By Donnie A. Lucas

The Lady Lions dropped both district games on the road last week, with the second half of the district race starting on Friday in Haskell.

The varsity was open on Tuesday with a scheduled district bye.

Action resumes Friday with the Lady Lions hosting Hawley. The varsity will play at 6:00 p.m. in the new gym, while the JV will play at 7:15 p.m. in the old gym.

Albany will travel to Hamlin on Tuesday, Jan. 26 with the JV starting the four back-to-back games at 4:00 p.m. The varsity girls should play at 6:30 p.m.

By Donnie A. Lucas

The varsity Lion basketball team closed out the first half of District 10-2A action last week with a pair of wins to improve to 4-2 in league play.

Albany had a bye on Tuesday prior to starting the second half.

The Lions will host Hawley on Friday, Jan. 22, with the JV boys starting at 6:00 p.m. and the varsity following at about 7:15 p.m.

Sitting in third place at the moment, the Lions hope to avenge their 51-50 loss to the Bearcats in their district opener.

By Sandy Morris

As the second semester of the school year gets underway, athletes in spring sports begin to prepare for upcoming meets. 

Last week, Albany High School student Wesley Estridge was already prepared and ready to kick off his 2021 powerlifting season.

Estridge traveled to Jacksboro on Thursday, Jan. 14 to compete in the first powerlifting competition of the season. 

Weigh-in was at 2:00 p.m., and Estridge began to compete in the various events starting at 5:00 p.m. 

By Donnie A. Lucas

Both junior high basketball girls teams posted wins on Monday at the local gym, with the boys playing in Hawley.

The Lady Cubs will host Haskell on Monday, Jan. 25 starting at 5:30 p.m., while the Cubs will play in Haskell also starting at 5:30 p.m.

The girls Red team earned a 27-17 win against Hawley.

“The girls played great defense throughout the game,” coach Jamie Wilson said. “There was a lot of communication between the girls that helped them be successful.”

By Donnie A. Lucas

Several local fifth and sixth graders are continuing to be busy on Saturdays with youth league basketball, with two weeks remaining in the season.

Albany’s girls teams will play at Hawley High School this Saturday, with the sixth grade playing at 10:00 a.m. and 2:00 p.m. The fifth grade girls are scheduled to play at 10:00 a.m. and 1:00 p.m.

The boys will travel to Jim Ned High School this week. The sixth graders play at 10:00 a.m. and 12:00 p.m., while the fifth grade team plays at 10:00 a.m. and 1:00 p.m.

Makaela Rae Henry, daughter of David and Megan Henry of Albany was united in marriage on Sept. 19, 2020 to Justin Doyle Jones, son of Ken and Kelley Jones, also of Albany. Dr. Ronald Rainwater, professor at Hardin-Simmons University, officiated at the cere­mony held outside at dusk at Happy Wife Happy Life Wedding Venue at Albany.

The bride is the granddaughter of Lonell and Anita Henry of Albany and the late David and Marcelyn Makela of Abilene.

Grandparents of the groom are Doyle and Nina Jones and Johnny and Rebecca White, all of Albany.

By Sandy Morris

Despite COVID concerns, the Big Country chapter of Fellowship of Christian Athletes is moving forward with its annual Weekend of Champions, but with a slight change. 

This year the Weekend of Champions camps will be a one-day only event with the Girls Weekend scheduled for Saturday, Jan. 23 from 9:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. at the Solid Rock Christian Camp in Eastland.  

The Boys Weekend is scheduled for the following Saturday, Jan. 30 from 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. at Beltway South in Abilene. 

By Sandy Morris

The varsity girls basketball team traveled to Cross Plains on Tuesday, Jan. 12 to continue district action.. 

The Lady Bulldogs came up short, losing 78-11. 

Dariann Hawley was the leading scorer with four points, followed by Hannah Rogers with three points, and Emily Murk and Alli Scott with two points each. 

The Lady Bulldogs were on the road again against Eula on Friday, Jan. 15. The team came up short, losing to Eula 56-7.  

By Donnie A. Lucas

Registration for Albany Little League teams, including T-ball, Coach Pitch, Little League Majors and Minors, Intermediate and Junior League, will start Monday, Jan. 25 and continue through Feb. 8.

Students at Nancy Smith Elementary School will have forms sent home on Monday, with completed papers returned by the Feb. 8 deadline.

Students attending Albany Junior High will be able to pick up forms in the school office. Completed paperwork needs to be returned to the school by Feb. 8.

Agricultural producers and private landowners interested in the Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) can sign up for the popular program until Feb. 12, 2021. The competitive program, administered by USDA’s Farm Service Agency (FSA), provides annual rental payments for land devoted to conservation purposes.