By Donnie A. Lucas

The Lion basketball team has been working toward the district opener on Friday in Roscoe, splitting games last week and traveling on Tuesday to Archer City for the final tune-up game.

The JV boys will start the action in Roscoe on Friday at 5:00 p.m., with the varsity boys taking the court about 7:45 p.m.

The District 8-2A race will continue next Tuesday, Jan. 21 in Hawley with the same start times.

The Lions fell to Archer City on Tuesday 36-48, taking a 5-9  record into league play. Details will be reported next week.

By Donnie A. Lucas

The Lady Lion basketball team opened district with a win in a tight game played in Cross Plains last week, beating the Lady Buffaloes 51-46.

Albany hosted Stamford in the second district match-up on Tuesday, dropping the bout in another close game, 40-43, to go 1-1 in the race for the title.

The JV girls also opened district in Cross Plains, making their first court appearance since November due to injuries. Able to put exactly five girls on the floor, the JV lost 27-18.

By Donnie A. Lucas

The Cubs won district basketball games during the last week, while the girls teams had a harder time looking for a win.

Both the seventh and eighth grade boys will play at the Olney tournament on Saturday, while the eighth grade girls are playing in a two-day tourney in Throckmorton starting Thursday (today).

The Cubs and Lady Cubs will be in action again on Monday, Jan. 20 against Stamford starting at 5:30 p.m. The girls will be playing at home, while the boys will be on the road in Stamford.

By Kathy Thomson

The fifth and sixth grade youth basketball players opened the 2020 season last Saturday, with three of the local teams playing at home and one team on the road.

5th Grade Boys

The fifth grade boys were on the road in Hawley, where they played Eula White at 12:00 noon and Jim Ned at 1:00 p.m.

“We won our first game 31-30,” said coach Morgan Smith. “The boys played great, working together as a team even though it was our first game of the season. They pulled out a tight win.”

By Kathy Thomson

Moran sophomore Arren Hawley was recently named Honorable Mention on the All-State Football Team by the Texas Six-Man Coaches Association.

Hawley was selected as punter.

“I am extremely proud of Arren for getting this honor,” said Bulldog athletic director and head football coach John Hughes. “Not many kids get this, and the majority of those who are named to the All-State team come from big name schools.”

Hawley was also chosen as a member of the First Team Six-Man Division II All-Region Team.

By Kathy Thomson

The Moran Bulldogs will start district play in Baird this Friday, Jan. 17, following a long Christmas break after a Dec. 20 loss to Throckmorton. 

The varsity girls started their district games last Friday, Jan. 10, falling to Gordon 28-35, and taking on Ranger Tuesday, Jan. 14. 

The Lady Bulldogs will join the boys for games in Baird on Jan. 17 starting at 6:00 p.m. Moran will host Eula starting at 6:00 p.m. on Tuesday, Jan. 21.

Throckmorton Game

By Donnie A. Lucas

The varsity Lion basketball team went 2-2 at the local tournament held last week and also hosted a game Tuesday against the Abilene Hawks.

The Lions picked up a very close 37-36 win over the Hawks at home. Details of the game will be reported next week.

Albany will also host JV and varsity games on Friday against Graford starting at 5:00 p.m. with the JV. The varsity will follow at 6:30 p.m.

By Donnie A. Lucas

The Lady Lions split their final two district warm-up games last week in preparation to opening the District 8-2A race in Cross Plains on Friday.

The Lady Lions are set to travel to Cross Plains tomorrow for both JV and varsity games starting at 5:00 p.m.

Girls head coach Tate Thompson said that this is the first JV game to be scheduled in over a month due to injuries.

The varsity game will follow the JV district opener at 6:30 p.m.

By Melinda L. Lucas

The youth fifth and sixth grade basketball teams will play their first games of the season on Saturday, Jan. 11, with three of the four Albany teams competing here, and the fifth grade boys playing in Hawley.

The local tournament will involve both the Albany High School main gym and the practice gym.

Games will take place every hour from 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. with two matches scheduled for each of the area teams playing in Albany this Saturday. 

By Kathy Thomson

Signup is underway for Little Dribblers basketball and local boys and girls from eight years old through fourth grade are invited to join.

“Players must be at least eight years of age on Jan. 1,” said organizer Clint Chapman.

Parents need to complete, sign, and return the registration form along with the $30 entry fee to either the Nancy Smith Elementary School office or to Chapman by Wednesday, Jan. 22.