Here are the standings for all boys basketball districts involving Big Country schools through Feb. 13 (with Tuesday’s results, Friday’s schedule):
Category: Wall Hawks
BCP Podcast No. 81: Evan, Daniel talk Ballinger boys hoops with coach Jamal Anene
In his four years as Ballinger’s boys basketball coach, Jamal Anene has built the Bearcats into a consistent playoff team. The same is true this year of BHS, which enters a big game Friday against San Angelo TLCA at 23-8 overall and 8-2 in District 4-3A.
Earlier this week, Anene took a few minutes to chat with Big Country Preps’ Evan Ren and Daniel Youngblood about this season, his goals for the program and his unique background for the Capital Farm Credit Wednesday Night Podcast.
Also in this episode, Evan and Daniel discuss the end of the girls basketball regular season and some of the biggest storylines in the final week of boys district games.
BIG COUNTRY PREPS PLAYER OF THE WEEK: Priddy’s Evans takes award after leading Lady Pirates to district title
While the Texas Association of Basketball Coaches does not have the Priddy girls basketball team ranked at the moment, the Lady Pirates (20-7, 11-0 District 17-1A) are making enough noise to get noticed.
And with last week’s sweep of Lometa (51-29) and Cherokee (59-52), it’s beginning to look as though PHS is capable of doing some postseason damage.
Our Player of the Week, senior Linda Evans, led that charge with a combined 60 points through two games, including a 36-point effort with four assists in a district-title clinching win over Cherokee.
DANIEL YOUNGBLOOD: This week in Big Country boys basketball (Feb. 10-16)
It seems like basketball just started a few weeks ago, but — believe it or not — we’re down to the final two weeks of the boys hoops regular season.
And with just three more dates remaining before the playoffs begin, the urgency has never been higher for area teams. Whether they’re fighting for a district title, jockeying to improve playoff seeding or just trying to find a way into the postseason bracket, Big Country squads will have plenty to play for in jam-packed Tuesday and Friday slates this week.
Without wasting any more time, let’s take a look at what the schedule has in store.
FEATURE: Young Lady Hawks growing in new system under Richardson
WALL — When first-year Wall girls basketball coach Kevin Richardson was hired to replace the highly successful Tate Lombard in June, he knew he was being given the keys to a basketball Ferrari.
He knew there would be expectations. He knew there would be pressure.
And that’s just the way he wanted it.
Lombard, who resigned last spring to join the staff of his father (legendary girls coach Joe Lombard) in Canyon, charted more than 200 wins and two Class 3A state titles during his tenure at Wall.
That left Richardson with one of the toughest acts to follow in all of Texas high school girls basketball.
Richardson, however, who had coached at Class 3A Canadian for 18 seasons prior to coming to WHS, was comfortable with it all. So comfortable, in fact, that he didn’t hesitate to introduce a new system at a place that had known nothing but success for decades.
PHOTO GALLERY: Wall-Ballinger basketball doubleheader (125 images)
Photos may be purchased for $7 each by clicking on the small shopping cart emblem below the lower right corner of the gallery. The “BigCountryPreps.com” watermark will be removed from all purchased photos.
GAME STORY: Wall sweeps big doubleheader at Ballinger (w/ box scores, videos)
BALLINGER — Wall locked up one district title and put itself into the driver’s seat in another with a varsity doubleheader sweep at Ballinger on Friday.
Facing a pair of upstart programs on the road, WHS opened the evening with a 41-26 win in the girls game, and followed that with a 52-45 boys victory in the nightcap.
Kamryn Williams scored 15 points and Kylie Phillips added 10 more to lead the Lady Hawks (22-7, 12-0 District 4-3A), which concluded an unbeaten run through district play with the win.
BIG COUNTRY GIRLS STATISTICAL LEADERS (Scoring, rebounds, assists and steals through Feb. 7)
Big Country Preps publishes area boys and girls basketball statistical leaders each Thursday at 7 p.m.
This database will be continually updated for our subscribers throughout the remainder of the season, using only those statistics submitted by area coaches.
Teams that do not submit their statistics in a given week will not be listed when our stats are posted, but will be added to the lists below as they are received in the coming days.
BIG COUNTRY BOYS STATISTICAL LEADERS (Scoring, rebounds, assists and steals through Feb. 7)
Big Country Preps publishes area boys and girls basketball statistical leaders each Thursday at 7 p.m.
This database will be continually updated for our subscribers throughout the remainder of the season, using only those statistics submitted by area coaches.
Teams that do not submit their statistics in a given week will not be listed when our stats are posted, but will be added to the lists below as they are received in the coming days.
