By Sam Waller
Albany’s Lady Lions hope to get back to making a long playoff run after last two softball seasons ended earlier than expected.
The 2020 season was cut short and playoffs scrapped because of the pandemic. Last year saw the Lady Lions make an early exit with a bi-district loss to Anson.
This year, coach Jimmy Fuentes is looking to make up for lost opportunities.
Head football coach Denney Faith (r) shakes senior Luke Ivy’s hand after presenting him with a bronze medal during a special ceremony prior to basketball games last Friday. Albany reached the 2021 state football semifinals before losing to the eventual state champion.
By Sam Waller
The Moran Bulldogs basketball team had a busy week last week, playing three District 13-1A games to make up for an earlier postponement, going on the road on consecutive days.
On Monday, Jan. 24, the Bulldogs lost 91-26 at Cross Plains in a game rescheduled from Jan. 14. On Tuesday, Jan. 25, the Bulldogs got back on the bus to visit May, losing 73-12. Moran hosted Baird on Friday, Jan. 28, losing 63-29.
The Albany Little Dribblers season will tip off at 9:00 a.m. Saturday, Feb. 5 with six girls games and four boys games.
Games will be played at both the main and auxiliary gyms at Albany High School. The program uses nine-foot goals.
The season will continue each Saturday through the end of February.
League organizer Joe Tidwell said 42 girls and 24 boys are signed up to play this season. Little Dribblers offers competition for boys and girls from age 8 through fourth grade.
By Sam Waller
Albany’s youth basketball teams continued their season on Saturday, Jan. 29, with boys teams playing at Jim Ned and girls teams playing at Hawley.
The teams of fifth and sixth graders wrap up their season on Saturday, Feb. 5.
Sixth Grade Boys
On Saturday, Jan. 29, Albany’s sixth grade boys team coached by Clint Chapman defeated Merkel 39-16 and beat Hawley 48-11.
Against Merkel, Aiden Vickers scored 18 points and Clay Chapman added 15. Bennett Neece, Graham Ceder, and Cash Edgar scored two points apiece.
By Sam Waller
The Albany Lions tennis program enjoyed a strong start to the season Tuesday, Feb. 1, winning three of five draws at the Early Invitational.
Two of the divisions were all-Albany finals. Sarah Cotter defeated Sidney Russell in girls singles, while Ella Webb and Susie Cormack took the girls doubles title over Abi Hale and Chloe Daugherty.
The mixed doubles team of Jaci Chapman and Mikey Hernandez claimed Albany’s third win.
A third girls doubles team reached the semifinals with Leddie Leech and Robyn Trail finishing fourth.
By Sam Waller
Albany’s Junior High Cubs and Lady Cubs wrapped up their basketball seasons this week, participating in tournaments on Saturday, Jan. 29, before playing season finales against Stamford on Monday, Jan. 31.
The seventh and eighth grade boys played at the Breckenridge tournament on Saturday, while the Lady Cubs took a combined team to a Guthrie tournament.
On Monday, the girls played at home, while the boys visited Stamford.
Eighth Grade Boys
By Sam Waller
Postseason honors keep pouring in for the Albany Lions football team with six players recognized on the Abilene Reporter-News’ All-Big Country team.
Running back Jaheim Newton was named Player of the Year on the publication’s Class 2A team and earned a first-team spot on the Super Team, which includes players from all classifications.
By Sam Waller
Celebration was in the air Friday night, Jan. 28, and the Albany Lady Lions added to the mood with a 50-36 victory against Hamlin for their first District 10-2A win.
Albany opened the week on Tuesday, Jan. 25, with 45-36 loss at Hawley.
On Tuesday, Feb. 1, the Lady Lions lost 67-17 at Cisco. Albany (3-17 overall, 1-9 district) hosts Anson on Friday, Feb. 4, in its final home game of the season.
By Sam Waller
The Albany Lions split two games last week and won a nail-biter on Tuesday, keeping themselves in contention for a playoff berth out of District 10-2A.
On Jan. 25, Albany lost 58-48 at Hawley, but bounced back on Friday, Jan. 28 to beat Hamlin 64-7 at home. The game was preceded by a Senior Night ceremony honoring senior Luke Ivy.
Then on Tuesday, Feb. 1, the Lions upset Cisco 47-43, leading most of the game and holding off a Cisco rally. Details will be reported next week.
