night)
PHOTO GALLERY: Mineral Wells-Seminole baseball region championship playoff (103 images)
Digital photos, prints and keepsakes may be purchased by clicking the link below. The “BigCountryPreps.com” watermark will be removed from all purchased photos.
GAME STORY: Historic season for Mineral Wells ends with Game 3 loss to Seminole
GRAHAM — A magical season for the Mineral Wells baseball team has drawn to a close.
After going 7-17-1 in Jacob Clay’s first year as head coach, the Rams finished Year 2 at 20-14-1, beating Seminole 7-2 in Game 2 of their Region I-4A Division I championship series, before getting no-hit into the fifth inning in a 5-0 loss in Game 3 on Saturday at the Graham High School Baseball Field.
The 2025 season marked the first time that Mineral Wells advanced to a region final since 1958.