By Kathy Thomson

Thirty-two dogs were entered in the Region 7 American Field Trial Clubs of America (AFTCA) Amateur All-Age Championship and the M. G. Perkins Amateur All-Age Derby Classic held at the Crooked Tree Ranch outside of Albany earlier this month, with top dogs selected in two categories.

“Many thanks to Glenn and Tracy Hughes for allowing us the use of this beautiful venue,” said show secretary Mary Ann Gustafson. 

This was the fifth year in a row for the Hughes to host the event. 

By Kathy Thomson

Ten local 4-H members competed at the District 7 Food Challenge at the San Angelo Fair Grounds on Wednesday, Jan. 22, and all three of their teams brought back ribbons from both the district show and the San Angelo Stock Show & Rodeo Food Challenge contest.

“Our junior team placed first in the district,” said Shackelford County agent and 4-H leader Kloey Painter. “Then they also placed first at the entire stock show! It was a big deal, and I was beyond proud of them.”

Tara Cauble, Hattie Braly, and Charli Trail made up the junior team.

By Kathy Thomson

Huffman Heatly, the local winner of the Lower Clear Fork of the Brazos Soil and Water Conservation District 2020 Poster Contest was presented a ribbon and $50 by district representative Sara Head at an informal ceremony on Monday, Jan. 27.

Heatly is a Nancy Smith Elementary School sixth grader. 

This year’s theme is “Where would we BEE without pollinators?” 

By Donnie A. Lucas

The Lady Lion basketball team finished the first round of district play with a 3-2 record, splitting games last week with Hawley and Haskell.

Albany started the second half of district on Tuesday, hosting the Cross Plains Lady Buffaloes. The Lady Lions won the bout 50-31 to improve their record to 4-2.

Details were not available at press time, but will be reported next week.

By Donnie A. Lucas

The Lion basketball team played a pair of close games last week but were still searching for their first district win after losses to Hawley and Haskell.

The Lions hosted Cross Plains on Tuesday, finding their first district victory, 38-37, improving to 6-12 overall, including a 1-3 district record.

Albany will play in Stamford Friday, with the JV taking the court at 5:00 p.m., and the varsity tipping off at about 7:45 p.m.

By Donnie A. Lucas

Albany players were awarded several spots on the All-Big Country Class 2A football team and one selection for the All-Big Country Super Team.

Senior Tyler Beard was Albany’s lone pick for the Super Team, which includes all classifications from 1A through 6A.

Beard was named to the first team as an offensive lineman. He was graded at 96 percent with eight pancakes.

Beard was also one of four Albany athletes that received unanimous selection to the Class 2A All-Big Country first team.

By Kathy Thomson

Due to scheduling conflicts, the sixth grade girls were the only Albany youth basketball team that was able to fill their roster and play games last weekend. 

The fifth and sixth grade boys teams will be back on the road this Saturday, Feb. 1, with games scheduled in Jim Ned, while the sixth grade girls will be in Clyde.

Fifth grade girls coach Loree Lee said that her team would not be playing basketball on Saturday.

By Kathy Thomson

About 45 boys and girls have signed up for the third and fourth grade Little Dribblers season, and the first set of games will take place on Saturday, Feb. 8.

“We will have four boys teams and three girls teams,” said organizer Clint Chapman, “and we still need a third girls coach.”

Teams were drafted Wednesday (yesterday).

All games will be played in the high school practice gym on nine-foot goals.

By Donnie A. Lucas

The Cubs and Lady Cubs played Hawley on Monday, with the girls hosting at home and the boys playing on the road.

The Cubs will host a two-day tournament on Thursday (today) and Saturday at the local gyms. 

The seventh grade is scheduled to play Baird at 5:00 p.m. Thursday, followed by a 6:00 p.m. B team game against Munday. The eighth grade will play the Abilene Hawks at 7:00 p.m.

By Kathy Thomson

Parents of girls who want to play in the Albany Girls Softball Association this spring only have one more week to sign up their child before the Friday, Feb. 8 deadline.

Age levels for Albany players this year will include under-6, under-8, under-10, under-12, and under-14 as of Jan. 1. Games will be played in Albany, Breckenridge, and possibly other nearby towns.

Registration fees are $45 for the first player in a family, and $30 more for each additional sibling entered in the league. Scholarships are available.