By Sam Waller

The Albany Lions tennis team battled both the elements and opponents Thursday, Feb. 17 at the Hawley Invitational, but won three draws.

Players had to contend with cold conditions at Abilene’s Rose Park Tennis Center.

“There was more confidence on the court,” coach M.J. Reneau said of the Lions’ second tournament outing. “It’s hard to compare because of the weather conditions. That apparently didn’t slow them down, because they got out there and got after it.”

By Sam Waller

The Albany Lions started their baseball season with a scrimmage on Friday, Feb. 18 and a JV game on Monday, Feb. 21.

This weekend’s Albany JV tournament, however, fell victim to winter weather, with coach David Fairchild making the decision Wednesday morning to cancel the event.

“We had an opportunity to get three more games this weekend, and that’s what we wanted to do, play baseball games,” he said. “It’s just unfortunate we can’t get that time on the field.”

By Sam Waller

The Albany Lady Lions went 2-4-1 in their first week of the softball season, opening with an 8-5 victory over the Abilene Cooper JV before spending the weekend at the Eastland tournament.

At Eastland, the Lady Lions lost 14-1 to Clyde before beating Merkel 7-2 on Friday, Feb. 18. On Saturday, Feb. 19, Albany lost 8-6 to Wall, tied Coleman 6-6, and lost 8-7 to Jim Ned.

On Monday, Feb. 21, Albany lost 15-0 at Breckenridge.

By Sam Waller

The Albany Lions boys basketball team opened the playoffs Tuesday, Feb. 22, with a 52-45 bi-district win against Petrolia at Graham, moving them on to the area round.

The Lions will play the Italy Gladiators (21-4) Friday, Feb. 25 at 6:30 p.m. in the Weatherford High School gym, with Albany fans on the home side. Details were still being worked out on Wednesday morning at press time, but tickets are expected to be available online only at weatherfordisd.com, and passes will be accepted.

By Sam Waller

The Moran Lady Bulldogs came agonizingly close to earning a spot in the Class 1A girls basketball playoffs, falling 39-38 in overtime to Baird in a District 13-1A playoff Thursday, Feb. 10, at Breckenridge.

The Lady Bulldogs assured themselves of a spot in the play-in game on Tuesday, Feb. 8, with a 57-41 victory at Rising Star.

Moran finished the season 8-20 overall and 3-7 in district.

By Sam Waller

The Albany Little Dribblers opened the 2022 season  Saturday, Feb. 12, with 10 games at the Albany High School gyms.

The start of the league was delayed a week because of the winter storm that hit Albany earlier in the month. The season will now extend into March.

The schedule for Saturday, Feb. 19, follows:

Boys – Blue vs. Red, 9:00 a.m.; Gray vs. Black, 10:00 a.m.; Black vs. Blue, 11:00 a.m.; Red vs. Gray, noon.

With friends and family in attendance, Albany senior Jaheim Newton (seated, c) signs a letter of intent with Hardin-Simmons University to play football in the fall. Newton, who will graduate this spring, rushed for more than 1,600 yards in the 2021 season.

By Sam Waller

The Albany Lady Lions were forced to open their softball season without benefit of a preseason scrimmage.

The Lady Lions hosted Abilene Cooper JV on Tuesday, Feb. 15, at Webb Park, winning 8-5. Details will be reported next week.

Albany’s scrimmage at Snyder on Saturday, Feb. 5, was cancelled because of the winter storm that hit the area. Coach Jimmy Fuentes said efforts to find a replacement for last week were unsuccessful.

“Everybody was packed,” he said. “We tried, but it was all filled.”

By Sam Waller

Three of Albany’s youth basketball teams reached the championship games of their respective divisions in the final weekend of competition Saturday, Feb. 12 at Eula.

The fifth grade boys won their bracket to finish the season undefeated.

The fifth grade girls reached the final of their bracket before losing.

The sixth grade boys also won their first game, advancing to the final before losing their second.

The sixth grade girls, playing for just the second time this season, lost both of their games.

Fifth Grade Boys

By Sam Waller

The Albany Lions baseball team gets its first test against outside competition this Friday with a scrimmage at Merkel.

“We’re going to take the kids we have, the ones who aren’t in basketball, and go have a good practice,” Lions coach David Fair­child said.

Albany opens regular season play by hosting a JV tournament Feb. 24-26. The first varsity competition will be March 3-6 at the Eastland tournament.

Fairchild said Friday’s outing will allow the Lions to face game situations.