Category: Sweetwater Mustangs

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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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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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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GAME STORY: Shocking end to regulation lifts Sweetwater to overtime win over Graham

With 0.11 seconds left on the clock, the Sweetwater boys basketball team was searching for a miracle against Graham on Tuesday night.

The Mustangs found it, barely.

Making the most of their second chance, Sweetwater drained a pair of free throws to tie the game before claiming a 64-60 win in overtime in a Region I-4A bi-district matchup at Wylie’s Bulldog Gym.

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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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FEATURE: Surging Mustangs looking to put Sweetwater boys basketball program back on the map

In addition to raising eyebrows every Wednesday and Saturday as fans check the boys basketball scores from the previous night’s District 5-4A games, a group of players wearing red and white have embarked on an even more meaningful quest this winter.

“We would love to be able to put Sweetwater basketball back on the map,” first-year head coach Dillon Gainey said.

So far, so good for the Mustangs, who defeated San Angelo Lake View 73-66 on Friday to improve to 4-1 in district play. Halfway through league action, they are sitting in second place and hold a 15-10 overall record. Sweetwater’s only league loss was to state powerhouse Lubbock Estacado in a game that was close for most of three quarters before the Matadors pulled away.

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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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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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BIG COUNTRY PREPS PLAYER OF THE WEEK: Comanche’s Glasgow claims this week’s accolade

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. 

So is anyone really surprised that Comanche junior Kinsey Glasgow has put forward another effort worthy of our Big Country Preps Player of the Week award? 

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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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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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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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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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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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GAME STORY: Jayton boys top Sweetwater; Lady Jays rout Motley County

JAYTON — With a solid Class 4A team from Sweetwater coming to town, the second-ranked Class 1A Jayton Jaybirds were facing challenges across the board on Friday night — specifically in size, depth, speed and athleticism.

The Jaybirds, however, overcame every obstacle from their big school counterparts in an impressive 55-40 win at the Jayton High School gym.

Sean Stanaland scored 26 points and Colt Gentry added 15 more to lead Jayton (20-3), which never trailed after the 4:22 mark of the opening quarter.  The Jaybirds, despite having no 3-pointers, found compensation by keeping the Mustangs off the offensive glass and converting several SHS turnovers into points. 

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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: 

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Buck Powell

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. 

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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.

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BIG COUNTRY PREPS PLAYER OF THE WEEK: Sweetwater’s Moore wins second award in less than a month

Korda Moore has been playing well all year for the Sweetwater Mustangs. But he picked the right moment for one of his best games last Friday, helping the Mustangs clinch a playoff spot with a 51-38 win over Snyder. 

To begin with, Moore rushed 11 times for 106 yards and five scores.  Along the way he added a pair of two-point conversion runs for a total of 34 points on the night. 

Defensively he charted 12 tackles, three of which were behind the Snyder line of scrimmage and had a quarterback hurry as well. 

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DISTRICT 3-4A DIV. II WEEK 11 REPORT: Greenwood knocks off Hirschi in OT but Huskies still take top playoff seed

Midland Greenwood 29, Wichita Falls Hirschi 28 — The Rangers outlasted the Huskies in overtime, going for a two-point conversation after an answering score in the extra period to pull off an unlikely upset.

Greenwood (3-7, 2-2) trailed just 14-13 at halftime before taking a 21-13 lead in the third quarter. Hirschi answered with tying touchdown and conversion later that period, and a scoreless fourth set up the overtime theatrics. 

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GAME STORY: Moore’s five TDs lead Sweetwater into playoffs with win over Snyder

SWEETWATER — Korda Moore ran for 97 yards and five touchdowns on nine carries to lead Sweetwater to a 51-38 win over Snyder on Friday at the Mustang Bowl, clinching a playoff berth and winning season for the Mustangs just one year after a 1-9 campaign.

Moore’s big night came as the Mustangs knew that Snyder would be chasing points in an effort to be best positioned for a three-way tie for the final playoff spot. But fourth-year Sweetwater coach Russell Lucas wanted to ensure that his squad wouldn’t have to worry about that.

Lucas said the Mustang coaching staff made sure the players knew they were playing to win, not playing to win a tiebreaker.

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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. 

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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.

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DISTRICT 3-4A DIV. II WEEK 10 REPORT: Hirschi locks up title with rout of Sweetwater; Graham tops Greenwood

Wichita Falls Hirschi 42, Sweetwater 7 — The Huskies wrapped up their third consecutive district championship with a lopsided win over the Mustangs.

Hirschi (5-3, 3-0) held Sweetwater to just 173 total yards, using a 21-point second quarter to go to halftime up 28-7. 

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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. 

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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.

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DISTRICT 3-4A DIV. II WEEK 9 REPORT: Graham too much for Sweetwater; Hirschi stifles Snyder

Graham 58, Sweetwater 14 — Ty Thompson passed for 201 yards and two touchdowns and rushed for 51 yards while Rylan Monsey ran for 241 yards and four scores to lead the Steers to a lopsided win over the Mustangs.

