By Sam Waller

The Albany Junior High Cubs and Lady Cubs opened their track and field seasons Monday, Feb. 28, with a meet at Anson.

In the girls competition, Albany athletes had 11 first places – nine in seventh grade events and two in eighth grade.

“The girls did very well,” coach Missy Dutchover said. “It was a ribbon meet, so they received ribbons for whatever place they finished in their heats.”

In the boys competition, Albany won three events in the eighth grade division and two in the seventh grade division.

By Sam Waller

The Albany Lions have finalized their football schedules for the 2022 and 2023 football seasons.

Albany will kick off the 2022 season at 6:00 p.m. Friday, Aug. 26 at home against Lubbock Trinity Christian.

All other games will start at 7:00 p.m.

“Homecoming is not set yet,” head coach Denney Faith said.

Preseason scrimmages will be played against Coleman on Aug. 12 and Early on Aug. 18.

By Sam Waller

The Albany Lady ­Lions resumed play this week after sacrificing last weekend’s tournament at Stephenville to weather.

On Tuesday, March 1 the Lady Lions lost a closely-played game to 4A Stephenville, 5-2, hosting at Webb Park.

Albany is playing in the Clifton tournament this weekend. On Thursday, March 3 (today), Albany plays Maypearl at noon and Gatesville at 1:30 p.m. Games on Friday, March 4 are Clifton at 9:00 a.m. and Glen Rose at 10:30 a.m. The Saturday, March 5 games are McGregor at 9:00 a.m. and Comanche at 10:30 a.m.

By Sam Waller

The Albany Lions saw their run in the Class 2A boys basketball playoffs come to an end Friday, Feb. 25 with a 60-64 loss to the Italy Gladiators in an area-round game at Weatherford High School.

By Sam Waller

The Moran Bulldogs wrapped up their boys basketball season Tuesday, Feb. 15 with a 74-46 loss at Baird.

The Bulldogs finished the season 2-16 overall, 1-9 in District 13-1A.

Baird opened up a 24-11 lead in the first quarter and increased the margin to 42-16 at halftime. The Bears outscored the Bulldogs 32-20 in the second half.

Arren Hawley, Moran’s lone senior, led the Bulldogs with 19 points. Caleb York scored eight points and Ellis Hise added seven, while Connor Hail scored two.

Spring Sports

By Sam Waller

The Albany Little Dribblers program continued its season Saturday, Feb. 19, with 10 games at the Albany Junior/Senior high gyms.

The league will play its third week of games starting at 9:00 a.m. Saturday, Feb. 26. The schedule for Week 3 is as follows:

Boys – Gray vs. Black, 9:00 a.m.; Black vs. Red, 10:00 a.m.; Red. vs. Blue, 11:00 a.m.; Gray vs. Blue, noon.

Girls – Pink vs. Red, 9:00 a.m.; Turquoise vs. Green, 10:00 a.m.; Purple vs. Red, 11:00 a.m.; Green vs. Grey, noon; Pink vs. Turquoise, 1:00 p.m.; Purple vs. Grey, 2:00 p.m.

By Sam Waller

The Albany Lions tennis team battled both the elements and opponents Thursday, Feb. 17 at the Hawley Invitational, but won three draws.

Players had to contend with cold conditions at Abilene’s Rose Park Tennis Center.

“There was more confidence on the court,” coach M.J. Reneau said of the Lions’ second tournament outing. “It’s hard to compare because of the weather conditions. That apparently didn’t slow them down, because they got out there and got after it.”

By Sam Waller

The Albany Lions started their baseball season with a scrimmage on Friday, Feb. 18 and a JV game on Monday, Feb. 21.

This weekend’s Albany JV tournament, however, fell victim to winter weather, with coach David Fairchild making the decision Wednesday morning to cancel the event.

“We had an opportunity to get three more games this weekend, and that’s what we wanted to do, play baseball games,” he said. “It’s just unfortunate we can’t get that time on the field.”

By Sam Waller

The Albany Lady Lions went 2-4-1 in their first week of the softball season, opening with an 8-5 victory over the Abilene Cooper JV before spending the weekend at the Eastland tournament.

At Eastland, the Lady Lions lost 14-1 to Clyde before beating Merkel 7-2 on Friday, Feb. 18. On Saturday, Feb. 19, Albany lost 8-6 to Wall, tied Coleman 6-6, and lost 8-7 to Jim Ned.

On Monday, Feb. 21, Albany lost 15-0 at Breckenridge.

By Sam Waller

The Albany Lions boys basketball team opened the playoffs Tuesday, Feb. 22, with a 52-45 bi-district win against Petrolia at Graham, moving them on to the area round.

The Lions will play the Italy Gladiators (21-4) Friday, Feb. 25 at 6:30 p.m. in the Weatherford High School gym, with Albany fans on the home side. Details were still being worked out on Wednesday morning at press time, but tickets are expected to be available online only at weatherfordisd.com, and passes will be accepted.