Category: Wylie Bulldogs

by Daniel Youngblood

GAME STORY: Cooper girls stifle Wylie down stretch to take District 4-5A’s No. 3 seed

Leading Wylie 40-37 with 4½ minutes remaining Friday at Abilene High’s Eagle Gym, the Cooper girls basketball team kept the Lady Bulldogs off the board for the next four minutes to secure a 46-42 win and lock up the No. 3 seed out of District 4-5A.

The Lady Cougars, who shared the district title with Wylie, Aledo and Wichita Falls Rider, bounced back from a 32-24 loss to Aledo on the first day of a four-team seeding tournament Thursday to beat their crosstown rival a day later and avoid a first-round playoff matchup with top-ranked and defending state champion Amarillo High.

That burden will instead fall to the Lady Bulldogs, who dropped a 48-32 decision to Rider on Thursday.

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by Daniel Youngblood

GAME STORY: Wylie, Cooper girls fall to open District 4-5A seeding tournament

GRAHAM — It was a rough night for local teams on Day 1 of the District 4-5A girls basketball seeding tournament, and both Cooper and Wylie will have a Day 2 as a result.

Hoping to win their semifinal game to earn one of the district’s top-two playoff seeds and avoid having to play on Friday, the Lady Bulldogs dropped a 48-32 decision to Wichita Falls Rider in Thursday’s first game before the Lady Cougars fell 32-24 to Aledo in the nightcap.

Cooper and Wylie, which earned a four-way share of the district title with Rider and Aledo, will now meet at 5:30 p.m. Friday at Abilene High to decide who takes 4-5A’s No. 3 seed and avoids top-ranked Amarillo High in next week’s bi-district playoff. 

Aledo and Rider flipped for the No. 1 seed, with the former taking that distinction.

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by Daniel Youngblood

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.

by Daniel Youngblood

LOCAL HOOPS ROUNDUP: Wylie girls rout Wichita Falls High, Bulldogs drop close one

The Wylie girls basketball team wrapped up the regular season with a dominant performance Tuesday at Bulldog Gym, blasting Wichita Falls High 57-27 to improve to 18-14 overall and 5-3 in District 4-5A play.

The victory, combined with Aledo’s 41-36 win over Wichita Falls Rider on Tuesday, put the Lady Bulldogs in a four-way tie for first in the 4-5A standings with Aledo, Rider and Cooper. Those four teams will play a seeding tournament later this week at site to be determined.

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by Evan Ren

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. 

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by Daniel Youngblood

SIGNING DAY: Trio of Wylie athletes make college decisions official

Wylie seniors Cason Hanna (football) and Austin Green (track) will be continuing their athletic careers in town at Hardin-Simmons while Dayton Barnes will be traveling a little farther after signing to play football at Northwestern College in Orange City, Iowa.

The trio made those college decisions official Friday during a signing day ceremony in the Wylie High School cafeteria.

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by Daniel Youngblood

FEATURE: Wylie guards’ growth spurring Lady Bulldogs’ development

In 19 years of coaching girls basketball, Wylie’s Amy Powell has never experienced a season quite like this one. 

After inheriting a roster with eight seniors in her first year as the Lady Bulldogs’ coach and losing four potential returners in addition to the heavy (but expected) graduation hit, Powell entered the 2019-20 campaign with just two varsity lettermen — both frontcourt players.

That left the Wylie girls and their coach with a brand new set of guards — and some massive shoes to fill in the absence of graduated standouts Mary Lovelace, Abbey Henson, Skylar Williams and Madi Latham.

Through a couple of unfortunate injuries and the natural inconsistency that comes with inexperience, that group has performed admirably for the 17-14 Lady Bulldogs. In fact, heading into its regular-season finale on Tuesday just one game behind District 4-5A co-leaders Cooper and Wichita Falls Rider in the loss column, Wylie can thank its guards and their progress for much of the success it has experienced this year.

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by Evan Ren

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. 

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by Evan Ren

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. 

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by Daniel Youngblood

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. 

by Daniel Youngblood

LOCAL HOOPS ROUNDUP: Wylie boys get big win at Aledo, girls have win streak snapped

ALEDO — The Wylie boys basketball team scored a big District 4-5A win Tuesday, moving into second place in the league standings with a 49-41 victory over Aledo.

The Bulldogs rallied from a 21-19 halftime deficit to take a 36-30 lead into the fourth quarter, and they held on from there to improve to 15-13 overall and 3-2 in district play.

