Lions fare well at tourney, win 3 of 4
The varsity Lion basketball team won three out of four rounds at the Windthorst tournament last week as they prepare for the opening of the district race.
Although they started the season late due to football playoffs, coach Ryder Peacock said that team members brought back several positives from the two-day tourney in Windthorst.
“We were able to rotate a lot of guys in during tight games to see how they would respond,” Peacock said. “It is still very early in the season for us, and we found ways to win while our perimeter game develops.
Seniors Cameron Dacus and Ryan Hill both were picked for all-tournament honors.
The Lions will be on the road Friday, Jan. 4 for a pair of games in Graford. Game time is set at 5:00 p.m. for the JV, followed by a 6:30 p.m. tip-off for the varsity.
The Lions will host Archer City on Tuesday, Jan. 8 also starting at 5:00 p.m. with the JV.
The District 8-2A race will open on Friday, Jan. 11 against the visiting Roscoe Plowboys.
With only one game behind them just before the Christmas break, the varsity took on Class 4A Vernon in the first round on Dec. 28, coming out on top 55-50.
“We got off to a great start,” Peacock said. “We moved the ball well and got some great looks in transition. Several different guys contributed on the board, which was good to see as we move towards district.”
Albany 20 11 10 14 - 55
Vernon 14 17 6 13 - 50
Scoring for Albany were Ryan Hill 23, Cameron Dacus 4, Cutter Cowart 10, Blaine Kayga 4, Josh Dyer 6, Ben West 2, Derek Isbell 4, and Coby Knight 2.
The Lions also won the second round game against 3A Wichita Falls City View, 56-50.
“This was a good test because they pressed and ran the ball all four quarters against us,” the coach said. “It was a back and forth game, but we had a good run in the fourth quarter to hold them off.”
The coach said the key to the win was the depth of the team since “we were up and down the floor a lot. The guys stepped up and contributed to the win.”
Albany 16 11 15 14 - 56
City View 16 7 14 13 - 50
Scoring for the Lions were Dacus 20, Dyer 12, West 4, Hill 14, Isbell 2, and Knight 4.
The Lions opened strong in their 45-36 win over 4A Iowa Park.
“We had a solid first half but never could get going in the second half or the rest of the day,” Peacock said. “I think our legs were still recovering from the first day and our shots were off. We also saw a different defense that took time to adjust to.”
Scoring were Dacus 4, Cowart 2, Dyer 7, Kade Everitt 2, West 5, Hill 22, Isbell 2, and Knight 1.
Scoring by quarters was not available for the game.
Albany’s lone loss in the tournament came in game four to Slidell, 56-35. The 1A powerhouse took a double digit lead in the first half that the Lions couldn’t overcome.
“Slidell was the best team we saw,” Peacock said. “Unfortunately, we didn’t run into them until the end of the tournament when we were tired. Shots we made earlier in the tournament wouldn’t fall for us in this game.”
Albany 10 12 7 6 - 35
Slidell 18 16 9 11 - 56
Scoring were Dacus 12, Cowart 9, Dyer 3, West 3, Hill 5, and Isbell 3.
