Here are the area’s baseball 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 email for our weekly stat request or send Evan Ren a note at Evan.Ren@BigCountryPreps.com.
The best way to describe the area meet performance of our Big Country Preps Player of the Week (Wall’s Briggs Jones) is to simply let his coach, Craig Slaughter do the talking.
“He ran a blistering 10.41 to set a school record and win the 100 meters,” Slaughter said. “He broke his long jump record with a jump of 23-11.5. I only let him jump twice because he was running out of room in the pit and I need that dude cranked up this week.
“Then he destroyed his triple jump record with a jump of 48-7.25
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.
Here are the area’s softball statistical leaders through March 27:
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.
Here are the area’s baseball statistical leaders through March 27.
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 email for our weekly stat request or send Evan Ren a note at Evan.Ren@BigCountryPreps.com.
20Here are the area’s baseball statistical leaders through March 20.
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 email for our weekly stat request or send Evan Ren a note at Evan.Ren@BigCountryPreps.com.
Here are the area’s softball statistical leaders through March 20:
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.
Digital photos, prints and keepsakes may be purchased by clicking the link below. The “BigCountryPreps.com” watermark will be removed from all purchased photos. Continue reading “PHOTO GALLERY: Water Valley-Munday boys basketball region semifinal playoff (40 images)”
MERKEL — Facing a 16-2 deficit against Munday after the first quarter in the Region II-1A Division I semifinals, the Water Valley Wildcats did what coach Matthew Mims could only dream of in response at Merkel’s Badger Gymnasium.
They dug deep. They battled. They played intense defense. They played crisp on offense.
Most importantly, they staged a rally that will be remembered for a long time in the Tom Green county community as Water Valley took a 46-40 thriller to advance to the regional finals on Friday to face Garden City at the Junell Center on the campus of Angelo State University.
CLYDE — With three lead changes in the first quarter, Thursday’s Region II-1A Division I area-round matchup between Munday and Westbrook was shaping up to be an instant classic at Bulldog Gym.
Withstanding a 7-0 run by the Wildcats, the Moguls took the lead with a banked-in 3-pointer by Jariyis Williams to end the first quarter and rolled to a 48-36 win.
Caisen Lee had a game-high 18 points for Munday while Williams added 15 points.
Below are the current season statistical leaders for Big Country girls basketball through Feb. 13.
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 or her email for our weekly stats request. We’ll be happy to add them to our database after they arrive.
Below are the current season statistical leaders for Big Country boys basketball through Feb. 13.
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.
National Signing Day is typically a busy one in the Big Country Preps’ coverage area and 2025 was no exception with several players inking and/or confirming their commitments to play at the next level.
At various signing ceremonies held throughout the area, athletes celebrated their final choices to pursue a degree while competing collegiately.
Cisco’s Law Pinnick picked the perfect night to have one of the best games he’s ever had — a crucial district showdown at Hawley, where he helped the Loboes to a 55-43 win over the Bearcats with 18 points and an eye-popping 19 rebounds.
Three days later he delivered 23 points and 10 boards to help Cisco beat Albany — lifting the Loboes to 16-6 overall and 9-0 in district.
His performance earned him our Big Country Preps Player of the Week Award for the Week ending Feb. 1.
Below are the current season statistical leaders for Big Country boys basketball through Jan. 30.
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.
Below are the current season statistical leaders for Big Country girls basketball through Jan. 30.
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 or her email for our weekly stats request. We’ll be happy to add them to our database after they arrive.
Below are the current season statistical leaders for Big Country boys basketball through Jan. 23.
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.
Below are the current season statistical leaders for Big Country girls basketball through Jan. 23.
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 or her email for our weekly stats request. We’ll be happy to add them to our database after they arrive.
We all know a football player who almost never misses any practice time and practically lives in the weight room. He’s always early to arrive and late to leave. He’s coachable, but seldom needs direction because he always pays attention.
You know who I’m talking about.
The guy who sets a good example for young players. The guy who never complains and, first and foremost, is tough mentally and physically. He may not be the best player on a team (though some of them are). But he’s definitely the guy who gets the most out of the talent he’s given.
