By Sam Waller

The Albany Lions boys basketball team returned from the holiday break with a big road win and a disappointing home loss last week in District 10-2A competition.

On Tuesday, Jan. 4, the Lions defeated Hamlin 52-12 at Hamlin. That was followed by a 55-50 loss to state-ranked Cisco on Friday, Jan. 7.

On Tuesday, Jan. 11, Albany (4-3 overall, 1-2 district) played at Anson, losing 48-37.  Details will be reported next week. 

On Friday, Jan. 14, the Lions return home to host Stamford.

By Sam Waller

The Albany Junior High Lady Cubs Red team won the eighth grade division of the Albany Junior High Girls Tournament on Saturday, Jan. 8, during a busy stretch for the local teams.

The junior high teams played Abilene Christian on Thursday, Jan. 6, and Cisco on Monday, Jan. 11. The boys seventh and eighth grade teams will play in the Olney tournament on Saturday, Jan. 15, before the regular schedule resumes against Hawley on Monday, Jan. 17.

Red Girls

By Sam Waller

The Albany Lady Lions got an unexpected rest during the holiday break when it was forced to pull out of the Eula tournament.

Coach Tate Thompson said the task now is to make the situation work to the team’s advantage.

“From a positive standpoint, we got a little rest and got rejuvenated,” Thompson said. “We played a lot of games trying to get in shape. Not playing those games probably hurt us a little bit because we need more experience, but maybe we’ll come back a little refreshed and be ready to go.”

By Sam Waller

The Moran Bulldogs and Lady Bulldogs basketball teams took their lumps last week at the Gordon Holiday Ford Classic, with both going winless in the tourney.

The Lady Bulldogs lost 48-24 to host Gordon and 62-16 to Class 3A Dublin in pool games on Tuesday, Dec. 28, then fell 39-27 to Wichita Falls Christian on Wednesday, Dec. 29 to wrap up the calendar year.

The Moran boys opened with a 62-24 loss to Gordon and followed with a 47-10 loss to Chico on Tuesday, Dec. 28, before falling 46-32 to Bryson on Wednesday, Dec. 29, in their final game of 2021.

By Sam Waller

The Albany Junior High Cubs and Lady Cubs basketball teams resume play tonight (Thursday) following the holiday break.

The Lady Cubs will host Abilene Christian, while the boys teams visit Abilene Christian. Games start at 5:30 p.m. at both locations.

The games start the second round of the junior high schedule. Competition will revert to Mondays starting next week (Jan. 10) with the boys hosting Cisco and the girls playing at Cisco.

By Sam Waller

Local fifth and sixth grade basketball players will tip off their season Saturday, Jan. 8, with four teams competing against opponents from other area towns.

“We’ve been practicing for about a week now,” league coordinator and coach Clint Chapman said.

Chapman said Albany’s boys team will play at Eula with the girls teams at Hawley. Albany will have four teams in the league with boys and girls teams for both fifth and sixth graders.

By Sam Waller

Albany’s Sarah Cotter was named to the Texas Girls Coaches Association Class 2A all-state volleyball team and was one of three Lady Lions to earn academic all-state honors.

Cotter, a senior middle blocker, led the Lady Lions with 541 kills and 64 blocks as Albany won the District 8-2A championship and advanced to the Region II-2A tournament. She also recorded 103 aces on 414 service attempts and had 216 digs.

By Sam Waller

The Albany Lions boys varsity basketball team stumbled in its first District 10-2A outing before taking its holiday break and using the time to practice for the remainder of district play.

Albany (4-2 overall, 1-1 district) lost to Hawley before Christmas, then resumed competition on Tuesday, Jan. 4, with a district game at Hamlin. The Lions won easily 52-12, with details to be reported next week.

By Sam Waller

The Moran Lady Bulldogs split a pair of home games last week, winning in their final outing before the holiday break, while the varsity boys teams suffered a pair of losses.

On Tuesday, Dec. 14, the Moran girls lost a heartbreaker 36-35 to Rotan, then defeated the Knox City JV 42-23 on Friday.

In boys action, the Bulldogs lost 50-28 on Tuesday, Dec. 14 at Mullin, then dropped a 54-30 decision on Friday to Ranger at home.

Both Moran teams will compete in the Gordon Holiday Ford Classic on Tuesday-Wednesday, Dec. 28-29.

By Sam Waller

The slow starts that have beleaguered the Albany girls basketball team basketball team continued as the Lady Lions dropped their District 10-2A opener on Tuesday, Dec. 14, 89-21 at Haskell.

The Lady Lions made their second district outing Tuesday with a home game against Hawley, recording a loss. Details will be reported in the Jan. 6 issue of the News.

During the Christmas break, Albany will play in the Eula tournament Monday-Wednesday, Dec. 27-29. The Lady Lions will resume district play Jan. 4 at Hamlin.