Category: Stephenville Yellow Jackets

by Evan Ren

FEATURE: Stephenville’s Brister overcomes knee injury to land two state berths

STEPHENVILLE — Creece Brister could have very easily chosen to feel sorry for himself in the aftermath of a devastating knee injury suffered during the football season. 

He instead chose to count his blessings and to get back to work. 

Track season was right around the corner and moping wasn’t going to help the defending Class 4A state shot put champion prepare for the event. So the 6-foot-5, 310-pounder (who also earned state silver in the discus last year) put his nose to the grindstone and began prepping in earnest in November. 

The effort has now paid off with regional titles in both the shot put and discus, giving him two state berths despite being less than 100 percent. He will compete in both events in the 2024 UIL State Track & Field Meet at Mike A. Myers Stadium on Thursday in Austin.

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by Daniel Youngblood

GAME STORY: Stephenville evens series with Sweetwater, forces do-or-die Game 3

ABILENE — With their backs against the wall after dropping Game 1 of their best-of-three bi-district series to Sweetwater, the Stephenville Honeybees kept their season alive Friday with a 9-4 win at Abilene Cooper’s Cougar Diamond.

Batting to start the do-or-die Game 2, Stephenville put up two runs in each of the first two innings to build an early lead and answered any attempts at a Sweetwater comeback to pull away in the latter innings and force a deciding third game at 6 p.m. Saturday at he same site.

Mattie-Lynn Dunnam and Presley Gaitan combined to limit the Lady Mustangs to just five hits and got a big game from their lineup, which supplemented seven hits with three walks, two hit batsmen and four Sweetwater errors.

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by Daniel Youngblood

GAME STORY: Ashley, Sweetwater best Stephenville in Game 1 of bi-district series

ABILENE — The Sweetwater Lady Mustangs struck the first blow in their best-of-three bi-district series against Stephenville on Thursday, topping the Honeybees 5-3 at Abilene Cooper’s Cougar Diamond to pull within a win of advancing to the Region I-4A area round.

Sweetwater, District 5-4A’s No. 3 seed, scored two runs in the top of the first to take a lead it would hold the rest of the way, adding a single run in the fifth and two in the seventh to go up 5-1 before Stephenville tried to mount a rally in its final at-bat.

Pitcher Mikayla Ashley was strong in the circle, allowing just one earned run in a complete-game effort to best her counterpart Presley Gaitan and give the Lady Mustangs a chance to close out the series when it resumes at 7 p.m. Friday at the same site.

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by Evan Ren

BIG COUNTRY PREPS PLAYER OF THE WEEK: Eula’s Cauthen takes our weekly award through three sports

There is very little that Eula’s Halie Cauthen isn’t good at athletically. Already an Honorable Mention All-Big Country Preps basketball player, the EHS junior showed her full range of versatility last week with three big performances in three different sports.

To begin with, Cauthen opened the week by qualifying for the 1A state golf tournament as an individual at the regional tournament, closing with rounds of 103 and 105.

Then, after playing 54 holes of golf in three days, Cauthen rushed back to compete for the district championship in softball against Cross Plains. 

With a game time of 7:30 p.m., she arrived from the golf tournament at 7:25 and went 4 for 4 with three triples, three RBIs and four runs scored to help Eula clinch the district title in a 10-1 victory.

But Cauthen wasn’t finished quite yet.

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by Daniel Youngblood

REGION I-4A TRACK RECAP: Stephenville boys win team title to headline successful meet for area

LUBBOCK — Big Country athletes made a strong showing at the Region I-4A track meet Friday and Saturday at Lowrey Field, combining to earn 19 medals and 12 automatic bids to the state meet May 2 in Austin. 

Between the boys and girls competitions, area entries accounted for eight gold medals, four silvers and seven bronzes, while the Stephenville boys did enough to edge Canyon by two points for the team title.

The Yellow Jackets finished with 59 points, headlined by double gold medalist Creece Brister, who won both throwing events. Brownwood, meanwhile, had the highest girls finish, taking third with 48 points, led by gold medals from Kaya Phillips in the 200 and its 800-meter relay team.

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by Evan Ren

FINAL Big Country Regular Season Softball Statistical leaders for 2024 (through April 18)

Here are the area’s softball statistical leaders through April 18.

With the end of the regular season, this will be our FINAL softball leaders posting for 2024. 

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. 

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by Evan Ren

GAME STORY: Lions lock up district title with win over archrival Stephenville

STEPHENVILLE — For the Brownwood Lions, it couldn’t have been a better scenario. 

Not only did BHS clinch the District 6-4A championship on Friday, but the Lions did it by completing a season sweep of their archrival Stephenville with a 6-2 win on the Yellow Jackets’ home field. 

Brownwood starter Yovani Figueroa delivered 4.1 solid innings to earn the win and Eli Hill was 1 for 3 with a three-RBI double to lead the Lions (20-5-1, 9-1), who blew the game open with a four-run third inning. 

“I’ve been blessed to come back with a great bunch of kids,” said first-year Brownwood coach Blake Sandford, a former coach at Early High School. “They’ve worked really hard and bought into the process.” 

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by Evan Ren

BIG COUNTRY PREPS PLAYER OF THE WEEK: Wall’s Jones takes five district titles and our Player of the Week

While we normally try to share the love in our Big Country Preps Player of the Week column, five district titles in one week isn’t easy to sidestep. 

And while Wall’s Briggs Jones has already pulled down our award once this year, he earned a second with his showing at the District 6-3A meet in Clyde last week by sweeping the long jump (23-2), the triple jump (44-10.75), the 200 meters (21.92), the 100 meters (10.72) and assisting the 800 relay team to gold with a 1:29.68 split. 