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by Daniel Youngblood

UIL sends Abilene High back west, Cooper east, keeps Wylie in holding pattern

Abilene High will be making its return to the Little Southwest Conference, Cooper will be heading east for the first time ever and Wylie will be staying put after an eventful realignment day for Abilene’s three public high schools.

The trio learned their new district situations for the 2020-21 and 2021-22 school years on Monday morning during the University Interscholastic League’s biennial reclassification and realignment, and each will be facing a different scenario in their new district home.

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by Daniel Youngblood

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.   

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by Evan Ren

If you’re not subscribed at Big Country Preps yet, here’s what you missed last month …

If you’re not subscribed at BigCountryPreps.com yet, this is what you’ve missed over the past month:
— 16 player features,
— On-site coverage of 18 of the area’s top games
— Boys and girls stat leaders (updated weekly)
— Area standings (updated twice weekly)
— Columns
— Our All-Big Country Preps football teams
— Evan Ren’s Big Country True Grit Football Team
— Four BCP Players of the Week
— Breaking sports stories. 
For as little as $3 per month you can gain access to the most comprehensive coverage of high school football, basketball, baseball, softball and track in the Big Country. 
We have three low subscription options for you to choose from — monthly, semiannual and annual — with prices that always stay the same. No sign-up gimmicks here.  
Here’s a look at the entirety of our January coverage (plus links):

Continue reading “If you’re not subscribed at Big Country Preps yet, here’s what you missed last month …” →

by Daniel Youngblood

GAME STORY: Seniors Brooks, Blair lead Wylie boys past Cooper

Cooper’s Josh Henry went for a game-high 26 points Friday, but it wasn’t enough to fuel the Cougars to a win over crosstown rival Wylie in an important District 4-5A matchup.

Paced by Payton Brooks, who had 18 points of his own, the Bulldogs outscored the Coogs in every quarter but the third, using a 17-14 fourth period to close out a 50-44 win in front of a packed crowd at Bulldog Gym.

The game was tight throughout, with neither team leading by more than seven points, but Wylie made the plays it needed throughout to complete a doubleheader sweep.

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by Daniel Youngblood

GAME STORY: Wylie girls reverse script in big win over crosstown rival Cooper

When the Wylie girls basketball team played Cooper the first time this season, the Lady Bulldogs trailed 41-20 by halftime in a game that was decided by the midway point of the second quarter.

Friday night’s rematch at Bulldog Gym was a different story entirely.

Jumping out to a 10-2 lead after one quarter of play, Wylie controlled the first half before withstanding a strong Cooper run in the third to earn a 38-33 win and claim a share of the District 4-5A lead.

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by Evan Ren

Wylie ISD names Martin as head football coach, but in-house move doesn’t necessarily mean subtle changes

Wylie ISD elected to stay “in house” in replacing legendary Athletic Director/Head Football Coach Hugh Sandifer, naming longtime assistant Clay Martin as his replacement at a school board meeting on Friday. 

Martin, who has been on staff for 27 years, has served as Wylie’s defensive coordinator for most of that time as well as head baseball coach — the latter of which saw him take a state titles in 2016 and 2017. 

“I’m obviously very excited to continue what  Coach Hugh Sandifer has done, and what we’ve all done — all of us together, the school and the administration,” Martin said. “To be able to represent them and lead the athletic program just means the world to me.” 

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by Evan Ren

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. 

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by Evan Ren

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. 

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by Daniel Youngblood

FEATURE: Standout guard Brooks carries heavy load for Bulldogs

Since the start of the 2018-19 season, few players in the Big Country have been more productive than Wylie’s Payton Brooks.

And it could be argued, looking at this season especially, that no player is more important to his team.

Whether it’s his teammates leaning on him for a key bucket or the extra attention he gets from opposing coaches and defenders, the 6-foot-2 senior guard is a “go-to guy” in every sense of the phrase. And despite that serving as public knowledge in every gym Brooks plays in, he still produces numbers that are nothing short of eye-popping for a young Bulldogs squad that needs every bit of that production.

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by Daniel Youngblood

LOCAL HOOPS ROUNDUP: Wylie girls upset No. 23 Rider, boys’ rally comes up short

WICHITA FALLS — After starting the District 4-5A season with lopsided losses to Wichita Falls Rider and Cooper, the Wylie girls basketball team has fought its way back into district title contention.

Riding a two-game winning streak into Tuesday’s game at Rider, the Lady Bulldogs upset the No. 23 Lady Raiders 50-46 to pull within a game of the 4-5A lead heading into Friday’s home matchup against district leader Cooper.

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by Daniel Youngblood

DANIEL YOUNGBLOOD: This week in Big Country boys basketball (Jan. 27-Feb. 2)

We’re closing in on February and the Big Country’s boys basketball district races are heating up. 

