Albany girls to host Early next Tuesday

By Donnie A. Lucas

Both the Lion and Lady Lion varsity teams came up short last week, but both JV squads brought home victories.

All four teams were in action Tuesday, Dec. 22 in Hawley, which was the second district game for the girls and the district opener for the boys.

Results were not available due to an early deadline but will be reported in the next issue of the News on Jan. 7.

The varsity and JV girls will host Early on Tuesday. Dec. 29 starting at 2:00 p.m. with the JV girls, followed by the varsity girls at about 3:15 p.m.

Tickets are available online for the varsity games, while admission to the JV games will be available at the door.

All four high school teams will return to district action on Saturday, Jan. 2, hosting Hamlin starting at 2:00 p.m. with the varsity girls in the main gym and the JV boys in the practice gym. The varsity boys and JV girls will take the floor at 3:30 p.m., using both gyms.

The Lady Lions opened District 10-2A against Haskell on Dec. 15, losing to the Maidens 62-28.

“Hawley has a very talented team,” coach Tate Thompson said. “We came out and stuck to the game plan, but they just have so many weapons.”

Cydney Nelson was named defensive standout, while Brylee Moore was picked for offense.

The loss dropped the varsity to 4-5 for the season and 0-1 in district.

Albany 13 6 3 6 - 28

Haskell 18 17 13 14 - 62

Scoring for Albany were Torie Fuentes 2, Brylee Moore 10, Cydney Nelson 6, Alli Hill 3, Briley Tabor 2, Traci Isbell 4, and Elia Hebel 5.

The JV girls hosted Munday on Dec. 15, picking up a 43-9 win to improve to 5-1 for the season.

“It was a great win for the JV,” coach Jamie Wilson said. “They played really great defense getting a lot of steals which led to points. They are improving every game.”

Kiana Roberson was the leading scorer with 18 points, along with Maci Hatchett 2, Robin Lucas 7, Ashlyn Hoslon 6, Callan Edgar 2, and Avery Kleiner 8.

Boys Results

The varsity dropped both games last week starting with a 60-48 loss in Coleman on Dec. 15.

“We played well for three of the four quarters, but came out flat in the third and let the game get away from us,” head boys coach Ryder Peacock said. “Offensively, Cole Chapman had a career high night scoring 27 points. He was finishing well around the basket.”

Chapman and Barrett Beal were named offensive standouts.

“Unfortunately, we didn’t shoot the ball well at all from the outside and it caught up to us on the scoreboard,” said the coach.

Peacock added that the defense is improving.

“We were a step late at times on some rotations, but just playing our third game of the year, that can be expected,” Peacock said.

Albany 6 15 13 14 - 48

Coleman 10 18 25 7 - 60

Scoring for the Lions were Barrett Beal 11, London Fuentes 4, Cade Neve 2, Cole Chapman 27, Everett McWhorter 2, Caden Price 1, and Brooks Neece 1.

The varsity returned home to host the Abilene Hawks on Friday, Dec. 18. Despite a hefty lead at the half, the Lions dropped the bout 49-47.

“Once again, the third quarter put us in a bad spot,” Peacock said. “We came out in the first half and played really well. Our offense was clicking, and we played solid defense.”

However, a 21-3 loss in the third period was too much to overcome in the fourth.

“Cole continued to play well around the basket, and he got to the foul line in the fourth to get us some offensive help,” the coach said. “We did some good things on defense, but we have to continue to create offense with our defense.”

Albany 16 14 3 14 - 47

Hawks 6 10 21 12 - 49

Scoring for the Lions were Beal 9, Fuentes 5, Coy Lefevre 4, Neve 5, Chapman 20, Adam Hill 3, Luke Ivy 1, and Neece 1.

The JV Lions also traveled to Coleman on Dec. 15, bringing home a 45-21 win.

“This was a pretty solid game overall,” coach Rod Britting said. “We did a much better job on defense, but we still have things we have to improve. The effort is good.”

The coach named Adam Hill and Lanxton Viertel as offensive standouts, and Keatin Russell and Bryson Herring as defensive standouts.

Scoring for the Lions were Houston Heatly 5, Keatin Russell 4, Andrew Leverton 2, Bryson Herring 3, Lanxton Viertel 10, and Adam Hill 21.