Welcome to the 2024 “True Grit” team — the one place in the Big Country where guys who fall into this category are recognized for it.
Here are our first-team selections for the 2024 All-Big Country Preps football team. For the rest of this year’s selections, click the links below.
Here are our second-team selections for the 2024 All-Big Country Preps football team. For the rest of this year’s selections, click the links below.
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.
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.
Our final Big Country Preps Player of the Week for 2024 earned it in several ways.
Forsan sophomore Coy Evans, a multi-talented guard who plays way ahead of the learning curve, takes our accolade after helping the Buffaloes to a 3-1 record and a third-place finish in the Borden County Tournament over the Weekend.
“He played very unselfish basketball,” Forsan coach Cory Richardson said. “He was getting other people involved and when we needed him to, he stepped up and scored.”
Electra 33, Haskell 26 — The Tigers took advantage of two kickoff return touchdowns and a fumble return for a score to end the Indians’ playoff hopes with a hard-fought win.
With the help of those non-offensive touchdowns and a 3-2 advantage in the turnover margin, Electra (8-2, 4-2) took a 33-20 lead into halftime and held Haskell off in the second half.
LAST WEEK: 45-8, .849
SEASON TOTAL: 464-122, .791
The regular season ends Friday night (if you can believe it) and there’s no better way to close things up than with No. 5 Class 2A DI Hawley (9-0, 4-0) at No. 1 Stamford (9-0, 4-0).
The winner will earn the District 4 championship and No. 1 seed heading into the playoffs, so much is at stake.
I’m leaning toward Stamford here for three reasons: First, the overall team speed of SHS is unmatched by anyone in the area.
Secondly, the Bulldogs have an intangible working here — specifically a last-second miracle touchdown scored by Hawley’s
Camden Ables from 45 yards out with 0:47 left in last year’s game.
Seymour 38, Munday 20 — Brayden Loyd passed for 438 yards and two touchdowns to lead a 639-yard effort for the Panthers in a comfortable win over the Moguls.
Jaxon Carrington (17-101, 1 TD) and Colton McGough (5-67, 2 TDs) both had productive rushing games, while Brason Zeissel (6-133, 1 TD), McGough (4-103, 1 TD), Layton McAdams (5-89) and Avery Parrish (3-87) all had big days receiving the ball for Seymour, which improved to 3-6 overall and 2-3 in league action with the win.
Windthorst 55, Haskell 7 — Brock Belcher passed for 90 yards and two touchdowns and ran for 59 yards and an another score to lead the Trojans to a lopsided win over the Indians.
Windthorst (7-1, 4-0) ran for 231 yards as a team, getting productive days from Hunter Anderle (5-71, 1 TD), Tyler Camacho (12-61, 1 TD) and Karson Vieth (3-36, 2 TDs) as well.
LAST WEEK: 41-10 .803
SEASON TOTAL: 367-108, .772
Football season doesn’t feel complete without at least one visit to Chesley Field in Cisco. And Friday night, the Big Country Preps Game of the Week will stop by for a crucial District 4-2A DI matchup between the Loboes (5-2, 1-1) and Hawley (7-0, 2-0).
For Hawley, a win here will keep open the possibility of an unbeaten regular season. For Cisco, a victory would signal the beginning of a climb back into area prominence.
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.
Haskell 37, Archer City 16 — Haegen Pinkerton passed for 192 yards and ran for 128 yards and four touchdowns to help the Indians rebound from last week’s loss to Munday with a dominant effort against the Wildcats.
Montrel Johnson also had a solid day on the ground, rushing for 66 yards and a TD, while Brian Weng was Haskell’s leading receiver with 93 yards on six catches. Behind those three, the Indians () scored 16-third quarter points to stretch a 13-8 halftime lead to 29-16 by the start of the fourth quarter.
Munday 20, Haskell 13 — The Moguls pushed out to a 20-7 halftime lead and held on from there for a hard-fought victory over the Indians.
