By Sam Waller

The Moran Lady Bulldogs earned themselves an extra match in advance of the playoffs by splitting their two district outings last week.

On Tuesday, Oct. 25, Moran hosted Gustine in a playoff warmup match. Results will be reported next week.

The Lady Bulldogs will play Rising Star in a district seeding match at 6:00 p.m. Friday at Cisco College. Moran (3-15 overall, 1-3 District 14-A) forced the match by sweeping Rising Star 25-14, 25-17, 25-17 on Saturday, Oct. 22 at home.

By Sam Waller

The Albany Lady Cubs wrapped up their volleyball season Monday, Oct. 24 with a single match at Ranger.

The eighth grade Lady Cubs won 25-14, 25-9 to finish the season at 5-10.

There was no seventh grade match because of a lack of players for Ranger. The seventh grade Lady Cubs finished with a 2-11 record.

Eighth grade coach Elizabeth Martin said the players made progress in the development of their skills.

By Sam Waller

The Albany Lions junior varsity football closes out its season at home Thursday, Oct. 27 (tonight) against Hamlin at Robert Nail Memorial Stadium after having a week off.

The JV Lions (4-3)have had a sporadic district schedule with Miles, Roscoe, and Abilene TLC not fielding JV teams. Albany was able to fill one of those openings by playing Cross Plains in consecutive weeks.

By Sam Waller

The Albany Junior High Cubs football teams came away with a win and a tie last week in home games against Roscoe.

The junior high teams make their final home appearance Thursday, Oct. 27 (today) against Hamlin  at Robert Nail Memorial Stadium. The seventh grade game will start at 4:30 p.m. with the eighth grade and junior varsity to follow.

By Sam Waller

The start of the Albany Lady Lions’ basketball season is on hold pending the volleyball team’s run in the playoffs, coach Tate Thompson said.

Under UIL rules, girls were allowed to begin practicing Wednesday, Oct. 19, with the first scrimmage date being Saturday. Oct. 29. Girls may begin playing games on Friday, Nov. 4.

However, player availability will be an issue until Albany volleyball concludes its season.

By Sam Waller

Albany’s Jonathan Coody and Briley Tabor faced less-than-ideal conditions and strong competition at the Region II-2A cross country meet Monday, Oct. 24 at Grand Prairie’s Lynn Creek Park at Joe Pool Lake.

Coach Ginger Norton said heavy rains during the Class 6A and 4A races earlier in the day left the course sloppy.

“By the time we got to run, it was muddy and slippery,” she said. “The rain did let up while we ran, so that helped.”

By Sam Waller

Senior Day did not go the way the Albany Lady Lions wanted, ending in a five-set loss to Hawley on Saturday, Oct. 22 in a key District 6-2A volleyball match.

The Lady Lions (23-8 overall, 7-1 district) closed out the regular season Tuesday, Oct. 25, by sweeping Ranger 25-8, 25-13, 25-14 on the road.

Lady Lion coach M.J. Reneau said that since Albany and Hawley, who split their district matches, tied for first place, seeding was determined Wednesday by flipping a coin, with the Lady Lions ending up as the second place seed.

By Sam Waller

The Albany Lions officially clinched a playoff berth and took sole possession of first place in the District 6-2A Division II race last week with a 55-0 victory over the Roscoe Plowboys.

The Lions (6-2 overall, 3-0 district), who moved up a spot to No. 7 in the Class 2A Division II state rankings with the win, can clinch the district’s top playoff seed Friday, Oct. 28 when they visit the Hamlin Pied Pipers. Kickoff is 7:00 p.m. at Piper Stadium.

By Sam Waller

The Moran Bulldogs football team spent last week’s open date preparing for district play, and coach John Hughes is optimistic about the team’s chances to extend its season.

The Bulldogs (0-7) open District 14-1A Division II at 7:00 p.m. Friday, Oct. 21 against Valera Panther Creek at Bulldog Field after facing a nondistrict schedule that included four teams that have been ranked in the top 25 of Division II and a pair of Division I opponents.

By Sam Waller

The Moran Lady Bulldogs volleyball team split a pair of matches last week, falling to Rising Star in four sets before sweeping Trent.

The Lady Bulldogs began the second round of District 14-1A play Tuesday, Oct. 18 against Strawn at home. Details will be reported next week.

Moran has two district matches remaining and will play a warmup match against Gustine at 6:30 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 25 at home. Details for the team’s bi-district game will be finalized once pairings are announced.