by Daniel Youngblood

GAME STORY: Slow start, missed opportunities cost Highland in tough OT loss to Veribest

SNYDER — The Highland girls basketball team rebounded from a slow start and bevy of missed opportunities in the first three quarters Friday to force overtime in its Region II-1A semifinal matchup with sixth-ranked Veribest. But the Lady Hornets couldn’t quite close the deal in a 36-31 loss to the Lady Falcons at The Coliseum.

HHS, which trailed 10-4 at the end the first quarter, missed a load of layups and went just 1 of 6 from the free-throw line in the first half, twice missing the front end of one-and-one situations. Despite this, the Lady Hornets found themselves up on two occasions in the fourth quarter — the last at 27-25 with just over a minute remaining.

But Veribest, which led for the vast majority of contest, evened things up with a pair of late free throws and outscored Highland 9-4 in overtime to end the Lady Hornets’ season at 30-8.

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by Evan Ren

GAME REPORT: Youthful Stephenville falls to Canyon in Region I-4A semfinals

LUBBOCK — With only two seniors and two juniors surrounded by a host of sophomores and freshmen, few were expecting to see the Stephenville Honey Bees in this year’s Region I-4A semifinals.

Nonetheless, Stephenville was at Lubbock Christian University on Friday taking on No. 4 Canyon. But as fate would have it, the ‘Bees were finally toppled, 49-31 to close a remarkable 32-5 campain. 

Sydnee Winfrey and Jaylee Moss dropped in 11 points apiece and Shaylin Schulte added eight more to lead Canyon (32-3), which advances to face top-ranked Glen Rose for the regional title. 

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by Evan Ren

GAME STORY: Jim Ned eliminates Idalou, advances to Region I-3A title 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. 

Lexi Wishert had 17 points, including three 3-pointers and Ashlynn Galvin added 10 more to lead Jim Ned (32-1), which now advances to face Holliday (31-3) in the Region I-3A title game on Saturday at 1 p.m.  

Idalou was led by Logan Heard with 15 points and Maddie Holmes with seven. The Lady Cats finished their season at 25-13.

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by Brandon McAuliffe

GAME STORY: Athletic Vernon too much for Brady in area round

ANSON — The Brady boys basketball team pulled off one of the biggest upsets in the state in the opening round of the postseason with a 42-37 win over District 6-3A champion San Angelo TLCA on Tuesday night.

It left many people wondering what the Bulldogs would do as an encore, especially since they were playing with house money when taking on No. 25 Vernon on Friday at Anson’s Tiger Gymnasium.

Another upset was not in the cards for the Bulldogs, who were held scoreless until midway through the second quarter as Vernon ran away with a 67-36 win.

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by Brandon McAuliffe

GAME STORY: Slow start dooms Cross Plains in area round loss

ANSON — The Cross Plains Buffaloes started the postseason off with an upset win over Hermleigh on Tuesday night.

There would be no repeat of that magic in the area round with the Buffaloes giving up the first 14 points of the game on their way to a 53-35 loss to Aspermont at Tiger Gymnasium on Friday night.

The slow start was something that coach Dade Cosby’s team wasn’t able to overcome, but they never stopped fighting.

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by Daniel Youngblood

Big Country Preps Preseason Baseball Position Rankings: Utility Players

After recognizing the Big Country’s top pitchers, catchers, infielders and outfielders, we wrap up our baseball position rankings series with the area’s multi-position standouts.

For the final installment in our five-part series, we take a look at the top utility players, ranking our top-10 with others to watch in 2023.

We hope you’ve enjoyed reading through these lists and are as excited as we are that baseball season is underway.

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by Daniel Youngblood

Big Country Preps Preseason Baseball Position Rankings: Outfielders

For the fourth installment of our five-part baseball position rankings series, we shift our focus from the infield dirt to the outfield grass.

After highlighting the Big Country’s top pitchers, catchers and infielders earlier this week, we now do the same with the area’s best outfielders, ranking our top 10 with others to watch in 2023.

We hope you enjoy our list.

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by Evan Ren

BIG COUNTRY GIRLS BASKETBALL REGIONAL PREVIEW: Seven area teams head to regionals

There are two constants when speaking about the girls basketball regional tournaments from the Big Country perspective.

First, we are almost guaranteed to have representation at the regional level — partly due to talent and partly due to the sheer volume of teams the Big Country houses (nearly 80).  And secondly, surviving beyond this point is usually a crapshoot, with one monstrous team after another blocking the road to San Antonio. 

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by Daniel Youngblood

Big Country Preps Preseason Baseball Position Rankings: Infielders

After ranking  the top pitchers and catchers on the Big Country baseball scene the past two nights, we now turn our attention to the infield.

