Girls challenge Miles for area crown
By Donnie A. Lucas
The Albany Lady Lions finished the district race in second place and now advance to the area round of the playoffs Saturday in Eastland.
Albany (20-12, 10-2) is facing Miles (22-8) for the fourth straight year in the second round after receiving a bye in the first round.
Game time at the Eastland Mavericks’ gym is set for 5:00 p.m., with the Lady Lions serving as the home team. Ticket prices will be $5 for adults and $3 for students.
The winner of the area playoff will move on to the regional quarterfinal next Tuesday, Nov. 12 against the DeLeon Lady Bearcats. Details of the game have not been finalized, but there is a good chance the game will be again played in Eastland.
DeLeon had a bye in the first two rounds of the playoffs.
The Lady Lions will be looking for their first win in the area playoff in several years.
“We have been preparing for the playoffs for the last two weeks,” head coach M.J. Vickers said. “We have a specific game plan against Miles, and the girls are excited to play them.”
The coach said that the Lady Bulldogs are a good team but are beatable.
“The girls have had a goal all season to make it to the regional tournament,” Reneau said. “We are really focused right now and have a lot of confidence in our game plan against Miles.”
Albany has been paired in the area round of the playoffs with Miles the last four seasons without a win.
“Miles’ defense is strong, but we have been scrimmaging ourselves using their defensive scheme to prepare,” the coach said. “I really feel the girls are prepared and are excited.”
The Lady Lions traveled to Loraine on Tuesday for a practice game against Klon-dike, picking up a 25-18, 25-13, 25-17 win.
Albany closed out the regular season on Oct. 29 at home with a 25-18, 25-13, 25-17 win over Ranger.
“The girls looked like they really had a lot of fun during the Ranger game,” Reneau said. “The girls were already setting goals for the playoffs after that game.”
The senior players on the team were honored prior to the game by being presented to the crowd along with their parents.
albany VS. RANGER
PLAYER Serves Kills Digs Blks Asst
T Fuentes 13 0 7 0 0
B Belcher 11 0 5 0 0
A Hill 4 8 6 3 0
A Garcia 0 3 0 0 1
C Holson 8 2 1 0 19
H Trail 0 3 0 0 0
C Nelson 2 0 0 0 0
A Denton 10 3 2 1 2
T Scott 15 6 2 0 2
T Thompson 1 2 0 0 0
C Edgar 0 1 0 0 0
