Injuries force girls to change game strategy

In a season derailed by injuries, the Albany Lady Lions basketball team suffered losses to Stamford and Anson last week to reach the midpoint of the District 10-2A schedule.

The Lady Lions hosted Cisco on Tuesday, Jan. 16, to begin the second half, losing 20-69. Details will be reported next week.

On Friday, Jan. 19, Albany visits Hawley.

In falling to Stamford 7318 on Tuesday, Jan. 9, and to Anson 63-23 on Friday, Jan. 12, coach Brad Stautzenberger started two sophomores and a freshman. The Albany bench consisted of all freshmen who began the season on the junior varsity.

“We’re just trying to get the younger girls some experience,” Stautzenberger said. “We’re going to keep fighting, play hard, and do the best we can to stay in our games.”

The situation has forced Stautzenbergertomakechanges to the schemes the team employs.

“Our main thing right now is we don’t have a true ballhandler,” the coach said. “We’ve beenstrugglingtryingtogetthe ball where it needs to be. “On defense, we’ve been trying different things, going with some man and some zone.”

At Stamford, the Lady Lions fell behind 24-9 in the first quarter.KianaRobersonscored seven of her team-leading eight points in the period. Madi Parrott and Zayne Lefevre each scored four points.

Against Anson, Albany trailed 16-13 after the first quarter. Roberson finished with 12 points, eight coming in the first half, with Avery Everitt adding five points.

STAMFORD 73, ALBANY 18 ALBANY – Kiana Roberson 8, Madi Parrott 4, Zayne Lefevre 4, Braylyn Abbate 2.

Albany 9 4 3 2 - 18 Stamford 24 23 16 10 - 73 ANSON 63, ALBANY 23 ALBANY – Kiana Roberson 12, Avery Everitt 5, Braylyn Abbate 2, Charlee Hefner 2, Hattie Braly 2.

Anson 16 16 23 8 - 63 Albany 3 7 8 5 - 23