For the third installment in our five-part position rankings series, we list our top-10 infielders in the area with a list of others to watch in 2023.

We hope you enjoy reading through our rankings.

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by Daniel Youngblood

GAME STORY: Snyder boys shut down Stephenville in second half to claim 41-38 bi-district win

Not much separated the Snyder and Stephenville boys basketball teams in their Region I-4A bi-district matchup Tuesday at McMurry’s Kimbrell Arena.

Three points, to be exact.

In a evenly-matched game that close throughout, the Tigers escaped with a 41-38 win that wasn’t decided until the final buzzer, shortly before which Payton Poston’s game-tying 3-point attempt bounced off the rim and out, finally allowing the Snyder coaches and players to exhale and eventually celebrate.

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by Evan Ren

GAME STORY: Stephenville eliminates Estacado, advances to Region I-4A semifinals

CLYDE — Outgunned athletically, both in terms of size and quickness by Lubbock Estacado, the Stephenville Honey Bees had to fall back on an old standby to win Tuesday’s Region I-4A quarterfinal: team defense. 

Though it took the better part of four quarters to achieve it, 10th-ranked Stephenville finally put the Lady Matadors in their rearview mirror, topping Estacado 55-43 at the Clyde High School gym. 

Mya Wilson scored 21 points and Lillie Skiles added 11 more to lead Stephenville (32-4), which now advances to the Region I-4A semifinals at Lubbock Christian University where they will face fourth-ranked Canyon (31-3) on Friday at 6:30 p.m. 

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by Brandon McAuliffe

GAME STORY: Hermleigh girls outlast Eula in regional quarterfinal thriller

TUSCOLA — Tuesday night marked the third straight year that the Eula and Hermleigh girls basketball teams have met in the playoffs with a berth in the regional tournament on the line.

After the Lady Cardinals won the first two matchups 44-41 and 54-39 at Wylie’s Bulldog Gym, the series shifted to Jim Ned’s Bill Thornton Arena as the Lady Pirates looked to break the streak.

For the third straight year, though, the Lady Cardinals broke Eula’s heart, this time with a 49-46 win in an instant classic.

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by Daniel Youngblood

Big Country Preps Preseason Baseball Position Rankings: Catchers

After opening our baseball position rankings series with the pitchers on Thursday, it’s time to shift our attention to their battery mates.

For the second installment in our five-part series, we celebrate the Big Country’s top catchers, ranking our top 10 with a list of others to watch in 2023.

We hope you enjoy our list.

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by Daniel Youngblood

GAME STORY: Westbrook uses third-quarter run to pull away from Rising Star

Third-seeded Rising Star gave the District 13-1A runner-up Westbrook Wildcats all they wanted in Monday’s Region II-1A bi-district matchup at McMurry’s Kimbrell Arena, but ultimately, coach Homer Matlock’s team was just a little too much in a 49-40 victory.

Leading by one point after a quarter and two points at halftime, WHS used a 14-8 run through the third quarter to create the separation it needed to pull away for the win and advance to the area round, where it will face the winner between Knox City and Crowell later this week.

Junior guard Parker Matlock fueled the effort for Westbrook, tying a game high with 18 points, while Grayson Jeffrey hit three of the Wildcats’ seven 3-pointers to overcome a game effort by Rising Star.

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by Daniel Youngblood

GAME STORY: Moses, Reed lead Cross Plains to emotional win over shorthanded Hermleigh

Playing without seniors Brenson Halford and Tyler Stewart, who were seriously injured in a car accident near Lubbock on Feb. 11, the Hermleigh boys basketball team struggled to contain the Cross Plains duo of Noah Moses and Ryan Reed on Monday night in a 39-34 bi-district upset at McMurry University’s Kimbrell Arena.

Moses and Reed scored 16 and 14 points, respectively, to lead the fourth-seeded Buffaloes, who used a 10-8 run through the fourth quarter to protect a lead that had been trimmed to three points (29-26) heading into the final eight minutes.

In a game that was tight throughout, Cross Plains held the District 14-1A champion Cardinals under 10 points in three of the four quarters to advance to the Region II-1A area round, where it will face off with the winner of Aspermont and Electra later this week.

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by Brandon McAuliffe

GAME STORY: May survives upset-minded Ira in playoff opener

WINTERS — After a shocking bi-district loss ended the football season for May, the Tigers found themselves in a similar situation on Monday night at Blizzard Gym to start the postseason in basketball against Ira.

The fourth-place Bulldogs had May on the ropes in the third quarter, leading 42-39 with momentum, but the Tigers responded like a hungry squad.