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by Evan Ren

BIG COUNTRY PREPS PLAYER OF THE WEEK: Hermleigh senior takes this week’s accolade

Sometimes the mercy rule and cheat a player a bit, limiting their number of plate appearances or the number of innings they can pitch. 

But in District 15-1A, there is an added mercy rule, beyond the standard 10-run lead after five innings. There, a 15-run lead after three frames is enough to end a game early, which left our Big Country Preps Player of the Week (Hermleigh’s Summer Smith) short of what may have been a staggering set of numbers. 

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by Evan Ren

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.

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by Evan Ren

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.

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by Evan Ren

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.

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by Evan Ren

BIG COUNTRY PREPS PLAYER OF THE WEEK: Jayton’s Gentry takes this week’s award

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. 

After scoring nine points, grabbing 11 rebounds and dishing four assists in a state semifinal win over Fayetteville last Thursday, Jayton sophomore Colt Gentry, saved his best for last in a 60-53 win over Benjamin in the 1A boys state title game on Saturday.

Gentry charted a team-high 19 points to go with six boards, four assists, a steal and a block to help the Jaybirds to the state title and earn state tourney MVP honors in the process. 

It was his second straight week of huge performances under pressure, the first of which helped the Jaybirds win the regional tournament.

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by Evan Ren

BIG COUNTRY PREPS PLAYER OF THE WEEK: Colorado City freshman takes this week’s award

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.

How’s this for frightening? 

Munoz, who was in junior high only a year ago, was an absolute wrecking ball in last week’s Brownfield Tournament, hitting a combined .818 in the event with an 18 of 22 tally at the plate. But that’s not the half of it. 

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by Evan Ren

BIG COUNTRY PREPS PLAYER OF THE WEEK: Merkel senior closes the curtain in a big way.

Merkel senior Kooper Darby picked the right time to post the best all-around game of his high school career. 

Playing in his final basketball game as a Merkel Badger, our Big Country Preps Player of the Week tallied a career-high 44 points to go with 16 rebounds, five assists, five steals in a 79-42 win over San Angelo Grape Creek. 

With the Badgers (17-16) missing the playoffs, Darby had a final opportunity to make an impact as a high schooler and he did — like a meteor. 

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by Evan Ren

GAME STORY: Stephenville relies on defense, rebounding to eliminate Snyder and advance to area round

CLYDE — Nobody wants a 1-of -13 effort from the free-throw line, particularly in postseason play. But the Stephenville Honeybees were able to sidestep this disastrous tally in a 50-27 4A bi-district win over Snyder on Monday in Clyde. 

Marin Copeland scored 18 points and Kyla Ray added 15 more to lead Stephenville (21-11), which found compensation for its free-throw totals with a dominating defensive effort and a big edge on the glass.  

Stephenville now advances to face Burkburnett in the area round on Thursday in Graham with a still-unsettled starting time of 6 or 6:30 p.m.

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by Daniel Youngblood

THIS WEEK IN BOYS BASKETBALL: There’s still plenty to be decided as we approach end of regular season

We’re down to the final scheduled date of the boys basketball regular season, but there’s still plenty to be decided on the Big Country hoops scene.

Included on Tuesday’s slate are a number of matchups with district title implications and several others that will either decide or help decide playoff berths.

Here’s a peek at some of the biggest games on tap this week, as well as a look back at some of last week’s most influential results:

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by Daniel Youngblood

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.

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by Daniel Youngblood

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:

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by Evan Ren

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.

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by Evan Ren

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.

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by Daniel Youngblood

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.

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by Evan Ren

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. 

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by Evan Ren

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.

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by Evan Ren

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.

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by Zach Duncan, Special to Big Country Preps

FEATURE: Stephenville’s Chamberlain enjoying seamless transition 

Photos courtesy of Valerie Hill 

Stephenville lost two senior all-state players from last year’s regional semifinalist basketball team that won 32 games.  

The Honeybees also lost junior point guard Lucy Espinoza before the season began to a torn ACL.  

But Stephenville also gained a valuable senior. After playing in two state tournaments at nearby Huckabay, Chayni Chamberlain has stepped up to the 4A level and not missed a beat.  

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by Evan Ren

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.

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by Evan Ren

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.

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by Daniel Youngblood

BEST OF BCP WEDNESDAY NIGHT PODCAST: Stephenville’s Jason Hodges visits w/ Evan & Dan (original airdate 1-25-23)

NOTE: With Evan Ren and Daniel Youngblood in Arlington for Albany’s state title game against Mart, BCP’s Wednesday Night podcast was canceled. In the meantime we’ll repost one of our top podcasts. 

Stephenville girls coach Jason Hodges visits with Evan & Dan … original airdate 1-11-23

Continue reading “BEST OF BCP WEDNESDAY NIGHT PODCAST: Stephenville’s Jason Hodges visits w/ Evan & Dan (original airdate 1-25-23)” →

by Daniel Youngblood

GAME STORY: Five turnovers sink Stephenville in 41-21 region final loss to Anna

NORTH RICHLAND HILLS — Ziondre Williams threw three touchdown passes and a stingy Anna defense forced five turnovers to lead the Coyotes to a 41-21 win over Stephenville in the Region II 4A Division I championship game Friday night.

The Coyotes’ sophomore quarterback also ran for 43 yards in guiding Anna, winner of District 8-4A Division I, to the state semifinals via its 13th victory in 14 games. The Yellow Jackets, winners of District 5-4A Division I, finished their season 11-3.

As well as Williams played, the five key Stephenville turnovers, including one early and two very late, played an equally important role in this battle of perennial Class 4A titans. And they left Stephenville coach Sterling Doty and his troops shaking their heads and wondering “what if” once the final whistle blew.

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