Behind those two and solid games from Isaiah Flores (8-79, 2 TDs rushing) and Peyton Kinman (5-89, 2 TDs receiving), Graham (8-1, 2-1) raced out to a 31-14 halftime lead before putting the game away in the final two quarters.

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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. 

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BIG COUNTRY PREPS PLAYER OF THE WEEK: Sweetwater’s Moore takes this week’s top spot

Big numbers are one thing. But when they come in the clutch in a multitude of areas, that’s difficult to top for our weekly Big Country Preps Player of the Week award.

This time around, it’s Sweetwater junior running back-linebacker Korda Moore taking the top spot for the week ending Oct. 14. 

Moore had a big night in last week’s dramatic 45-41 win over Midland Greenwood, with 25 carries for 187 yards and four TDs. He also caught three passes for 65 yards and two more scores.

But he wasn’t finished there. He also completed a 23-yard pass and scored on two two-point conversion runs to finish with 40 total points on the night. 

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DISTRICT 3-4A DIV. II WEEK 8 REPORT: Sweetwater wins wild one over Greenwood; Graham routs Snyder

Sweetwater 45, Midland Greenwood 41 — The Mustangs raced out to a 24-0 second-quarter lead and withstood a furious Greenwood rally, overcoming a pair of fourth-quarter deficits to pull out a wild district win over the Rangers.

Sweetwater (5-2, 1-0), which had its 24-8 halftime lead trimmed to 24-22 by the end of the third quarter, trailed in the fourth at 35-31 and 41-38. But the Mustangs got a 22-yard touchdown pass from Caiden Ortiz to Korda Moore with 10 seconds remaining to win the game.

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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.

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Big Country Volleyball Statistical Leaders (as submitted by area coaches through Oct. 10)

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.

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DISTRICT 3-4A DIV. II WEEK 7 REPORT: Greenwood rallies past Snyder; Hirschi upsets Graham

Midland Greenwood 27, Snyder 23 — Trailing 23-21 with about 5½ minutes remaining in the game, the Rangers got a late touchdown run from Demaurin Mayfield to rally past the Tigers for a narrow win in the district opener for both teams.

It was the second touchdown run of the fourth quarter for Mayfield, who finished with 189 yards on just 13 carries to lead a 208-yard rushing effort. Greenwood also got 140 yards and a touchdown passing from Lincoln Madrid in improving to 2-5 overall and 1-0 in league play.

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Big Country Volleyball Statistical Leaders (as submitted by area coaches through Oct. 3)

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.

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BIG COUNTRY PREPS PLAYER OF THE WEEK: Cisco running back takes this week’s accolade

After an 0-4 start against a brutal non-district slate, the Cisco Loboes have rebounded with a pair of wins in district play, most recently, Friday’s 48-7 victory over Winters at Chesley Field. 

Our Big Country Preps Player of the Week, senior running back Gus Hart, was at the forefront of that win with 173 yards and six touchdowns on only 14 carries. 

“Gus had a great game against Winters,” coach Kevin Stennett said. “He has battled some injuries this year and he is finally getting back to 100 percent. “We will rely on him heavily over the next few weeks.”

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DISTRICT 3-4A DIV. II WEEK 6 REPORT: Sweetwater, Snyder can’t keep pace in losses to close nondistrict schedules

Lubbock Estacado 49, Sweetwater 14 — Bobby Ross rushed for 254 yards and four touchdowns and the Matadors pounded out 603 yards of total offense in a lopsided win over the Mustangs.

In addition to Ross’ big night, D.J. Johnson passed for 298 yards and three touchdowns Devoryea Boyd had 106 yards and two TDs receiving as Estacado () increased a 21-6 halftime lead to 42-6 with a three-touchdown third quarter.

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BIG COUNTRY PREPS GAME OF THE WEEK: Yellow Jackets head to Brownwood to face archrival

LAST WEEK: 46-12, .793
SEASON TOTAL: 229-61, .789

More often than not, Big Country Preps makes an appearance at the annual Stephenville-Brownwood matchup. Because more often than not, it produces a game worthy of one of Texas’ top rivalries. 

This year is no exception as Stephenville travels to famous Gordon Wood Stadium for the Big Country Preps Game of the Week. 

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BCP PLAYER OF THE WEEK: Abilene High QB Slack takes honor with six-TD performance

Photo by Chase Seabolt, HubCityPreps.com

Entering District 2-5A Division I play off back-to-back losses, the Abilene High football team needed a fast start and a strong performance on the road against Lubbock Monterey to get back on track and kick off its league schedule the right way.

Led by senior quarterback Dylan Slack, the Eagles got both, building a 49-7 halftime lead on their way to a 59-14 win over the Plainsmen.

Slack’s fingerprints were all over the win as he hit 15 of 20 passes for 217 yards and five touchdowns while adding another score on the ground — a performance worthy of this week’s Big Country Preps Player of the Week award.

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