May reeled off 12 consecutive points, spanning the end of the third quarter and start of the fourth, and used the run to propel itself to a 68-50 win that was far less comfortable than the final score indicated.

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by Brandon McAuliffe

GAME STORY: Jim Ned turns away Ballinger, advances to fifth straight regional tournament

WINTERS — With a spot in the Region I-3A tournament on the line on Monday night at Blizzard Gym, the Jim Ned and Ballinger girls basketball teams squared off for the third time this season.

The Lady Indians were seeking their fifth straight berth in the regional tournament while the Lady Cats were in the regional quarterfinals for the first time since 2008.

Despite a strong defensive first half, the Lady Cats struggled to score offensively, and Jim Ned’s offense came to life in the second half to propel the Lady Indians to a 53-18 win and an 8 p.m. date with Idalou on Friday at Wolfforth Frenship.

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by Evan Ren

GAME STORY: Glen Rose holds off Sweetwater bi-district upset bid, 49-40

CISCO — After having swept through District 6-4A with an 8-0 mark, few who follow area basketball were expecting Glen Rose to struggle in its Region I-4A bi-district matchup with fourth-seeded Sweetwater on Monday night. 

Nonetheless, the Tigers got all they wanted from a Mustang team that finished 5-5 in District 5. By night’s end, Glen Rose prevailed 49-40, but not before a boisterous crowd got its money’s worth at Ray Saunders Gym. 

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by Daniel Youngblood

Big Country Preps Preseason Baseball Position Rankings: Pitchers

After kicking off the spring sports season with our softball position rankings last week, it’s time to turn our attention to the the baseball field and the players you’ll be reading about throughout the 2023 campaign.

For the first installment in a five-part series that will cover all position groups on the area baseball scene, we’ll be taking a look at the Big Country’s best pitchers, ranking our top 10 with a list of others to watch this fall.

We hope you enjoy reading through our list.

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by Evan Ren

BIG COUNTRY PREPS PLAYER OF THE WEEK: Hawley’s O’Shields takes this week’s award

While Hawley’s Kason O’Shields is better known for his prowess on a football field, the HHS senior is actually a remarkable all-around athlete who is capable of having an impact in a variety of different sports. 

This week is a prime example of that, as O’Shields takes our Big Country Preps Player of the Week award for the week ending February 18. 

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by Daniel Youngblood

FEATURE: Cooper forward Rivera an imposing force on both ends for Coogs

At 6-foot-5, having scored 1,000-points-plus in a varsity career that began when he was a freshman,  Cooper’s Jaelyn Rivera is standing tall these days — both literally and figuratively. 

As the primary offensive force on a Cougar team that is 18-12 after finishing second in District 4-5A, Rivera will lead Cooper into its Region 1-5A bi-district game against Amarillo Palo Duro at 6 p.m. Tuesday in Lamesa.

While Cooper coach Bryan Conover can only speculate how his team’s deliberate-offense/stifling-defense style will match up against the Dons’ run/gun/launch-the-3-as-soon-as-it’s-open attack, he knows his team will be perched on Rivera’s sturdy shoulders when the game tips off.

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by Daniel Youngblood

FEATURE: Surging Mustangs ready for playoff challenge after overcoming 0-4 district start

Sitting at 0-4 in District 5-4A play on Jan. 25, the Sweetwater boys basketball team found itself at a crossroads.

The Mustangs’ campaign, which began with a promising 17-6 run through nondistrict play, was headed toward a disappointing end without some necessary course correction.

Coach Evan Grantham’s squad needed to right the ship and quickly if it hoped to finish its season in the playoffs. Fortunately, it did just that.

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by Zach Duncan, Special to Big Country Preps

FEATURE: Brock leaning on Lewis’ experience heading into postseason play

Zach Lewis is ready to leave everything on the court these next couple weeks. 

The Brock senior point guard’s competitive basketball days are numbered as he’ll be attending business school at Texas A&M next fall. 

After playing a crucial role on the Eagles’ state-qualifying team two years ago and nearly leading Brock back to San Antonio last year, Lewis is well-versed in high-stakes postseason games. 

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by Zach Duncan, Special to Big Country Preps

FEATURE: Albany’s Hill not just a standout football player

Adam Hill was a key member of Albany’s state championship football team last fall. 

The junior lined up at running back, played tight end in certain sets and even was occasionally a fullback. Hill was also a defensive end for the Lions after playing strong safety the previous year. 

Hill’s versatility can also be seen on the basketball court. He’s a bigger guy who can handle the ball well. Hill pounds the glass with his 6-foot-2 frame and has worked hard to improve his outside shooting. 

