Girls post 5-1 record for strong start

By Donnie A. Lucas

The Lady Lion basketball team split games last week, suffering the first loss of the season against Ballinger but rebounding for a victory over Hamlin.

Albany traveled to Munday on Dec. 3, picking up an easy 55-25 win to improve to 5-1 for the season. Details for the game will be reported next week.

The Lady Lions will play in the Winters Invitational Tournament starting Thursday (today) and continuing through Saturday. Albany will play at 9:40 a.m. Thursday against Colorado City, followed by a second pool game against Eula at 3:00 p.m. The local team will return on Friday to face Sonora at 7:00 p.m., finishing pool play on Saturday at 9:40 a.m. against Abilene Christian. Bracket play will follow throughout the day on Saturday.

The Lady Lions will be open next Tuesday, but then they will play in a two-day tournament in Breckenridge on Friday and Saturday, Dec. 13-14.

The JV team will still be idle this week and next week due to injuries, according to their coach.

The varsity girls hosted Ballinger on Nov. 25, giving up the first loss of the season, 32-27.

“That was definitely not a good showing for us,” coach Tate Thompson said. “We struggled to score, and we were very flat with our effort as well.”

Jaleigh Morales was named offensive standout, while Alli Hill was picked for defense.

Scoring for Albany were Torie Fuentes 3, Brylee Moore 2, Alli Hill 4, Traci Isbell 3, Carley Green 2, Sarah Cotter 2, and Jaleigh Morales 11.

Albany 6 4 10 4 - 27

Ballinger 9 8 7 8 - 32

The Lady Lions also hosted Hamlin on Nov. 26, posting a 51-35 win.

“I am very proud of the way the girls responded after Monday’s game,” the coach said. “They came out and fixed their mistakes, and had that fire in them again.”

Cotter was named the offensive standout, along with Fuentes on the defensive side.

Scoring were Fuentes 10, Cydney Nelson 2, Hill 6, Isbell 3, Green 2, Morales 15, and Cotter 13.

Albany 17 15 8 11 - 51

Hamlin 5 10 12 8 - 35