Boys win first 3 district outings
The Albany Lions got 2024 off to a good start with wins over Hamlin and Coleman.
The Lions (6-1 overall, 2-0 District10-2A)resumeddistrict play Tuesday, Jan. 9 with a 7341 win at Stamford. Details will be reported next week.
Albany hosts Anson at 7:30 p.m. Friday, Jan. 12 in its next home game.
Lion coach Ryder Peacock said the team was able to start getting into its routine for the first time after playing just one game before the holiday break.
“We were able to get those reps in and get the timing back, the rhythm back,” he said. “The tournament over the break really helped prepare us for last week instead of just walking in with cold feet after sitting for over two weeks. Being able to fill our open date in district with a game was important because we haven’t played a Tuesday-Friday schedule at all.”
Peacock said with the Lions facing six consecutive games on thatscheduleuntilthenextopen dateonJan.30,playerscannow get into more of a routine.
“The goal is to stay in that tempo,”hesaid.“Wecangetinto a rhythm of what it’s going to be like in district.As we start playing these district games, it’s all meaningful from here on out.”
On Tuesday, Jan. 2, Albany defeated Hamlin 50-21. The Lions outscored the Pied Pipers in every quarter, starting with a 12-6 edge in the first.
Wyatt Windham scored 15 pointstoleadAlbany,andAdam Hill added 10.
Peacock said taking a 17-point halftime lead allowed Albany the luxury of working on specific areas under game conditions.
“It was good to throw some different things out there,” he said. “We still hadn’t had much time on the floor together at that point in terms of X’s and O’s. We threw some things out therethatweneededtoworkon and were able to look at some things we need to get better at.”
On Friday, Jan. 5, the Lions visited Coleman for a nondistrict game, coming away with a 47-23 victory.
“It was nice to be able to fill that open date with Coleman,” Peacock said. “They do a good job over there, have a good basketball team, so we were able to play a competitive game.”
Albany again outscored the opposition in every quarter, allowing no more than eight points in a period.
Hill and Lanxton Viertel each scored 10 points with Windham and Lute Wheeler contributing eight points apiece.
“We were still trying to get into a groove and work on some offense,” Peacock said. “We still feel like we’re pretty early in the season right now.” Junior Varsity
The Lions JV completed a 2-0 week by beating Coleman 36-26.
Albany led 15-13 at halftime before pulling away in the third quarter.
Jaxson Street led the Lions with 15 points with Huffman Heatly adding 11.
ALBANY 50, HAMLIN 21 ALBANY – Wyatt Windham 15, Adam Hill 10, Lute Wheeler 8, Lanxton Viertel 7, Chip Chambers 6, Luke Marshall 2, Brayden Watson 2.
Hamlin 5 3 6 7 - 21 Albany 12 14 10 14 - 50 ALBANY 47, COLEMAN 23 ALBANY – Adam Hill 10, Lanxton Viertel 10, Wyatt Windham 8, Lute Wheeler 8, Chip Chambers 4, Luke Marshall 4, Cole Read 3.
Albany 14 10 8 15 - 47 Coleman 8 5 6 4 - 23 ALBANY JV 36, COLEMAN 26 ALBANY JV – Jaxson Street 15, Huffman Heatly 11, Cade Fairchild 5,, Brody Oliver, Zane Green 2, Slade Windham 1.
Albany 8 7 11 10 - 36 Coleman 3 10 6 7 - 26
