By Sam Waller
The Albany Lions and Lady Lions basketball teams are in wait-and-see mode as several players are busy participating in the football and volleyball playoffs.
Under UIL rules, girls were allowed to begin playing games last Friday with boys allowed to start this Friday. However, player availability will be an issue for Albany teams until the fall sports conclude their seasons.
By Sam Waller
The Albany Lions put the finishing touches on another undefeated regular season and built momentum for the playoffs last Friday, defeating Cross Plains 61-3 at Buffalo Stadium.
Albany (9-0 overall, 4-0 District 8-2A Division II) enters the playoffs without a loss for the 10th time under head coach Denney Faith and the eighth time since 2008. The Lions will play Era in a Class 2A Division II bi-district game at 7:00 p.m. Thursday (tonight) at Hawk Stadium in Iowa Park.
By Sam Waller
The Albany Lady Lions overcame a slow start Saturday to advance in the Class 2A volleyball playoffs, defeating Colorado City 23-25, 25-14, 25-19, 25-14 in an area round match at Jim Ned High School.
The Lady Lions defeated Quanah in three sets on Tuesday for the regional quarterfinal title, earning a return trip to the Region I-2A tournament.Details of Tuesday’s match will be reported next week.
Albany will face Wink at 7:00 p.m. Friday, Nov. 12 in the regional semifinals at San Angelo Central’s Didrikson Gymnasium.
By Sam Waller
The Moran Bulldogs concluded their portion of the District 9-1A Division II schedule last Friday with a 52-6 loss at Throckmorton.
“We played hard, but Throckmorton was just that much better,” Bulldogs coach John Hughes said.
Connor Hail rushed for 38 yards to lead the Bulldogs (1-7 overall, 1-3 district). Moran finished with 60 total yards in a game that ended at halftime.
Arren Hawley accounted for 16 yards rushing and caught two passes for 9 yards and a touchdown. Ellis Hise was 2 of 17 passing for 9 yards.
By Donnie A. Lucas
The eighth grade Lady Cubs volleyball team finished the season on Oct. 27 with a win over Strawn, earning the district championship.
Albany beat the visitors 25-10, 25-10 to complete the season with a 10-2 record.
“The girls had a great season and were the district champions,” coach Missy Dutchover said. “They should all add to the strong high school program next year.”
Scoring on serves were Mimi Ivy 15, Caroline Chapman 13, Braylee Clark 9, Alli McDaniel 9, Kaisley Bartee 7, and Avarie Myrick 7.
By Sam Waller
The Albany Junior High Cubs split their final separate games last Thursday with the eighth grade winning 30-0 at Santo, while the seventh grade suffered a 38-12 loss at Eastland.
The seventh and eighth grade teams will combine to play their final game of the season at 5:00 p.m. Thursday (today) against Cross Plains at Robert Nail Memorial Stadium as part of a doubleheader with the junior varsity.
Eighth Grade
The eighth grade Cubs struck for big plays on offense and special teams to improve to 8-0 for the season.
By Sam Waller
The Albany Lion junior varsity football team remained undefeated last Thursday with a 27-8 victory at Santo.
Ashton Bailey rushed for two touchdowns as Albany improved to 8-0.
“Overall, it was a good game,” coach David Fairchild said. “When you face an offense like Santo’s, you’re only guaranteed so many possessions. I think we took advantage of the ones we had.”
The JV Lions close out their season at 6:00 p.m. Thursday (today) against Seymour at Robert Nail Memorial Stadium. The game will follow a junior high game against Cross Plains.
By Sam Waller
The Albany Lady Lions wrapped up the regular season and began preparing for the playoffs with a pair of warmup matches over the past week.
The Lady Lions (30-5)had a bye through bi-district and will open postseason play in the area round against Colorado City at 3:00 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 6 at Jim Ned High School in Tuscola.
The winner of that match will play the winner between Coleman and Quanah in the regional quarterfinals on Nov. 8 or 9 at a time and place to be determined.
By Sam Waller
The Albany Lions expected their toughest test of the season from the Santo Wildcats.
They got it and passed with flying colors.
Jaheim Newton and Brooks Neece each rushed for two touchdowns last Friday as the Lions defeated Santo 33-6 at Robert Nail Memorial Stadium, clinching the District 8-2A Division II championship – Albany’s 13th district title in 14 years.
By Sam Waller
The Moran Bulldogs suffered a 58-12 homecoming loss last Saturday against Lueders-Avoca, falling to to 1-6 overall and 1-2 in District 9-1A Division II. Lueders-Avoca (1-5, 1-1) picked up its first win.
“We’re trying to get better, like always,” Bulldogs coach John Hughes said. “Our youth showed with some missed assignments, but the guys played as hard as they could. We got in the fourth quarter again and that’s a big positive.”
Ellis Hise was 7 of 16 passing for 180 yards and two touchdowns.
