OZONA, Texas — Throughout the years, rivalries in sports have gone together like peanut butter and jelly. That includes here in West Texas, as the infamous "I-10 rivalry" between the Ozona Lions and Sonora Broncos has been a stalwart of the culture of each town for generations.
Residents of Ozona like Jared Shaffer, believe this rivalry is both real, and beneficial.
"Whether we are golfing, playing baseball, track, basketball, football, (or) we are tying shoes, (it) does not matter. It (the rivalry) is just there, it is a good and healthy rivalry and relationship," Shaffer said.
While both towns are fighting for bragging rights, the origins of this "beef" are spotty. After talking to people in the stands during Thursday's youth basketball games, they say it all comes down to the distance in between the towns, and the back-and-forth play on the football field.
Regardless of how it started, the rivalry continues into youth sports, even when it includes girls 1st-grade basketball games. For Sonora resident Heather Cearley, the competition between the Lions and Broncos has aided the development of those involved.
"Before we started traveling and competing with other towns like this, we competed inner city. This has helped so much (by having the) grades bond together instead of just playing against each other and competing against your fellow students. You get to start bonding with your teammates at a younger age," Cearley said.
Both Shaffer and Cearley agreed that once you live in Sonora or Ozona, you know each time you play one another, it is the biggest game of the season. Exhibition or not, this game counts.
"I promise if you talk to anybody from Sonora, they will tell you the same thing (about how important the games are against one another). You can beat whoever, win whatever, but did you beat Ozona? And it goes the other way too," Shaffer said.
Now, at the youth basketball games on Thursday night, you saw upwards of 60 people in the bleachers and cheers that seemed louder than an NBA game. Certainly, both teams want to win, but in the end, they are just grateful to have one another to compete against.
"It is so much fun. We always shake each other's hands and hug each other. Bottom line, we are friends, but we enjoy the competition," Cearley said.
The recognition of this rivalry begins at an early age if you live in these West Texas towns, but both parties recognize they cannot improve without testing their skills against one another.