Category: Wall Hawks

by Evan Ren

GAME STORY: Second-ranked Hawks edge Clyde 1-0 for District 6-3A lead

CLYDE — With the top spot in District 6-3A at stake between second-ranked Wall and Clyde on Tuesday, it was Wall’s Augden Hallmark who was the star of the show in a 1-0 nail-biter at the Hanner Sports Complex. 

Given only one run to work with, Hallmark scattered six Clyde hits through seven innings of work and struck out 12 Bulldogs to lift Wall (19-3, 6-0) which now leads CHS by a game in the league standings. 

Gunnar Dillard was 1-2 with the game’s only RBI to give Hallmark the slimmest of leads to protect, which he did by escaping two separate jams in the second and sixth innings. 

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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: Wall junior has huge day in San Angelo to capture our award

Wall junior Briggs Jones may be on the verge of a major breakout season in area track and field. 

Our Big Country Player of the Week not only won five medals at the coveted Angelo State Spring Break meet, but he broke two solo school records and helped break a third. It seldom gets much better than that. 

Aside from setting school marks in the long jump at 23-9.5 (for gold) and the triple jump at 45-2 (for gold), Jones was part of the 800 relay team’s silver medal performance of 1:28.49 — another Wall school mark. 

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by Brandon McAuliffe

ABILENE ISD INVITATIONAL: Wall, Brock earn wins over larger classification opponents

As weather wreaked havoc with the first two days of the Abilene ISD Invitational baseball tournament, first-year Wall coach Jeremy Gordon was just happy to get two games in on Saturday.

The fact that he got two solid pitching performances with clutch at-bats in both only made him happier.

Wall shut out Class 6A Copperas Cove 8-0 before downing Class 4A Snyder 7-1 at Cougar Diamond to finish 3-1 in the tournament.

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by Brandon McAuliffe

GAME STORY: Wichita Falls City View stuns Wall with buzzer beater in overtime

ANSON — To the naked eye, it was impossible to tell.

Slowed down on video? Still impossible.

All that mattered, however, was that the officials ruled William Jordan II released a shot a hair before the buzzer — and with it sent Wichita Falls City View on to the next round of the postseason with an astonishing 63-62 overtime win over Wall in a Region I-3A area-round game on Friday night at Tiger Gym.

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by Daniel Youngblood

GAME STORY: Brock girls advance to region tournament with thrilling win over Wall

ABILENE — Led by Keira Mathews, who scored a game-high 24 points, the Brock girls basketball team outlasted Wall for a thrilling 49-45 win Tuesday in a Region I-3A quarterfinal matchup at Abilene Christian University’s Moody Coliseum.

In a game that was tight throughout, the Lady Eagles used a 9-5 run over the final 4:28 to break a 40-all tie and punch their ticket to the Region I-3A tournament, where they’ll face off with Shallowater in the semifinals on Friday.

The hard-fought win improved Brock to 27-9 on the year, while Wall closed its season at 23-8.

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by Brandon McAuliffe

BREAKING: Slaughter named new head football coach at Wall

If you spend any amount of time talking to Craig Slaughter, his love of football and kids that he works with on a daily basis are obvious as they pour out of him.

His 2024 Valentine’s Day left the eloquent veteran coach stunned as he was named the 12th head coach in Wall football history on Wednesday morning.

Slaughter said that he was touched by the outpouring of support that he received once his promotion from defensive coordinator, a role he had been in since 2017, was made official.

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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 Evan Ren

GAME STORY: Indians avenge loss to Wall, knock Hawks out of first place in district race

TUSCOLA — On paper, Friday’s game between Wall and Jim Ned, meant little for the Indians, who had no mathematical chance of catching the Hawks for the No. 2 seed.  Nor were they in any danger of losing the No. 3 seed they had already clinched. 

They were, however, playing their archrival, to whom they lost to on Jan. 16 and who arrived at Bill Thornton Arena tied for first place in District 6-3A.  It was the perfect opportunity for the Indians to kill two birds with one stone and they did just that — avenging their earlier loss with a 43-29 win over Wall while knocking their rivals out of first place. 

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by Evan Ren

BIG COUNTRY PREPS PLAYER OF THE WEEK: Eula’s Clayton Gray claims this week’s top spot

The 15th-ranked Eula Pirates (22-3) needed sweep of Baird and Cross Plains to finish the first half of district play at 5-0 and they did just that with the help of our Big Country Preps Player of the Week. 

Senior forward Clayton Gray posted big numbers in both contests, beginning with a double-double of 32 points and 14 boards in the Baird win. 

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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

BIG COUNTRY PREPS PLAYER OF THE WEEK: Cooper’s Sloan takes this week’s top spot

Nobody needed a pair of district wins more than the Cooper Lady Cougars last week, and with the help of our Big Country Preps Player of the Week, J’Lee Sloan, they did just that. 

After starting their district slate at 0-4, the Lady Coogs had to have a win over Lubbock, which they achieved, 60-53, behind 27 points and 17 boards from Sloan. 

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by Yale Youngblood, Special to Big Country Preps

FEATURE: Shooting guard Hallmark a key component for surging Wall basketball team

Photo courtesy of Travis Dawson

Wall High School senior Augden Hallmark has spent the past three school years gamely hitting the target, regardless of where it is placed, indoors or out.

During this time of the year, Hallmark takes aim at the basketball goal. The 6-foot-1 senior is averaging 15 points per game as Wall’s primary shooting guard, and it’s a rare postgame report that doesn’t include the words, “Wall senior Augden Hallmark scored in double figures once more to lead the Hawks …”

Nowhere is his keen knack for making baskets more noteworthy than in the District 6-3A standings, where the Hawks loom above everyone else with a 5-0 record after Friday’s 50-34 win over Merkel that bumped the season record to 16-7.  And, lest you wonder, Hallmark went for 17 points in that one.

