6th grade boys win tourney title
By Sam Waller
Albany’s youth basketball teams wrapped up their season Saturday, Feb. 4 at a postseason tournament in Eula. All four teams posted at least one win, with three playing for division championships.
The sixth grade boys claimed their bracket championship, while the sixth grade girls lost in the championship game.
In the fifth grade division, the Albany girls lost in the championship game with the boys eliminated in the semifinals. The boys third place game was cancelled because Eula rescheduled high school district games postponed from Tuesday, Jan. 31 for Saturday.
All teams but the fifth grade boys had byes to the semifinals.
Sixth Grade Boys
Albany defeated Eula 41-32 in the semifinals, then edged Jim Ned Red 34-32 for the title, avenging the team’s only loss of the season.
Lyle Wheeler’s basket with six seconds remaining gave Albany the lead in the final and Jim Ned’s shot at the buzzer was partially blocked. Albany overcame a slow start with 27 points in the second half.
Wheeler finished with 19 points, scoring 14 in the second half. Blake Britting added 12 points, scoring 10 after halftime. Ace Townson had two points.
In the semifinal win over Eula, Britting scored 16 points and Wheeler added 12. Levi Murphy scored seven points with Sam Tidwell getting four and Ben Russell two.
Sixth Grade Girls
Albany opened with a 15-10 win over Eula before falling 32-16 to Jim Ned in the final.
Against Eula, Keeley Britting and Hailey Gleitz each scored six points with Tinley Hefner adding two and Avery Gleitz one.
Against Jim Ned, Hailey Gleitz led Albany with eight points. Hefner added four points, and Mackenzee Roysdon and Avery Gleitz scored two apiece.
“I am very proud of how the girls have played this season,” coach Susan Britting said. “Just over the short period of time we’ve been playing, they have improved immensely. I hope they were able to learn some of the fundamentals.”
The coach said the outlook for the girls is bright as they move up to junior high competition next year.
“I hope this experience has increased their desire to continue playing basketball in junior high and high school,” she said. “I look forward to seeing what the future holds for these girls.”
Fifth Grade Boys
Albany defeated Merkel White 32-8 in the first round before falling to Jim Ned 31-6 in the semifinals.
Against Merkel, Luke Smith led Albany with nine points, and McCoy Vaughn had eight. Patton Smith added six points, with Cooper Roysdon and Tank Johnson adding four points apiece and Tusi Togia scoring one.
Against Jim Ned, Luke Smith, Togia, and Vaughn each scored two points.
Fifth Grade Girls
Albany advanced to the final by beating Merkel White 17-3 before falling to Jim Ned 43-0.
In the semifinal, Albany built a 10-3 halftime lead as five players made baskets, and they pitched a shutout in the second half.
Against Merkel, Karter Thompson led Albany with five points and Addisyn Peacock had four. Gibson Ware, Willa Early, Kimberly Howe, and Loralie Balliew scored two points apiece.
