By Sam Waller

The Albany Lions varsity boys basketball team conducted their first practice Monday nearly seven weeks after most schools around the state and will play their first game Thursday (today) at the Hermleigh tournament.

Boys basketball teams were allowed to start practice on Oct. 27, but Albany was delayed because of the football team’s playoff run, which reached the state semifinals.

As it is, Lions coach Ryder Peacock still won’t have his full contingent this weekend as players recover from football injuries.

By Sam Waller

The Albany Lady Lions suffered a pair of home losses last week in their final outings before the start of district play, falling 42-23 to Richland Springs on Tuesday, Dec. 7, and 34-12 to Gordon on Friday, Dec. 10.

The Lady Lions opened the District 10-2A schedule on Tuesday night, Dec. 14 against the Haskell Maidens. Albany was on the losing side of the scoreboard, with details to be reported next week.

Against Richland Springs last week, Albany fell behind 16-2 in the first quarter and never recovered.

By Sam Waller

The Moran Bulldogs and Lady Bulldogs basketball teams both went 2-1 last weekend at the Lueders-Avoca tournament.

The Lady Bulldogs hosted Rotan on Tuesday while the boys played at Mullin. Results will be reported next week.

Moran wraps up play before the holiday break on Friday with a pair of home games. The girls play Knox City at 6:00 p.m. with the boys taking on Ranger at 7:30 p.m.

Both teams will play in the Gordon tournament Dec. 28-29.

Boys Games

By Sam Waller

Moran ISD will let out for the semester at 3:30 p.m. Friday, Dec. 17. The school conducted semester tests earlier this week.

A staff development day is set for Monday, Jan. 3, with classes to resume on Tuesday, Jan. 4.

Denson said he is planning a lunch for the staff before classes resume.

“We’ll reflect on last semester, see what we can do better, and go on and finish out the year,” he said.

Winter Formal

By Sam Waller

Moran High School seniors Hannah Rogers and Johnnie Hise earned Meat Evaluation Certificates from the American Meat Science Association through the dual-credit advanced animal science class taught by Moran superintendent Dr. John Denson.

Denson said the certificates were awarded for demonstrating competencies in the areas of meat science principles, animal harvesting procedures, carcass and cuts evaluation, USDA beef grading, and retail cut fabrication and identification.

By Donnie A. Lucas

The number of positive COVID-19 cases continued to rise over the last week, with a total of 30 positives out of 72 tests administered, according to a report issued by county judge Bob Skelton.

The testing figures are for the week of Dec. 6-10. The total positives were up from 27 the week prior.

There were several more positive tests at the Shackelford County Health Clinic on Monday, but no firm numbers were reported.

By Sam Waller

A grass fire on the Stasney Ranch was contained to 190 acres on Friday, Dec. 10, as firefighters battled windy, dry conditions.

Chief Brad Henry of the Shackelford County Rural Volunteer Fire Department said the cause of the fire was undetermined, but firefighters were able to get it under control quickly despite the wind.

“It wasn’t as bad as some we’ve dealt with,” Henry said.

An October fire burned more than 18,600 acres across four ranches in Shackelford and Throckmorton counties.

By Sam Waller

Moran basketball teams had a busy week with both boys and girls varsity teams making their first tournament appearances.

The Bulldogs started the week against Strawn Nov. 30 before competing in the Woodson tournament.

The Lady Bulldogs played in the Breckenridge tournament after dealing with schedule changes.

Both boys and girls will play in the Lueders-Avoca tournament this weekend.

Girls Games

By Sam Waller

Moran FFA students received four awards banners Monday at the Area IV FFA banquet at Taylor County Expo Center in Abilene.

Moran earned awards for a first place in Junior Creed Speaking and third in Junior Ag Skills at the Big Country District contest in November, as well as for Sweepstakes and eighth in Junior Creed Speaking at the Area IV contest.

It was the first time Moran FFA received such recognition since 2016.

Moran also received a plaque for finishing third in Junior Ag Skills at the Snyder LDE contest.

By Sam Waller

The Albany Junior High Lady Cubs basketball teams swept their home games Monday against Hamlin, allowing a total of 16 points.

The White team won 33-8 with the Red team posting a 36-8 victory. In both games, Hamlin went without scoring in the second and third quarters.

In boys action at Hamlin, Albany won all three games. The eighth grade Cubs won 36-23, the seventh grade 31-27, and the combo team 12-10.