By Donnie A. Lucas The future of competitive sports in Albany was reshuffled somewhat this week when the University Interscholastic League conducted the bi-annual realignment of schools, which forms districts for various sports and academic competition for the next two school years.

By Donnie A. Lucas Workouts for both baseball and softball have started at the high school, with the softball team to open the season on Feb. 18. The baseball team isn’t on the schedule to play its season opener until Feb. 27 during the local tournament.

By Donnie A. Lucas The Albany Cubs closed out the basketball season at home Monday, winning two out of the three games against Roscoe. The eighth grade Cubs ended a perfect 16-0 season, according to coach David Fairchild, with their 46-13 win over the Plowboys.

By Donnie A. Lucas Albany High School junior Wesley Estridge placed second at a recent powerlifting meet in Coa-homa, recording a three-lift total of 1,405 pounds.

By Melinda L. Lucas Tyler Beard, who played both ways as a lineman for the Albany Lions, was one of only a few Big Country football players named to Even Ren’s 2019 “True Grit” Team on the Big Country Preps online sports site recently.

By Kathy Thomson Moran’s basketball season is winding down, and although they have lost most of their district games, all Moran coaches report that their players are improving, learning, playing better, and coming together as a team, even if the scores don’t reflect it.

By Donnie A. Lucas The eighth grade Lady Cubs won the last game of the season on Monday, squeaking by Roscoe 14-13, while the seventh grade lost in Roscoe, and the combined B team tied. The eighth grade finished the season with a 9-7 record, including 6-4 in district.

By Donnie A. Lucas The Lady Lion basketball team finished the first round of district play with a 3-2 record, splitting games last week with Hawley and Haskell. Albany started the second half of district on Tuesday, hosting the Cross Plains Lady Buffaloes.

By Donnie A. Lucas The Lion basketball team played a pair of close games last week but were still searching for their first district win after losses to Hawley and Haskell.

By Donnie A. Lucas Albany players were awarded several spots on the All-Big Country Class 2A football team and one selection for the All-Big Country Super Team. Senior Tyler Beard was Albany’s lone pick for the Super Team, which includes all classifications from 1A through 6A.