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by Evan Ren

GAME STORY: Wall posts important doubleheader sweep at Merkel

MERKEL — The Wall girls and boys basketball teams both came to Merkel on Friday needing wins to solidify their league title chances in District 6-3A, and both succeeded in a varsity doubleheader sweep at MHS. 

The Wall girls opened the evening with a come-from-behind 52-44 win, after which the WHS boys took the nightcap by a 50-34 tally. 

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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 Evan Ren

Big Country Preps playoff forecast: 11 area teams still alive with December approaching

LAST WEEK: 11-2, .846
SEASON TOTAL: 546-110, .832

Week 15, if you can believe it, has arrived, with regional championship games dotting the landscape in the 11-man ranks and state semifinals deciding which six-man teams will go to Arlington. 

As one may expect, there are tossups all over the board, so picking these things has become all the more difficult. 

Why waste time?

Let’s dive in. 

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by Evan Ren

FEATURE: Former Clyde, Sweetwater, Llano head coach Craig Slaughter enjoying role at Wall

Wall defensive coordinator Craig Slaughter (left) discusses a call with an official with head coach Houston Guy (right) listening in during last week’s regional semifinal win over Lubbock Roosevelt in Sweetwater.

WALL — Ask any Big Country high school football fan what he or she remembers about Craig Slaughter and the teams he coached and you’re likely to hear one of two words: intense and/or physical. 

Slaughter wasn’t the winningest head coach in area history — not by a long shot. But two things one could always count on when facing a Slaughter team were high levels of emotion, backed by some serious hitting.

With head coaching stops at Hearne, Clyde, Sweetwater and Llano, Slaughter is now working as the defensive coordinator at Wall under head coach Houston Guy, where he has turned an already solid WHS defense into one of the best in the area.  

“We played great defense before, but he’s elevated that to a higher level,” said Guy, whose Hawks (11-2) face Canadian (13-0) for the Region I-3A DII championship on Friday in Lubbock. “The intensity he brings to our staff on any given day whether it’s practice or on a Friday night is invaluable.” 

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by Evan Ren

BIG COUNTRY PREPS PLAYER OF THE WEEK: Stephenville’s Butchee takes the top spot

We freely admit that more offensive players take our Big Country Preps Player of the Week than do defenders. 

But a great defensive performance can, indeed, take the top spot and that is the case with this week’s award winner: Stephenville sophomore linebacker, Hudson Butchee. 

With the Yellow Jackets squaring off with perennial power Celina in the Region II-4A DI semifinals, Butchee played like a man possessed in a 7-3 Stephenville win. 

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by Evan Ren

GAME STORY: Wall defense shuts down Lubbock Roosevelt to advance to regional championship

SWEETWATER —In order to pull off an upset of eighth-ranked Wall, the Lubbock Roosevelt Eagles needed to win the turnover battle to gain an upper hand in a limited possession game. 

Mission accomplished — at least, one part of it. 

While Roosevelt achieved an edge in takeaways, charting a +3 turnover ratio in the first half, the Eagles failed to take advantage of any of them — trailing 14-0 at the break before eventually losing to Wall 35-6 at the Mustang Bowl. 

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by Evan Ren

EVAN REN’S THANKSGIVING WEEK PLAYOFF PICKS: Big Country takes 16 teams from 1A through 5A into Turkey Day weekend

LAST WEEK: 22-5, .814
SEASON TOTAL: 535-108, .832

Turkey Day has arrived and we’ve still got 16 Big Country football teams from 1A through 5A hitting the field this week. 

That’s up from 13 a year ago, giving you some perspective on the overall quality of area football in 2023. And unless I miss my guess, we’ll have at least 10 area teams still slugging it out in December. 

Not too shabby.

Of those, we have roughly seven or eight that have a shot at reaching Arlington and playing for a state championship, including four that I would consider favorites to win it all. 

That said, let’s take a look at this week’s matchups, shall we? 

Be safe going to your games!

Happy Thanksgiving everyone! 

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by Evan Ren

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
by Evan Ren

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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by Evan Ren

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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by Evan Ren

DISTRICT 2-3A DIV. II WEEK 11 REPORT: Wall completes district sweep with win over Brady; Early takes second seed

Wall 68, Brady 0 — The Hawks (8-2, 5-0) piled up 302 yards on the ground to finish an unbeaten district title. 

Nathan Pepper topped the stat sheet with 129 yards rushing and two scores. Wall will host Tornillo on Friday in the bi-district round at 6 p.m. in Wall. 

Brady dropped to 3-7 and 0-3.  The Bulldogs will face Alpine at 7 p.m. on Friday at Reagan County.

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by Evan Ren

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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by Evan Ren

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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by Evan Ren

DISTRICT 2-3A DIV. II WEEK 10 REPORT: Hawks clinch district title; Grape Creek upsets Brady; TLCA tops Ballinger

Wall 50, Early 6 — The Hawks locked up the district title behind 429 yards rushing as a team. 

The Hawks used seven different ball carriers on the night, four of whom found the end zone. Garrett Guy, topped the stat sheet with 98 yards and one TD.  

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by Evan Ren

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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by Evan Ren

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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by Evan Ren

Big Country Volleyball Statistical Leaders (as submitted by area coaches through Oct. 17)

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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by Evan Ren

DISTRICT 2-3A DIV. II WEEK 8 REPORT: Wall, Early both improve to 2-0 in league play; TLCA routs Grape Creek

Wall 61, Ballinger 6 — The Hawks used 10 different ball carriers to produce 392 rushing yards in a win over their area rival. 

 Luke Kemp topped the stat chart with 104 yards rushing and two scores on only three carries for Wall, which improved to 5-2 and 2-0.

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