By Kathy Thomson Albany Sports Center took three cheer teams to the Varsity Spirit Dallas Cowboy Cheerleaders National Championship in Arlington on Saturday, Feb. 1, and along with the team awards, one Albany participant was named for an individual honor.

By Kathy Thomson Matthew Key was the overall winner in the Albany Cub Scouts’ annual Pinewood Derby race that was held at the Scout Hut on Tuesday, Jan. 28, taking home the top trophy. Cubmaster Jacey Shack and Den Leaders Dan Key, Crystal Herrell, and Robert Rogers organized the event.

By Donnie A. Lucas The Lion basketball team picked up their first district win last week against Cross Plains, then added a second mark in the win column this week over Roscoe. The Lions hosted the Plowboys on Tuesday, putting up a 47-32 win to start the second round of district.

By Donnie A. Lucas The Lady Lions locked up a playoff berth on Tuesday with a victory over Roscoe, improving to 5-3 in district for third place with two district games remaining in the regular season.

By Donnie A. Lucas The future of competitive sports in Albany was reshuffled somewhat this week when the University Interscholastic League conducted the bi-annual realignment of schools, which forms districts for various sports and academic competition for the next two school years.

By Donnie A. Lucas Workouts for both baseball and softball have started at the high school, with the softball team to open the season on Feb. 18. The baseball team isn’t on the schedule to play its season opener until Feb. 27 during the local tournament.

By Donnie A. Lucas The Albany Cubs closed out the basketball season at home Monday, winning two out of the three games against Roscoe. The eighth grade Cubs ended a perfect 16-0 season, according to coach David Fairchild, with their 46-13 win over the Plowboys.

By Donnie A. Lucas Albany High School junior Wesley Estridge placed second at a recent powerlifting meet in Coa-homa, recording a three-lift total of 1,405 pounds.

By Melinda L. Lucas Tyler Beard, who played both ways as a lineman for the Albany Lions, was one of only a few Big Country football players named to Even Ren’s 2019 “True Grit” Team on the Big Country Preps online sports site recently.

By Kathy Thomson Moran’s basketball season is winding down, and although they have lost most of their district games, all Moran coaches report that their players are improving, learning, playing better, and coming together as a team, even if the scores don’t reflect it.