Down 7-0 early, Munday (4-3, 1-2) used a pick-six to even the score in the second quarter before adding a passing TD and a rushing score to take its two-touchdown lead into the break.
LAST WEEK: 32-12, .809
SEASON TOTAL: 279-91, .757
Now it’s time to get down to business.
With most of the Big Country taking an open date last Friday as a prelude to district play, we now dive headfirst into the games that count the most.
District play opens tomorrow for most leagues in the area, the intensity of which is already tangible.
Can you feel it?
We’ll see you on the road.
Here’s this week’s area picks:
Seymour 24, Haskell 13 — Brayden Loyd passed for 201 yards and three touchdowns while adding 112 yards on the ground to lead the Panthers to a hard-fought win over the Indians.
Jaxon Carrington (19-108, 1 TD) also eclipsed the 100-yard rushing mark for Seymour (2-4, 1-1), which got big receiving days from Brason Zeissel (5-121, 2 TDs) and Layton McAdams (6-67, 1 TD).
Haskell 22, Petrolia 19 — Haegen Pinkerton ran for 146 yards and a touchdown and passed for 83 yards and two scores to lead the Indians to a thrilling win over the Pirates in the district opener for both teams.
Haskell (3-2, 1-0) trailed 13-12 at halftime before taking a 20-19 lead into the final quarter. There were no offensive points scored by either team in the last 12 minutes, but the Indians got a safety to account for the final margin.
Hamlin 39, Munday 0 — The Pied Pipers pulled away from the previously unbeaten Moguls early in a battle of two of the area’s most improved teams.
Hamlin led 27-0 by halftime, and Munday never threatened after in falling to 3-1 on the year.
LAST WEEK: 47-11, .810
SEASON TOTAL: 141-59, .705
After nosediving in Week 2 with one of the worst pick records I’ve ever had, the column rebounded in Week 3 with an .810 percentage to push my overall tally over .700 again.
As for this week’s Big Country Preps Game of the Week, Mr. Yale Youngblood will be on hand in Tolar to cover Comanche’s road game with the Rattlers in what should be a fun one.
I’ll be heading to Ballinger, where the Bearcats (3-0) will play host to Brady (2-1) in a battle of upstarts.
Let’s dive into this week’s picks:
Haskell 52, Abilene TLCA 0 — The Indians had no trouble with the Eagles, scoring early and often in a blowout win.
Haskell, which moved to 2-1 with the victory, built a 40-0 lead by halftime and was able to preserve the shutout from there.
LAST WEEK: 46-28, .621
SEASON TOTAL: 94-48, .661
Abysmal.
That’s about the only adjective that comes to mind when trying to describe my Big Country football picks, which are off to the single worst start through two weeks that I’ve ever experienced in 18 years of covering area football.
A percentage of .621 after two weeks of play is beatable by throwing darts, flipping coins, or even consulting with your local horoscope page. Yet here I sit, trying to dig myself out of the hole I’ve created. But enough of that, Glen Rose at Brownwood is our Big Country Preps Game of the Week, in a week filled with interesting matchups.
Let’s have a look at them:
Haskell 25, Quanah 19 — HHS picked up its first win of the season, scoring the only touchdown of the second half to rally from a 19-18 halftime deficit against Quanah.
Haegen Pinkerton had a big game for Haskell, passing for 118 yards and a touchdown while adding 153 yards and three more scores on the ground.
DE LEON — Entering this football it was expected that De Leon junior quarterback Heston Jobe would be among the top producers in the Big Country.
It took him all of one night to prove it in a 79-43 win over Dublin on Friday.
Jobe, who connected on 13 of 20 throws for 413 yards and four scores, also rushed for 176 yards and four more TDs.
By night’s end, the Bearcats were 1-0 and Jobe had accounted for 589 yards and five touchdowns.
Munday 57, Abilene TLCA 6 — The Moguls snapped a 14-game losing streak dating back to Oct. 7 of 2022 with a win over the Eagles in their season opener.
Munday led 22-0 by the end of the first quarter and extended its lead to 41-0 by halftime.