Albany ends season at area game

By Donnie A. Lucas

The Lion basketball team won the bi-district title in a 57-55 barn-burner with a two-point buzzer shot against Petrolia last Saturday in Bryson.

Albany advanced to the area round against Lipan on Tuesday in Eastland, losing 75-46 in a season-ending defeat to finish the year with a 11-7 record.

Details of the loss to the state-ranked Indians will be reported next week.

The Lions  overcame a 16-point deficit in the fourth quarter, capped by the buzzer basket by Barrett Beal to win the game and keep the contest out of overtime.

“It was an exciting game to be a part of,” head coach Ryder Peacock said. “I was worried about our 11-day layoff due to weather and the bye at the end of our regular season.”

The Lions actually were ahead 15-10 at the end of the first frame, but trailed by three points at the half.  The third period was disastrous with the Lions scoring only one point to Petrolia’s 12.

But the comeback was in the making with a 31-15 fourth quarter for Albany.

“We didn’t shoot the ball very well until the fourth quarter,” the coach said. “We finally got some confidence, sped the game up, and put up a huge final quarter to cap the game. Barrett got the big shot with the clock winding down to give us the win.”

The coach said he was pleased with the resiliency shown by the Lions.

“We were in foul trouble early in the third, but the guys on the bench did a good job of stepping up and filling in, he said. “Everett (McWhorter) played one of his best games of the season off the bench and made some clutch plays down the stretch.”

The coach named Barrett Beal, Adam Hill, London Fuentes, and Coy Lefevre as offensive standouts.

Albany 15 10 1 31 - 57

Petrolia 10 18 12 15 - 55

Scoring for the Lions were Barrett Beal 13, London Fuentes 12, Coy Lefevre 9, Cole Chapman 5, Everett McWhorter 6, and Adam Hill 11.