Girls to play in Eula tourney

By Sam Waller

The slow starts that have beleaguered the Albany girls basketball team basketball team continued as the Lady Lions dropped their District 10-2A opener on Tuesday, Dec. 14, 89-21 at Haskell.

The Lady Lions made their second district outing Tuesday with a home game against Hawley, recording a loss. Details will be reported in the Jan. 6 issue of the News.

During the Christmas break, Albany will play in the Eula tournament Monday-Wednesday, Dec. 27-29. The Lady Lions will resume district play Jan. 4 at Hamlin.

“Typically, my main focus early in the season is getting back in game shape,” coach Tate Thompson said of his approach to the tournament. “Our main emphasis is still running up and down the floor and getting our legs back under us before we start back with district games after the holidays.”

Thompson said the team has made progress during the early portion of the season, which got off to a late start because of Albany’s run in the volleyball playoffs.

“My biggest deal with these girls is talking about accountability, and even though a lot of them are young, they’re getting better about that, ” he said. “Our deal moving forward is to stop making excuses, and let’s just get it done. I’d like to see them keep maturing in that aspect.”

The Lady Lions (2-9 overall, 0-1 district) trailed 32-2 in the first quarter against Haskell’s Maidens, who hit five of their 13 three-pointers in the period. The Haskell girls pushed the lead to 60-11 at halftime and 77-13 in the third quarter, finishing with four players in double figures.

Lizzie Chavez scored 13 points to lead Albany, making the Lady Lions’ only free throw attempt to convert a three point play. Haskell finished 15 of 21 at the line.

Kiana Roberson scored four points for the Lady Lions, with Ashlyn Holson and Briley Tabor each scoring two.