Lions move into playoffs as # 2 seed

Albany to see perennial foe Windthorst at bi-district

The Albany Lions will enter the Class 2A boys basketball playoffs as the second seed out of District 10-2A afterwinningtwo games and a coin flip last week.

The Lions (143 overall, 10-2 district) defeated Anson and Cisco last week to momentarily pull into sole possession of second place in the standings behind Hawley, which already clinched the district title. Albany then won a coin flip with Cisco to decide a potential tie for the second spot.

The Lions and Bearcats closed out the regular season Tuesday, Feb. 13 atAlbany with theLionswinning59-38.Details will be reported next week.

Albany will take on Windthorst in the bi-district round on Monday, Feb. 19 in Breckenridge, with game time at 6:00 p.m. Tickets are available both at the game and online.

Lions head coach Ryder Peacock said Tuesday that there would be no playoff warmupgamebeforeMonday’s bi-district game.

OnTuesday,Feb.6,theLions pulled even with Cisco in the standings with a 67-36 win at Anson. Albany then beat the Loboes 57-51 on Friday, Feb. 9, claiming their third consecutive win on the road and fifth overall.

Peacock said one of the biggest developments of the week was players getting over the wave of sickness the Lions have been battling.

“I think we’re getting pretty healthy at the right time,” he said. “Branson Beal was the last one out, and he had a good practice Monday (Feb. 12), so I think we’re moving in the right direction.”

Against Anson, the Lions turned an eightpoint margin after the first quarter into a 16-point halftime lead. Albany had three players score in double figures. Adam Hill led the way with 16 points, followedbyWyatt Windhamwith14 and Luke Marshall with 12. Brayden Watson and Lanxton Viertel each scored eight. “ We were pretty shorthanded,” Peacock said. “Branson was still out, and Chip Chambers was just coming back. We had a pretty small rotation, but the guys did a good job. Brayden had a really goodgame,knockeddownsome 3s. That was a good confidencebuilder for him.” Peacock said avoiding turnovers was a key for the Lions.

“Anson puts a lot of pressure on you,” he said. “Our guys did a good job of not turning the ball over. We got some good looks in transition, moved the ball well to get guys on the blocks, and hit some outside shots.”

Against Cisco, Albany opened up a nine-point halftime lead with a strong second quarter, then held the Loboes at bay after they closed the gap in the third quarter.

“Our defense really stepped up and took away what they were trying to do on offense,” Peacock said. “They had to adjust what they were doing, and other guys had to step up and make shots, which some of their other guys did make some big shots to keep them in the game.”

HillandLuteWheeler each scored 15 points and Wyatt Windham added12toagaingivethe Lionsthreedouble-figure scorers.

“We were able to score off our defense,” Peacock said. “Typically, when we play good defense, offense is kind of a direct translation. The guys did a good job of using that momentumandcarrying it to the other end of the floor.”

Junior Varsity

TheAlbanyJVsplitits two games for the week, beating Anson 53-49 before falling37-28atCisco.

At Anson, the Lions overcame a 38-36 deficit entering the fourth quarter. Brody Oliver and Aaden Mendez each scored 14 points with Slade Windham scoring 12.

At Cisco, Albany held a 15-13 halftime lead before the Loboes took control in the third quarter. Huffman Heatly scored eightpointsfortheLions, with Oliver and Mendez each scoring six.

ALBANY 67, ANSON 36 ALBANY – Adam Hill 16, Wyatt Windham 16, Luke Marshall 10, Brayden Watson 8, Lanxton Viertel 8, Lute Wheeler 5, Chip Chambers 4.

Albany 16 14 16 21 - 67 Anson 8 6 12 10 - 36 ALBANY 57, CISCO 51 ALBANY – Adam Hill 15, Lute Wheeler 15, Wyatt Windham 12, Luke Marshall 8, Lanxton Viertel 4, Chip Chambers 3.

Albany 14 15 14 14 - 57 Cisco 13 7 17 14 - 51

ALBANY JV 53, ANSON 49 ALBANY– BrodyOliver14,Aaden Mendez 14, Slade Windham 12, Jaxson Street 8, Connor Smith 2, Cade Fairchild 1.

Albany JV15 12 9 17 - 53 Anson 9 17 12 11 - 49 CISCO 37, ALBANY JV 28 ALBANY – Huffman Heatly 8, Brody Oliver 6, Aaden Mendez 6, Breylon Billington 4, Wesley Gleitz 2, Jaxson Street 2.

Albany JV 5 10 7 6 - 28 Cisco 6 7 13 11 - 37