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.

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.

By Donnie A. Lucas The eighth grade Cubs and Lady Cubs will travel to Cross Plains on Thursday (today) for games tipping off at 5:00 p.m. The junior high teams have been idle since Dec. 16 prior to the Christmas break.

By Kathy Thomson The Lady Bulldogs played three basketball games over the last couple of weeks, winning in Newcastle on Tuesday, Dec. 17, and then dropping matches on Dec. 20 and Dec. 30. Newcastle Moran held on to a close 30-29 victory over the Lady Bobcats.

By Donnie A. Lucas The Lady Lions won a pair of games in the week before the Christmas break and have played several matches during the last week as basketball action resumed.

By Donnie A. Lucas The Lion basketball teams closed out the fall semester with a set of games in Comanche on Dec. 20, with the varsity falling short while the two JV squads posted victories.

By Donnie A. Lucas Local fifth and sixth graders who signed up for local youth basketball teams have started practicing in preparation for the first tournament of the season on Jan. 11.

By Donnie A. Lucas The Lion football team earned a total of 25 spots on the 7-2A All-District teams, dominating the first team picks with 15 positions.

By Donnie A. Lucas The varsity Lady Lions won two out of three games at the Breckenridge Tournament last weekend, beating both Dublin and TLCA before falling to the hosting Lady Bucs in the third round. Albany hosted Guthie on Tuesday, picking up a 43-37 win to improve to 11-4 for the season.

By Donnie A. Lucas Last week was very busy for boys basketball, with the varsity playing in the Hico tournament and the two JV teams entered in the Jacksboro tournament.