BCP Podcast No. 80: Dublin’s Parker talks ‘Flyin’ Lions’ basketball with Evan, Daniel
During his time at Dublin, boys basketball coach Will Parker has introduced an up-tempo, run-and-gun playing style that has not only increased enthusiasm around his program,but has helped the “Flyin’ Lions” win games. That’s a true again this season, which has seen the DHS boys produce a 20-9 record to date.
Earlier this week, Parker took some time to chat with Big Country Preps’ Evan Ren and Daniel Youngblood about this year’s team, his philosophy on tempo and the success he’s enjoyed for the Capital Farm Credit Wednesday Night Podcast.
Also in this week’s episode, Evan and Daniel discuss the top upcoming matchups on the Big Country hoops scene and give their thoughts on Wylie’s decision to promote longtime defensive coordinator Clay Martin to head football coach.
SIGNING DAY: Weather spoils several signing ceremonies, but Signing Day still brings recognition
Eastland’s Behren Morton isn’t the only current Big Country high school athlete moving on to the next level.
A number of others joined him in making their collegiate commitments during National Signing Day on Wednesday. Though Morton is only a junior, his highly publicized verbal commitment to Texas Tech on Oct. 15 headlines the current crop of Big Country athletes who will be seen on collegiate playing fields in the near future.
There are several other notables, beginning with Brownwood senior receiver/defensive back AJ McCarty, who is heading to Baylor, San Saba quarterback Sean O’Keefe, who is heading to Tulsa and Early high jumper/hurdler Trinity Tomlinson, who will compete for the University of Texas.
UIL hands out its share of surprises to area schools (w/ five video interviews)
ABILENE — The University Interscholastic league released its new athletic districts for the 2020-21 and 2021-22 school years on Monday.
As always, a sizable contingent of area coaches was on hand at the Region 14 Education Service Center to receive their information packets and arrange for any last-second schedule changes that were forced by realignment.
Perhaps the biggest stunner was a move north by Class 2A Division I power San Saba, which has been shifted to the new District 4 with Cisco, Coleman, De Leon, Goldthwaite and Winters.
DANIEL YOUNGBLOOD: This week in Big Country boys basketball (Feb. 3-9)
It’s hard to believe, but we’re rapidly approaching the home stretch of the high school boys basketball season.
District races are starting to take shape, making every game important for the teams still in district title/playoff contention.
With that said, let’s take our weekly look at the top matchups this week and biggest results from last week’s games.
EVAN REN: This week in Big Country girls basketball (Feb. 3-9)
February brings the regular season homestretch for girls basketball, along with the first round of the playoffs, slated to begin Feb. 17.
In the meantime, we’ve got a solid set of games to keep track of this week with playoff implications up and down the menu.
Let’s have a quick look at what’s on tap:
BIG COUNTRY BOYS STATISTICAL LEADERS (Scoring, rebounds, assists and steals through Jan. 30)
Big Country Preps publishes area boys and girls basketball statistical leaders each Thursday at 7 p.m.
This database will be continually updated for our subscribers throughout the remainder of the season, using only those statistics submitted by area coaches.
Teams that do not submit their statistics in a given week will not be listed when our stats are posted, but will be added to the lists below as they are received in the coming days.
BIG COUNTRY GIRLS STATISTICAL LEADERS (Scoring, rebounds, assists and steals through Jan. 30)
Big Country Preps publishes area boys and girls basketball statistical leaders each Thursday at 7 p.m.
This database will be continually updated for our subscribers throughout the remainder of the season, using only those statistics submitted by area coaches.
Teams that do not submit their statistics in a given week will not be listed when our stats are posted, but will be added to the lists below as they are received in the coming days.
BCP Podcast No. 79: Geter talks Cooper girls hoops turnaround with Evan, Daniel
Sitting at 22-8 overall and 4-1 in District 4-5A play, the Cooper girls basketball team is in the midst of its best season in more than a decade under the leadership of first-year coach Arsenio Geter.
Earlier this week, Geter took a few minutes to chat with Big Country Preps’ Evan Ren and Daniel Youngblood about the Lady Cougars’ turnaround, the goals for the remainder of the season and the future of the program for this week’s Capital Farm Credit Wednesday Night Podcast.
Also in this episode, Evan and Daniel discuss some of the Big Country’s biggest surprises of the boys and girls basketball season.
BIG COUNTRY BOYS STATISTICAL LEADERS (Scoring, rebounds, assists and steals through Jan. 23)
Big Country Preps publishes area boys and girls basketball statistical leaders each Thursday at 7 p.m.
