Lions get back on track with 2 wins
The Albany Lions clinched a berth in the Class 2A boys basketball playoffs after wins against Haskell and Hamlin last week.
The Lions (10-3 overall, 6-2 District 10-2A) had a district bye on Tuesday, Jan. 30. Albany is assured of at least a third-place district finish by holding a four-game lead over Stamford and Anson, who are tied for fifth, with all having two gamesremaining.Fourth-place Haskell is three games behind Albany.
The Lions return to action Friday, Feb. 2 when Stamford visits.
“It usually takes six wins to make the playoffs, so we’re pretty much in on that,” Lions head coach Ryder Peacock said. “Those two games helped us get back after a tough week (when Albany lost to Cisco and Hawley). I thought the guys did a good job of not letting those games get in the way of our goal.”
On Tuesday, Jan. 23, the Lions ended their first losing streak of the season at two games by defeating Haskell 52-31 at home. On Friday, Jan. 26, Albany beat Hamlin 62-42 on the road.
In both wins, the Lions took the early lead and held on as opponents closed the gap in the second quarter to get within six at halftime. Both times,Albany pulled away in the second half.
“I felt like we just felt our way through both games,” Peacock said. “Against Haskell, the guys did a good job of staying patient.Theyrunadefensethat you have to play against a little while to figure out where you need to be to get the matchups and shots you want.”
Hamlinstayedclosewithhot shooting early before going cold in the third quarter.
“They were hitting shots they typically might not make, banking in 3s,” Peacock said. “The guys did a good job of just playing their game, knowing at some point those banked 3s weren’t going to go in anymore. We were getting good looks at the basket, and things started falling a little bit more for us.”
Against Haskell, Adam Hill scored 19 points and Branson Beal added 13 in an emergency start in place of Wyatt Windham.
“Branson did a really great job of stepping in and starting for us,” Peacock said. “He’s been playing well, but this gave him a little more time on the floor. He was probably the biggest difference for us in that game, knocking down three 3s and making some big steals.”
Against Hamlin, Albany finished with four players in double figures. Hill had 17 points, with Luke Marshall scoring 15, followed by Windham with 12 and Lute Wheeler with 10.
“It seemed like everybody was scoring,” Peacock said. “We were moving the ball really well, passing the ball and hitting shots. They were playing well with each other and finding theopenguy.Whenyoucan do that, it makes it tough on a defense.”
Junior Varsity
The Albany JV teams got in three games last week with the JV2 taking on Woodson.
Against Haskell, the Lions opened up an eightpoint halftime lead, then doubled the Indians’ scoring output in the second half.Aaden Mendez scored 11 points as all seven Albany players to suit up scored.
On Thursday, Jan. 25, Albany’s JV2 team lost 37-30 at Woodson. With just five players available, Albany fell behind 14-8 in the first half, but closed the gap to 23-21 in the third quarter. Breylon Billington and Bam Becker both scored 13 points.
At Hamlin. Albany trailed 19-17 after a close first half, then took control in the third quarter on the way to outscoring the Pipers 26-10 the rest of the way. Mendez had 10 points as the Lions had eight of 10 players score.
ALBANY 52, HASKELL 31 ALBANY– Adam Hill 19, Branson Beal 13, Luke Marshall 8, Chip Chambers 4, Brayden Watson 4, Cole Read 2, Lute Wheeler 2.
Haskell 5 8 10 8 - 31 Albany 12 7 20 13 - 52 ALBANY 62, HAMLIN 42 ALBANY – Adam Hill 17, Luke Marshall 15, Wyatt Windham 12, Lute Wheeler 10, Lanxton Viertel 6, Branson Beal 2.
Albany 23 7 14 18 - 62 Hamlin 13 11 4 14 - 42 ALBANY JV 35, HASKELL 16 ALBANY JV – Aaden Mendez 11, Brody Oliver 5, Huffman Heatly 5, Jaxson Street 5, Wesley Gleitz 4, Mason McCloy 3, Slade Windham 2.
Haskell 5 0 4 7 - 16 Albany JV 9 4 9 13 - 35 WOODSON 37, ALBANY JV2 30 ALBANYJV2– BreylonBillington
13, Bam Becker 13, Jerrod Moses 3, Dylan Paxton 1.
Albany JV24 4 13 9 - 30 Woodson 6 8 9 14 - 37 ALBANY JV 43, HAMLIN 29 ALBANYJV– AadenMendez10, Cade Fairchild 8, Slade Windham 8, Wesley Gleitz 6, Jaxson Street 6, Brody Oliver 2, Ethan Green 2, Breylon Billington 1.
Albany JV 7 10 10 16 - 43 Hamlin 8 11 4 6 - 29
