Games to start this Saturday
By Sam Waller
Albany Youth Basketball fifth and sixth grade teams tip off their 2023 season Saturday, Jan. 7, with games at Hawley and Jim Ned.
Organizer Lauren Peacock said more than 40 players have signed up for the program this year.
“We have 10 to 11 kids on each team,” she said. “There was a great turnout. Lots of kids are ready to play their games and get on the court.”
Albany will have fifth and sixth grade teams for boys and girls competing against teams from Eula, Hawley, Jim Ned, and Merkel. Tony Wheeler will coach sixth grade boys with Morgan Smith coaching fifth grade boys. The sixth grade girls will be coached by Susan Britting and Stephanie Gleitz. Tate Thompson and Peacock will coach the fifth grade girls.
The teams will play each Saturday in January except for Jan. 21, when the fifth grade girls will be off. A postseason tournament is scheduled for the first weekend of February.
Peacock said the goal of the program is to help the players develop basic skills before they reach junior high.
“We’ve been working on the basics – shooting, rebounding, dribbling fundamentals,” she said. “We’ve even talked about the lines on the court. It’s about getting the kids acclimated to the sport and getting them some knowledge about the game.”
YOUTH BASKETBALL
SCHEDULE
BOYS
Saturday, Jan. 7
At Jim Ned
Sixth Grade – Albany vs. Merkel. 9:00 a.m.; Albany vs. Hawley, 1:00 p.m.
Fifth Grade – Albany vs. Merkel Purple, 10:00 a.m.; Albany vs. Hawley, 1:00 p.m.
Saturday, Jan. 14
At Merkel
Sixth Grade – Albany vs. Eula, 10:00 a.m.; Albany vs. Jim Ned Blue, noon
Fifth Grade – Albany vs. Eula, 10:00 a.m.; Albany vs. Merkel White, noon
Saturday, Jan. 21
At Hawley
Sixth Grade – Albany vs. Jim Ned Red, 9:00 a.m.; Albany vs. Merkel, 10:00 a.m.
Fifth Grade – Albany vs. Merkel Purple, 9:00 a.m.; Albany vs. Jim Ned, 11:00 a.m.
Saturday, Jan. 28
At Hawley
Sixth Grade – Albany vs. Hawley, 10:00 a.m.; Albany vs. Jim Ned Blue, noon
Fifth Grade – Albany vs. Hawley, 10:00 a.m.; Albany vs. Merkel White, 1:00 p.m.
GIRLS
Saturday, Jan. 7
At Hawley
Sixth Grade – Albany vs. Hawley White, 10:00 a.m.; Albany vs. Jim Ned, noon
Fifth Grade – Albany vs. Eula White, 9:00 a.m.; Albany vs. Jim Ned Red, 1:00 p.m.
Saturday, Jan. 14
At Jim Ned
Sixth Grade – Albany vs. Eula, 9:00 a.m.; Albany vs. Hawley Maroon, 1:00 p.m.
Fifth Grade – Albany vs. Merkel Purple, noon; Albany vs. Merkel White. 1:00 p.m.
Saturday, Jan. 21
At Eula
Sixth Grade – Albany vs. Merkel, 9:00 a.m.; Albany vs. Hawley White, 10:00 a.m.
Fifth Grade – Albany, open
Saturday, Jan. 28
At Merkel
Sixth Grade – Albany vs. Eula, 10:00 a.m.; Albany vs. Hawley Maroon, 1:00 p.m.
Fifth Grade – Albany vs. Eula White, 10:00 a.m.; Albany vs. Jim Ned Red, 1:00 p.m.
