By Sam Waller

The Moran Bulldogs wrapped up their boys basketball season Tuesday, Feb. 15 with a 74-46 loss at Baird.

The Bulldogs finished the season 2-16 overall, 1-9 in District 13-1A.

Baird opened up a 24-11 lead in the first quarter and increased the margin to 42-16 at halftime. The Bears outscored the Bulldogs 32-20 in the second half.

Arren Hawley, Moran’s lone senior, led the Bulldogs with 19 points. Caleb York scored eight points and Ellis Hise added seven, while Connor Hail scored two.

Spring Sports

By Sam Waller

Two Moran meat judging teams scored well in contests over the weekend at major livestock shows.

Moran teams placed 25th and 35th out of 43 teams on Saturday, Feb. 19, at San Angelo. On Sunday, Feb. 20, the teams finished 33rd and 41st out of 77 teams in San Antonio.

Moran superintendent Dr. John Denson said two members of the first team scored extremely high in placing classes at San Angelo.

By Melinda L. Lucas

Advance tickets are now available for the Biennial Swedish Smorgasbord hosted by Bethel Lutheran Church in the Ericksdahl Community coming up on Saturday, March 5.

At $30 per ticket for three different seating times, meals will be served at 5:00 p.m., 6:00 p.m., and 7:00 p.m. that day.

They are sold in advance only and are not available at the door.

For information, contact Annette Wilson at 325-773-2104 or Tena Tankersley at 325-668-2796.

The Ericksdahl Community and the church are located in Jones County near Avoca.

By Sam Waller

Albany churches will conduct Ash Wednesday services Wednesday, March 2, to begin Lent, which continues until Thursday, April 14.

Albany United Methodist Church will participate in “A Night With New Room” at 6:30 p.m. on Ash Wednesday. The livestream program can be viewed at the church or online at www.newroom conference.com.

The service is a preparation event for the church’s Lenten Study, a 40-day devotional for Lent which begins Sunday, March 7.

By Donnie A. Lucas

When their parents moved their families halfway around the world in search of a better life, they probably weren’t thinking that a small West Texas community like Albany would provide its own version of the American Dream.

Most folks in Albany or passing through have noticed the new building housing the Donut Shop, just a block east of the original location on Main Street.

By Sam Waller

The Albany Chamber of Commerce will honor two community members as Albany Stars on Thursday, March 3.

The program will start at 6:30 p.m. at the Aztec Theater.

“We invite everybody – it doesn’t matter if you’re a Chamber member or not – to come out and see who our Albany Stars are,” Chamber manager Mary Beth Jones said. “They were nominated from the community, and the board took that information and made their choices. We had lots of good candidates, and it was hard to narrow it down to the two.”

By Sam Waller

The Albany Lions boys basketball team opened the playoffs Tuesday, Feb. 22, with a 52-45 bi-district win against Petrolia at Graham, moving them on to the area round.

The Lions will play the Italy Gladiators (21-4) Friday, Feb. 25 at 6:30 p.m. in the Weatherford High School gym, with Albany fans on the home side. Details were still being worked out on Wednesday morning at press time, but tickets are expected to be available online only at weatherfordisd.com, and passes will be accepted.

By Sam Waller

The Albany Lady Lions went 2-4-1 in their first week of the softball season, opening with an 8-5 victory over the Abilene Cooper JV before spending the weekend at the Eastland tournament.

At Eastland, the Lady Lions lost 14-1 to Clyde before beating Merkel 7-2 on Friday, Feb. 18. On Saturday, Feb. 19, Albany lost 8-6 to Wall, tied Coleman 6-6, and lost 8-7 to Jim Ned.

On Monday, Feb. 21, Albany lost 15-0 at Breckenridge.

By Sam Waller

The Albany Lions started their baseball season with a scrimmage on Friday, Feb. 18 and a JV game on Monday, Feb. 21.

This weekend’s Albany JV tournament, however, fell victim to winter weather, with coach David Fairchild making the decision Wednesday morning to cancel the event.

“We had an opportunity to get three more games this weekend, and that’s what we wanted to do, play baseball games,” he said. “It’s just unfortunate we can’t get that time on the field.”

By Sam Waller

The Albany Lions tennis team battled both the elements and opponents Thursday, Feb. 17 at the Hawley Invitational, but won three draws.

Players had to contend with cold conditions at Abilene’s Rose Park Tennis Center.

“There was more confidence on the court,” coach M.J. Reneau said of the Lions’ second tournament outing. “It’s hard to compare because of the weather conditions. That apparently didn’t slow them down, because they got out there and got after it.”