With most of our leagues at or approaching the midpoint of their schedules, we’ve seen championship favorites established in some districts while other races remain wide open. And in most cases, playoff opportunities still remain for those who have fallen out of district title contention. 

With so much left to be decided, let’s take a quick look at the biggest storylines on the local and area boys basketball scene this week.

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by Daniel Youngblood

LOCAL HOOPS ROUNDUP: Wylie girls, boys earn sweep at Wichita Falls High

WICHITA FALLS — The Wylie girls basketball team picked up its second consecutive win Friday, following last week’s win over Aledo with a 75-18 drubbing of Wichita Falls High.

The Lady Bulldogs, now 15-13 overall, outscored the Lady Coyotes 23-7 in the first quarter and poured it on from there to improve to 2-2 in District 4-5A play.

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by Evan Ren

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.

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by Evan Ren

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. 

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by Evan Ren

BIG COUNTRY PREPS PLAYER OF THE WEEK: Eula junior leads Pirates to upset, claims weekly accolade

Within Eula circles, it may not have felt like an upset. But to the Big Country at large, the Class 1A Eula boys’ 62-56 win over a very good Class 4A team from Brownwood (19-5) was nothing short of eye-popping. 

Nonetheless, it happened, with junior guard Dakota Boles packed enough punch that night to earn our Big Country Preps Player of the Week award for the week ending Jan. 18. 

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by Daniel Youngblood

GAME STORY: Wylie girls knock off Aledo for first district win, boys drop 4-5A opener

The Wylie girls basketball team picked up a much-needed win Friday night, rallying from an early fourth-quarter deficit to knock off Aledo 35-31 and avoid an 0-3 start to District 4-5A play.

The Lady Bulldogs outscored the Ladycats 10-7 in the fourth quarter, including 10-5 over the final six minutes to improve to 14-13 on the year and put themselves firmly back in the district race with five league games remaining.

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by Evan Ren

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. 

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by Evan Ren

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. 

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by Daniel Youngblood

BCP Podcast No. 77: Evan Daniel discuss Jim Ned basketball with coach Eric Phelps

Since taking over the Jim Ned boys basketball program, coach Eric Phelps has put his stamp on a program that has long been one of the Big Country’s best.

Earlier this week, Phelps joined Big Country Preps’ Evan Ren and Daniel Youngblood to discuss this year’s team, the pressure of leading one of the area’s most successful programs and his time as a Texas Tech student manager under Bobby Knight for this week’s Capital Farm Credit Wednesday Night Podcast.

Also in this episode, Evan and Daniel discuss the retirement announcement of longtime Wylie football coach Hugh Sandifer as well as the other prominent Big Country coaches who hung up their whistles this school year.

by Daniel Youngblood

LOCAL HOOPS ROUNDUP: AHS girls pick up first district win, Wylie boys top Graham

The Abilene High girls basketball team picked up its first district win Tuesday, building a 22-11 halftime lead and holding on over the final two quarters to beat Haltom City Haltom 48-44 at Eagle Gym.

AHS, now 12-15 overall, got 20 points from Trakenya (KK) Roberson and seven apiece from Syncere Reed and Justine Martinez in improving to 1-4 in District 3-6A play.

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by Daniel Youngblood

GAME STORY: Fast start fuels Cooper girls to home rout of Wylie

Coming off losses in their respective district openers on Friday, the Cooper and Wylie girls basketball teams entered their crosstown matchup Tuesday at Cougar Gym needing a win to avoid an 0-2 start to league play.

That urgency was evident for the Lady Cougars, who scored the game’s first seven points and never trailed in routing the Lady Bulldogs 69-40. 

The win, which improved Cooper to 19-8 overall and 1-1 in District 4-5A action, provided a nice rebound performance from last week’s 50-45 loss at Aledo and was the product, coach Arsenio Geter said, of an important discussion during Monday’s practice.

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by Evan Ren

BIG COUNTRY PREPS PLAYER OF THE WEEK: Breckenridge senior takes the top spot

Not only are the Breckenridge Buckaroos off to a flying start at 17-3, but senior guard Aaryn Medina is drawing plenty of attention as well. 

Our Big Country Preps Player of the Week lit up both Boyd (64-28) and Millsap (72-57) to lead the Buckaroos to a district sweep last week, with an eye-popping 35-point scoring average for the two games. 

Along the way, he collected a total of 20 rebounds, eight assists and nine steals to keep the Buckaroos unbeaten in district play at 3-0. 

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