This database will be continually updated for our subscribers throughout the remainder of the season, using only those statistics submitted by area coaches.
Teams that do not submit their statistics in a given week will not be listed when our stats are posted, but will be added to the lists below as they are received in the coming days.
BIG COUNTRY GIRLS STATISTICAL LEADERS (Scoring, rebounds, assists and steals through Jan. 23)
Big Country Preps publishes area boys and girls basketball statistical leaders each Thursday at 7 p.m.
This database will be continually updated for our subscribers throughout the remainder of the season, using only those statistics submitted by area coaches.
Teams that do not submit their statistics in a given week will not be listed when our stats are posted, but will be added to the lists below as they are received in the coming days.
BCP Podcast No. 78: Eula’s Josh Fostel talks Pirate hoops with Evan, Daniel
Under longtime boys basketball coach Josh Fostel, the Eula Pirates have been among the best and most consistent Class 1A programs in the state. And EHS, which reached the state semifinals in 2007 before winning the state championship in 2011, has another strong team this year, sitting at 19-6 after routing Moran on Tuesday.
Earlier this week, Fostel took a few minutes to chat with Big Country Preps’ Evan Ren and Daniel Youngblood about this year’s team, its 62-56 upset of Class 4A Brownwood last week and the program he’s built for this week’s Capital Farm Credit Wednesday Night Podcast.
Also in this episode, Evan and Daniel discuss some of the biggest boys and and girls basketball storylines of the season so far.
BIG COUNTRY BOYS STATISTICAL LEADERS (Scoring, rebounds, assists and steals through Jan. 16)
Each Thursday at 7 p.m., Big Country Preps will publish area boys basketball statistical leaders.
This database will be continually updated for our subscribers throughout the remainder of the season, using only those statistics submitted by area coaches.
Teams that do not submit their statistics in a given week will not be listed when our stats are posted, but will be added to the lists below as they are received in the coming days.
BIG COUNTRY GIRLS STATISTICAL LEADERS (Scoring, rebounds, assists and steals through Jan. 16)
Each Thursday at 7 p.m., Big Country Preps will publish area girls basketball statistical leaders.
This database will be continually updated for our subscribers throughout the remainder of the season, using only those statistics submitted by area coaches.
Teams that do not submit their statistics in a given week will not be listed when our stats are posted, but will be added to the lists below as they are received in the coming days.
Evan Ren’s 2019 Big Country True Grit Team: The toughest players in the Big Country!
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 2019 “True Grit” team — the one place in the Big Country where guys who fall into this category are recognized for it.
BCP Podcast No. 76: Evan, Daniel discuss All-Big Country Preps football teams, area hoops
- Superlative Award winners
- First-Team
- Second-Team
- Third-Team
- Evan Ren’s Big Country True Grit Team (To be released Thursday)
After a two-week holiday break, Big Country Preps’ Evan Ren and Daniel Youngblood return to the Capital Farm Credit Wednesday Night Podcast to discuss the All-Big Country Preps football teams, released Wednesday.
Also in this episode, Evan and Daniel speak briefly on the Big Country hoops scene.
Continue to check back at BigCountryPreps.com each Wednesday night at 7 p.m. when Evan and Dan discuss the current happenings in Big Country High School sports — often with an interesting sports figure from around the area.
You can also peruse our BCP Podcast archive, which features dozens of our previous shows with prominent coaches and Big Country media fixtures.
Inquiries regarding these podcasts may be directed to Evan Ren at Evan.Ren@BigCountryPreps.com.
If you have a suggested topic of conversation or a recommended guest, don’t hesitate to contact us!
All-Big Country Preps Football Team: First-Team Roster
Here are our first-team selections for the inaugural All-Big Country Preps football team. For the rest of this year’s selections, click the links below.
- Superlative Award winners
- Second-Team
- Third-Team
- Evan Ren’s Big Country True Grit Team (To be released Thursday)
All-Big Country Preps Football Team: Second-Team Roster
Here are our first-team selections for the inaugural All-Big Country Preps football team. For the rest of this year’s selections, click the links below.
- Superlative Award winners
- First-Team
- Third-Team
- Evan Ren’s Big Country True Grit Team (To be released Thursday)
All-Big Country Preps Football Team: Third-Team Roster (w/ honorable mention)
Here are our first-team selections for the inaugural All-Big Country Preps football team. For the rest of this year’s selections, click the links below.
- Superlative Award winners
- First-Team
- Second-Team
- Evan Ren’s Big Country True Grit Team (To be released Thursday)
EVAN REN: Big Country Preps Top 10 Stories for 2019
It’s never easy picking the top 10 stories of the year for the Big Country Preps coverage area.
