By Sam Waller

The Albany junior high basketball teams saw their seasons come to an unexpectedly early end this week with the winter weather afflicting the area playing a large part.

The Cubs and Lady Cubs were to have played Stamford on Monday, Jan. 30 to wrap up the schedule. Those games were postponed to Thursday, Feb. 2 (tonight), as District 10-2A high school games scheduled for Tuesday, Jan. 31, were moved up a day in an attempt to beat the oncoming storm.

By Sam Waller

The Albany Lady Lions suffered through another frustrating week in the District 10-2A girls basketball race with losses to Haskell and Hamlin.

After having the district bye on Tuesday, Jan. 31, Albany (8-18 overall, 1-9 district) visits Stamford at 6:15 p.m. Friday, Feb. 3.

The Lady Lions make their final home appearance of the season at 6:15 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 7, when Anson visits the AHS gym for senior night.

The district schedule is in flux after a winter storm forced postponement of all Tuesday games this week.

By Sam Waller

The Albany Lions are on the cusp of clinching a spot in the boys basketball playoffs after sweeping their District 10-2A games last week against Haskell and Hamlin.

Entering an open date on Tuesday, Jan. 31, the Lions (10-3 overall, 6-2 district) were one game away from qualifying and could clinch if both Haskell and Stamford lost earlier in the week.

Albany visits Stamford at 7:30 p.m. Friday, Feb. 3. A win in that game would also assure the Lions a playoff bid.

By Sam Waller

The Albany Lions, along with fellow state champion football teams from Hawley, Benjamin, and Westbrook, were honored Sunday, Jan. 22 at a reception hosted by the Big Country Athletic Hall of Fame at the Mall of Abilene.

Loraine players and coaches, who lost to Benjamin in the Class 1A Division II state game, were also recognized.

“It gave us a chance to talk about the game one more time,” Lions head coach Denney Faith said “We got to see some highlights, and a lot of people from the Big Country who didn’t get to go to the game congratulated our kids.”

By Sam Waller

The Moran Bulldogs and Lady Bulldogs basketball teams battled sickness and opponents last week with the situation continuing into this week.

The Lady Bulldogs hosted Cross Plains on Tuesday, Jan. 24, but the boys game was postponed to Wednesday, Jan. 25, because of too many players being out sick. Results will be reported next week.

Health issues forced Moran to forfeit games against Eula on Tuesday, Jan. 17.

On Friday, Jan. 20, the Lady Bulldogs lost 26-24 at home to Baird, while the boys lost 54-28.

Girls Basketball

By Sam Waller

The Albany Lions continue to receive recognition for their performance in winning the 2022 Class 2A Division II state championship, claiming 17 spots on the All-Big Country Preps football teams released last week.

Albany had 12 players honored with four selected on both offense and defense. That was topped off by head coach Denney Faith sharing the Coach of the Year superlative award with Hawley’s Mitch Ables.

By Sam Waller

Albany’s youth basketball teams played a partial schedule Saturday, Jan. 21, winning four of five games.

The boys played at Hawley with the girls at Eula.

The teams conclude their seasons Saturday, Jan. 28 with the boys teams playing at Hawley for the second week in a row while the girls play at Merkel.

The sixth grade boys will play Hawley at 10:00 a.m. and Jim Ned Blue at noon. The fifth grade boys will play Hawley at 10:00 a.m. and Merkel White at 1:00 p.m.

By Sam Waller

The Albany Junior High Cubs and Lady Cubs basketball teams faced a quick turnaround, playing Hawley on Thursday, Jan. 19 and Haskell on Monday, Jan. 23.

The junior high teams close out their seasons Monday, Jan. 30 against Stamford. The Lady Cubs will be at home with the boys teams on the road. Games start at 5:30 p.m.

By Sam Waller

A total of 65 players have registered to participate in the upcoming Albany Little Dribblers season, just one fewer than signed up last year.

League organizer Joe Tidwell said 38 girls and 27 boys registered, a more even split than last year when 42 girls participated. That necessitated creating a six-team division that played an unbalanced schedule.

Tidwell said both boys and girls divisions will have four teams this season and play a double round-robin schedule. Teams were drafted earlier this week.

By Sam Waller

The Albany Lady Lions showed flashes of good play last week against playoff contenders as the District 10-2A girls basketball race nears the final stretch.

The Lady Lions (8-17 overall, 1-8 district) visited Haskell on Tuesday, Jan. 24, losing 59-32. Details will be reported next week. Albany hosts Hamlin at 6:15 p.m. Friday, Jan. 27.

Following an open date on Tuesday, Jan. 31, the Lady Lions will have two games remaining – Friday, Feb. 3 at Stamford and Tuesday, Feb. 7 against Anson at home.