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by Daniel Youngblood

GAME STORY: Wylie boys see season end with 54-46 play-in loss to Lubbock Cooper

COLORADO CITY — Leading Lubbock Cooper 40-37 after the first three quarters of its District 4-5A play-in game, the Wylie boys basketball ran out of steam in the fourth Friday.

After outscoring the Pirates 32-25 over the middle two periods to pull ahead by as many as five points in the third quarter, The Bulldogs were outscored 17-6 over the final eight minutes to see their season end with a 54-46 loss at the Colorado High School gymnasium. 

Wylie closed its campaign at 13-19, capping a  roller coaster of a year that saw the Bulldogs go from a 1-4 start to district to finish 5-7 in league play and force Friday’s winner-take-all rubber match with the Pirates.

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by Daniel Youngblood

GAME STORY: Allen, lockdown defense fuel No. 14 Highland past Roby in area round win

COLORADO CITY — The 14th-ranked Highland girls basketball team overcame a slow offensive start with a sterling defensive effort Friday, limiting Roby to just six total field goals in a 31-16 area round win.

The Lady Hornets held the Lady Lions to three points in three of the four quarters and rallied from a 3-2 deficit at the end of one period to take a double-digit lead early in the second half.

Senior standout Taylor Allen fueled the winning effort for Highland, scoring 19 points to outscore Roby herself in leading the Lady Hornets into the Region II-1A quarterfinals, where they’ll face District 14-1A rival Westbrook next week.

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by Evan Ren

GAME STORY: Huge Plowgirl rally falls short in tough area round loss to Sundown

POST — Plagued by an early case of nerves that led to missed shots from pointblank range and multiple turnovers, the Roscoe Plowgirls had dug a first-half hole for themselves in Friday’s 2A area round clash with Sundown. 

By night’s end, Roscoe came close enough to put a serious scare into Sundown, but eventually fell 56-47 at Antelope Arena. 

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by Brandon McAuliffe

GAME STORY: Eula starts fast and rolls past Rotan, earns quarterfinals rematch with Hermleigh

ANSON — The Eula Lady Pirates, ranked No. 16 in the state in Class 1A, wasted no time in putting an end to any hopes Rotan had of a second straight playoff upset Friday night at Tiger Gymnasium.

The Lady Pirates jumped out to a double-digit lead in the first four minutes of the game on their way to a 41-16 win, earning a Region II-1A quarterfinal date with No. 12 Hermleigh on Tuesday at Jim Ned’s Bill Thornton Arena.

Eula was led offensively by Hailie Cauthen and Nyellie Lee. Cauthen had 15 of her game-high 17 points in the first half, while Lee scored 11 points.

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by Daniel Youngblood

Big Country Preps Preseason Softball Position Rankings: Utility Players

After recognizing the top pitchers, catchers, infielders and outfielders that the Big Country softball scene has to offer, we close our position ranking series with a celebration of versatility.

For the final installment in our five-part series, we take a look at the top utility players, ranking our top-10 multi-position standouts with some others to watch in 2023.

We hope you’ve enjoyed reading through these lists and encourage you to come back next week when we’ll feature the top baseball players in the Big Country.

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by Daniel Youngblood

GAME STORY: No. 2 Jim Ned passes area round test against scrappy Breckenridge squad

EULA — For a half, the Breckenridge girls basketball team gave No. 2 Jim Ned all it could handle Thursday in a Region I-3A area round matchup at Mary Mosley Gymnasium.

But a Lady Indians squad not accustomed to playing in tight games rose up to meet the challenge in the second half, using an 11-6 run through the third quarter to create some cushion in a 42-30 win.

The victory — just Jim Ned’s seventh this year by less than 14 points — earned the Lady Indians (33-1 on the season) a region quarterfinal matchup next week with District 6-3A mate Ballinger, which knocked off Wichita Falls City View 56-46 on Thursday.

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by Brandon McAuliffe

GAME STORY: Big second half lifts No. 3 Holliday to area round win over Wall

ANSON — Wall coach Jerry McSherry knew his squad would have a tough time in Thursday’s Region I-3A area round game against third-ranked Holliday.

While the Lady Hawks struggled offensively, they dominated on the defensive end of the floor in the first half, building a six-point lead at the break.

A much different story unfolded in the second half, however, as the Lady Eagles pulled away for a 46-33 win, ending the Lady Hawks’ season at 28-6.

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by Daniel Youngblood

Big Country Preps Preseason Softball Position Rankings: Outfielders

After spending the first three days of our softball position rankings series in the dirt, we move the grass for Day 4.

For the penultimate installment of our five-part series, we take a look at the top outfielders in the Big Country, ranking our top 10 with others to watch in 2023.

We hope you enjoy our list.

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