Stretching from Forsan in the west to Brock in the east and from San Saba in the south to Munday in the north, there are literally thousands of athletes producing countless stories to choose from.
Pairing all of that down to just 10 examples forces one to leave out several notable options on a yearly basis. The upside of all this is that the area is never short on quality stories to reflect on.
So as we say goodbye to the year 2019, we salute those local athletes and coaches who produced yet another memorable year for the entire area.
Without further ado, let’s take a look at the top stories from last year, in descending order:
PHOTO GALLERY: Evan Ren’s top 100 football photos for 2019
Photos may be purchased for $7 each by clicking on the small shopping cart emblem below the lower right corner of the gallery. Our company watermark “BigCountryPreps.com” will be removed from all purchased photos.
AP ALL-STATE: Cooper’s Davis, Hawley’s Marshall headline area honorees
Cooper defensive back Dylon Davis and Hawley running Colton Marshall headlined a list of 48 Big Country players to earn all-state designation from The Associated Press Sports Editors last week, garnering player of the year honors for their respective classifications.
Davis, who led the state in interceptions this season with 16, was the defensive player of the year in Class 5A, while Marshall, a 3,500-yard rusher, was named Class 2A’s top offensive player.
Those two, who both led their teams to deep playoff runs, were among a group of 11 local or area players to earn first-team accolades, while the Big Country accounted for 15 second-team spots and 26 honorable mention nods across the five 11-man classifications.
Continue reading “AP ALL-STATE: Cooper’s Davis, Hawley’s Marshall headline area honorees”
BCP Podcast No. 74: Evan, Daniel talk state football semifinals and area hoops
In this episode, Daniel and partner Evan Ren discuss last week’s playoff football results, this week’s state semifinal matchups involving area squads and some Big Country hoops.
Continue to check back at BigCountryPreps.com each Wednesday night at 7 p.m. when Evan and Dan discuss the current happenings in Big Country High School sports — often with an interesting sports figure from around the area.
You can also peruse our BCP Podcast archive, which features dozens of our previous shows with prominent coaches and Big Country media fixtures.
Inquiries regarding these podcasts may be directed to Evan Ren at Evan.Ren@BigCountryPreps.com.
If you have a suggested topic of conversation or a recommended guest, don’t hesitate to contact us!
GAME STORY: Jim Ned sweeps archrival Wall in hoops doubleheader (w/three videos and two box scores)
TUSCOLA — It wasn’t a postseason matchup. It wasn’t even for a higher spot in a district race. But Tuesday’s early-December visit by the Wall Hawks for a nondistrict doubleheader with Jim Ned carried the same weight it usually does it Tuscola, bringing a large, enthusiastic crowd to Bill Thornton Arena.
Those clad in red left happy following a varsity sweep of Wall — the Lady Indians defeating WHS 50-33 in the opener and the Jim Ned boys downing the Hawks 47-44 in the nightcap.
Brooke Galvin scored 20 points and Alexis Espinosa added 10 more to lead the Jim Ned girls (14-2), who built a 13-3 first-quarter lead and managed to stave off any serious threats the rest of the evening.
BCP Podcast No. 73: AHS’ Justin Reese checks in to talk Eagle hoops, Cane’s Key City Classic
As a former Abilene High Eagle himself, second-year AHS boys basketball coach Justin Reese has a strong desire to return the Eagle program to the glory it enjoyed in the 1980s and 90s. And for him, a big part of that is bringing back some of the traditions that helped make the AHS program what it was.
One of those was Abilene ISD’s Key City Classic, which is back for the first time in decades thanks in large part to Reese, who made it a priority upon his hiring to bring a high-profile tournament back to town. With the first Cane’s Key City Classic set to tip off Thursday, Reese took a few minutes to chat with Big Country Preps Daniel Youngblood about the tournament, his return to Abilene and this year’s Eagle team for the Capital Farm Credit Wednesday Night Podcast.
Also in this episode, Daniel and partner Evan Ren discuss last week’s playoff football results and this week’s region championship game matchups involving area squads.
Continue to check back at BigCountryPreps.com each Wednesday night at 7 p.m. when Evan and Dan discuss the current happenings in Big Country High School sports — often with an interesting sports figure from around the area.
You can also peruse our BCP Podcast archive, which features dozens of our previous shows with prominent coaches and Big Country media fixtures.
Inquiries regarding these podcasts may be directed to Evan Ren at Evan.Ren@BigCountryPreps.com.
If you have a suggested topic of conversation or a recommended guest, don’t hesitate to contact us!