Lions dream season comes to an end
The Albany Lions saw their season come to an end Thursday night, Feb. 26, falling to Graford, 66-49, in the Area round of the Class 2A Division II playoffs at Graham.
The loss ended more than a year without a defeat for the Lions. Albany’s previous loss also came against Graford, meaning the Lions went 370 days between losses and completed an undefeated regular season before returning to the postseason.
Effort there,
shots not
Coach Ryder Peacock said effort was not the issue for the Lions. Instead, it was simply one of those nights when shots would not fall.
“On the positive side, I thought we played really hard,” Peacock said. “The guys fought and battled. It was just one of those games where we did not shoot the ball well as a team. Shots just weren’t falling for guys that typically make shots.”
Albany had been in similar situations throughout the season, weathering cold stretches before finding its rhythm and making a run. Thursday night, that push never came.
“We’ve been in situations like that before and found our rhythm,” Peacock said. “We just never could get that going last night.”
Every time the Lions threatened to cut into the deficit, Graford answered.
Chance Stewart led Albany with 20 points, followed by Huffman Heatly with 10 and Blake Britting with eight.
Graford’s inside
presence
A major factor in the game was Graford’s strong inside presence, especially from their post player, who controlled the paint on both ends of the floor.
“They do a great job getting him the ball,” Peacock said. “He’s just a tough matchup for anybody. When he gets to his spots, he’s deadly in there.”
Albany battled defensively, contesting touches and fighting for position, but Graford’s size inside made it difficult for the Lions to slow the attack.
Combined with Albany’s shooting struggles, it proved difficult for the Lions to close the gap against one of the top teams in the region.
Seniors leave
legacy
The contest marked the final high school game for seniors Stewart, Heatly, Aaden Mendez, and Brody Oliver.
Peacock said the group made a strong impact on the program during their time in Albany.
“These guys are a special group,” he said. “They work hard, they lead by example, and they create a great environment within our program. They’re great teammates and great leaders.”
Heatly, a multi-year contributor, was described as a player who does “all the little things,” battling for possessions and setting the tone with his effort. Stewart, who joined the program this season, brought scoring ability, defensive intensity, and a high basketball IQ. Mendez’s passion for the game and emotional investment were evident throughout the year. Oliver, though finishing the season in a support role, remained a steady presence and vocal supporter of the team.
“You hate to see a season end for seniors,” Peacock said. “You get to know these guys, and they mean a lot to you. I couldn’t be more proud of them.”
Youth movement
gaining experience
Even in defeat, the Lions gained valuable experience that could help the program moving forward.
Albany carried a young roster throughout the season, including multiple freshmen and sophomores who played major roles.
“We’ve got nine guys coming back next year that have a lot of experience,” Peacock said. “They’ve played in meaningful games and had extra playoff practices. That’s big.”
Peacock said the younger players have spent considerable time working on their game, including offseason varsity competition to prepare for this year.
“They’re competitive, they put in the time, and they have high expectations of themselves,” he said.
With only one returning senior currently on the varsity roster next year, Albany will remain a young team, but one that now carries postseason experience.
Season to
remember
Though the Lions fell short of their ultimate goal, the 2025-26 campaign will be remembered as one of the program’s most successful seasons.
An undefeated regular season, a district title run, and a playoff appearance highlighted the year for the Lions
