JV boys win local tournament
By Sam Waller
The Albany Lions junior varsity basketball team swept its four games over the weekend at the Albany JV Tournament, while the freshman team went 2-2 in its first action of the season.
The JV team beat Munday 57-29 and Breckenridge 30-22 on Thursday, then topped Graham 53-46 and Anson 47-20 on Saturday.
The freshman team downed Woodson 37-20 and Breckenridge 32-30 on Thursday, but had a tougher time Saturday, losing 31-26 to Graham and 48-21 to Cross Plains.
“I thought the guys got a lot of good playing time,” coach Ryder Peacock said. “We challenged our JV team with some really tough games. Everybody we played against has been out of football a little while and practicing.”
Peacock said defensive pressure was key for the Albany teams.
“Our guys did a good job of creating offense off of defense,” he said. “That was probably the biggest thing we came away with this weekend. We really focused a lot on our defense.”
All boys’ games this week have been cancelled because of Albany’s continued involvement in the football playoffs. The Lions’ next scheduled games are Tuesday, Dec. 14, at home against Coleman.
Tourney Details
Every Albany player scored as the Lions rolled past Munday.
Lute Wheeler led the Lions with 15 points, while Luke Marshall added 14. Bryson Herring scored eight points, with Cason Fairchild and Cole Read adding five each. Brayden Watson chipped in four points, and Houston Heatly, Andrew Leverton and Branson Beal got two apiece.
Albany jumped out to an 18-6 lead in the first quarter as Marshall poured in 10 points. Wheeler heated up with 10 points in the second, and the Lions led 30-7 at halftime.
Against Breckenridge, Albany overcame a 10-7 deficit in the first quarter to lead 16-14 at halftime. The Lions put the game away with a 7-2 edge in the fourth quarter.
Herring scored a team-high seven points, followed by Marshall with six and Watson and Beal with five each. Wheeler and Leverton both scored three points, and Heatly had one.
On Saturday, the Lions trailed Graham 12-4 after the first quarter, but rallied to within 22-21 at halftime and went in front with a 19-12 edge in the third.
Herring led the scoring with 16 points, making 10 of 12 free throws, while Beal added 12 points. Wheeler finished with nine points, followed by Marshall with six and Watson with four. Fairchild, Heatly and Read each scored two.
Against Anson, Herring cut loose with 21 points and Wheeler hit for 14. Watson and Leverton each scored four points, while Marshall and Beal scored two apiece.
Freshman Games
Against Woodson, the Albany freshmen led 13-3 after one quarter and 21-8 at halftime. The Lions then outscored the Cowboys 11-1 in the third.
Bam Becker led the Lions with 18 points. Ty Richards scored six points with Ashton Bailey adding five and J.J. Clark four. Brody Brown and Ethan Green each had two points.
Against Breckenridge, the Lions led 20-11 at halftime, then held on as the Buckaroos came back over the final two periods.
Bailey led Albany with 14 points. Clark scored nine points, and Jake Hale added eight, while Green had one.
Fatigue was an issue Saturday against Graham. Albany saw an 11-2 first-quarter lead shrink to 19-16 at halftime, then the Steers outscored the Lions 15-7 in the second half.
Bailey again scored 14 points to lead Albany. Brown had five points, with Green scoring four and Clark three.
Against Cross Plains, the Lions again faded after a good start. Albany trailed 11-10 after the first quarter, then the Buffaloes pulled out to a 22-12 halftime lead.
Bailey was the leading scorer with eight points, followed by Becker with five and Clark with four. Brown and Hale each scored two points.
