Close Contests
By Donnie A. Lucas
The Lion basketball team played a pair of close games last week but were still searching for their first district win after losses to Hawley and Haskell.
The Lions hosted Cross Plains on Tuesday, finding their first district victory, 38-37, improving to 6-12 overall, including a 1-3 district record.
Albany will play in Stamford Friday, with the JV taking the court at 5:00 p.m., and the varsity tipping off at about 7:45 p.m.
The Lions will be back at home on Tuesday, Feb. 4 hosting Roscoe to open the second half of District 8-2A action.
The varsity lost to Hawley on Jan. 21 in Hawley, 54-48.
“I thought we did a good job on offense of getting the shots we wanted,” head boys coach Ryder Peacock said. “We felt very good about the shots we took, but we just couldn’t get anything to fall for us early on.”
The coach said that the -Lions have to improve at the free throw line. They completed only 11 of 27 in the game.
“Overall, we played with a sense of urgency and put ourselves in the position to win the game despite a tough environment,” he said.
Peacock named Ben West, B.J. Morris and Blaine Kayga as offensive standouts.
Albany 9 7 12 20 - 48
Hawley 16 12 5 21 - 54
Scoring for the Lions were Cole Chapman 7, Morris 11, Cade Neve 2, West 14, Kayga 11, and Ryder Wilkins 3.
The varsity played a much closer game against Haskell last Friday, losing in overtime 55-53.
“Offensively, we got a lot of good looks and again did a great job of getting to the free throw line,” Peacock said. “Unfortunately, we missed 17 free throws, with eight of those in the third quarter which prevented us from stretching our lead.”
The coach said that he was pleased with the way the team continued to battle in the game, tying the game up after being down in the fourth.
West, Morris, and Kayga were again named offensive standouts.
Albany 5 13 20 9 6 - 53
Haskell 10 16 4 17 8 - 55
Scoring were Chapman 2, Morris 12, Neve 7, West 19, Kayga 12, and Wilkins 1.
JV Results
The JV Lions won both games last week, improving to 3-0 in district and 11-6 overall.
The JV beat Hawley 53-44 on Jan. 21 in Hawley.
“We played well, getting on them early and then leading by as much as 24 points,” coach Rod Britting said. “Hawley scored late in the game after we pulled off the pressure.”
London Fuentes and Brooks Neece were named as offensive standouts, with Barrett Beal, Neece, and Luke Ivy picked for defense.
Albany 16 16 12 9 - 53
Hawley 10 8 8 17 - 44
Scoring were Neece 10, Keatin Russell 2, Fuentes 17, Beal 8, Ivy 6, Brodey Jones 1, Coy Lefevre 8.
The JV also handed the visiting Haskell JV a 38-31 loss last Friday.
“We struggled a little shooting the ball,” Britting said. “Had we made our open shots, it could have been a blowout.”
Neece, Beal and Jones were picked for offensive standouts, with Beal and Neece tapped for defense.
Albany 10 10 3 15 - 38
Haskell 7 3 12 9 - 31
Scoring were Neece 11, Fuentes 1, Beal 10, Ivy 2, Jones 9, and Lefevre 5.
JV II Drops Games
The JV II boys lost in Hawley last week, 46-19.
Scoring were Andrew Leverton 7, Tyler Waddell 3, Jayden Lucas 1, Chris Hensley 2, and Rylan Roberson 6.
The JV II also fell to Haskell last Friday, 38-13.
Scoring were Leverton 2, Waddell 2, and Roberson 9.
