Following a basketball program on the surface can only provide one with so much insight. Behind the scenes, however, is where character is often measured. And it is with our Gym Rat Team that we wish to tip our caps to those individuals who exuded the most of it.
This team isn’t about who the best players are, though some of the area’s top players did make 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 2022-23 season.
Players are listed in no particular order.
HAMLIN — In the aftermath of Hamlin’s 10-6 win over area rival Haskell in Friday’s District 7-2A softball opener, dissecting what had just taken place was an exercise in answering a key question. 
LEVELLAND — With Lorenzo breathing down their necks for 32 straight minutes, the Jayton Jaybirds turned to an old friend to punch their ticket to San Antonio in Saturday’s Region I-1A championship game.
WOLFFORTH — A slow start, a hostile crowd and regional semifinal pressure were all in a day’s work for the Jim Ned Lady Indians, who overcame all three handicaps to eliminate Idalou 47-33 on Friday at Frenship High School’s Tiger Pit. 
Zach Lewis is ready to leave everything on the court these next couple weeks. 
Adam Hill was a key member of Albany’s state championship football team last fall. 
Albany 56, Cross Plains 0 — London Fuentes threw for 182 yards and three scores and Coy Lefevre rushed for 127 yards and two more touchdowns as Albany (5-2, 2-0) shut out Cross Plains. 
Hawley 60, Winters 6 — Austin Cumpton rushed for 138 yards and four scores on only 10 carries to lift Hawley to a win on the road. 
Idalou 28, Coahoma 16 — Idalou held off a strong challenge from Coahoma, forcing four Bulldog turnovers to get the win. 
Wall 36, Ballinger 0 — Wall rushed for 357 yards with Nathan Pepper collecting 144 of those in 18 carries. 
Jim Ned 28, Clyde 21 — Troy Doran rushed for 190 yards and three scores and threw for 79 yards and another TD to lift Jim Ned (4-3, 2-0) to its fourth straight win.
Stephenville 63, Waxahachie Life 20 — Ryan Gafford threw for 207 yards and four scores and Ryder Lambert returned from an injury to thew for 120 yards and two more TDs to lead Stephenville (7-0, 1-0) in its league opener.
JACKSBORO — Comanche staked its claim as the District 5-3A Division II favorite Friday night against Jacksboro. 
STAMFORD — A week after rushing for more than 300 yards and five scores in a win over Olney, Cisco quarterback Hunter Long demonstrated another part of his game on Friday in a 47-14 win over Stamford: an accurate deep passing game. 
Tate Maruska is well on his way to rewriting Stephenville’s rushing records. 
Madilyn Loper isn’t ready for her time as a Dublin volleyball player to end. 
Wortham 62, Hico 7 — Wortham remained in district title contention with a win over Hico. 
Haskell 58, Munday 6 — The Indians rolled up 438 yards in total offense to win their district opener. 
Roscoe 28, Cross Plains 6 — Jax Watts threw for 214 yards and two touchdowns and rushed for 33 yards and another score to lead the Plowboys to a win over previously unbeaten Cross Plains. 
Cisco 34, Olney 15 — Hunter Long accounted for 355 of Cisco’s 399 yards in total offense, rushing for 338 yards and throwing for 17 in an important win over Olney.
Coahoma 35, Littlefield 28 — Boyd Cox threw for 261 yards and three scores and Tristan Guerrero hauled in four catches for 113 yards and one TD to lead Coahoma (5-1, 1-0) to an important district win. 
Early 36, Ballinger 0 — The Longhorns rushed for 200 yards and four scores and Jaxyn Price threw for 161 yards and another TD in a win at Ballinger. 
Jim Ned 48, Bowie 18 — Brayden Shipman rushed for 124 yards and two scores and Troy Doran threw for 114 yards and two more TDs and Jim Ned won its district opener. 
COLEMAN — It didn’t clinch anything. It was too early in the district schedule to do that. But Tolar’s 16-6 win over Coleman in the Big Country Preps Game of the Week was important enough to put the Rattlers in the District 5-2A DI driver’s seat. 
Gracie Dearing feels like the rewards for playing volleyball at Trent are constant. 
Sunray 47, Roscoe 17 — The Plowboys (2-2) were the lone team in District 6-2A DII to take the field
Wall 14, Mason 6 — The Hawks (4-1) were the lone District 2-3A DII team to see action on Friday.
SANTO — The Santo Wildcats had every opportunity to fold the tent in their district opener on Friday night, trailing traditional power Muenster 17-7 with 11:19 to play. 
Hico 51, Frost 20 — Price Mullin rushed for 71 yards and two scores and Carson Keller rushed for 50 yards and two more touchdowns as Hico routed Frost in the district opener for both clubs. 
Windthorst 26, Haskell 20 — Logan Cope threw for 145 yards and one TD and rushed for 29 yards and two more scores to lift Windthorst to a tough road win at Haskell. 
Cross Plains 45, Smyer 20 — Kade Purvis threw for 160 yards and two TDs to help the Buffaloes improve to 5-0. 
Coahoma 21, Merkel 0 — Coahoma (4-1) extended its winning streak to four games behind 259 yards passing and three TDs from Boyd Cox.