By Sam Waller

The Albany Junior High Lady Cubs Red team suffered a 39-21 loss to Cisco on Monday in its first home game of the season.

Braylee Clark and Amber Miramontes each scored six points to lead the team in scoring, while Mimi Ivy added four points. Madison Parrott and Caroline Chapman each had two points and Zayne Lefevre had one.

The Lady Cubs White and Red teams will host Hawley on Monday, Nov. 29. The first game will start at 5:30 p.m.

Eighth Grade Boys

The Cubs eighth grade team went on the road Monday and defeated Cisco 22-15.

By Sam Waller

The Albany Lady Lions got their basketball season off to a belated start Monday with a 52-21 loss to Ballinger.

The Lady Lions were originally scheduled to host Guthrie, but coach Tate Thompson said his team gained more by taking on the Class 3A Lady Bearcats.

“We needed to see our mistakes exposed, and teams like Ballinger are going to show that,” he said. “That gives us an idea of what we need to work on. If we play somebody and are able to get away with mistakes, that’s not helping us get better.”

By Melinda L. Lucas

Tickets for Friday’s regional semifinal football playoff against Muenster, to be played at 2:00 p.m.  in Springtown’s Porcupine Stadium, must be purchased online by going to springtownisd.net/Page/12001 or following the link on the Albany Athletic Booster Club’s Facebook page. 

Passes will be accepted, but no tickets will be sold at the gate, according to Springtown officials.

By Sam Waller

The Albany Lions junior varsity boys basketball team tipped off its season Saturday with a 34-4 home victory over Roby.

The game was the only one at the high school level last week for Albany after the Lady Lions pulled out of their tournament.

The Lions opened the game with an 11-0 run and were in control the rest of the way.

“It was a starting point, and that’s what we talked about in the locker room before the game,” Albany coach Ryder Peacock said. “The goal was to get up and down the floor, run some transitions.”

By Sam Waller

The Albany Lions were handed their biggest challenge of the season last Thursday by the Olney Cubs in their Class 2A Division II area playoff at Graham.

The Lions responded with a strong second half to pull away for a 32-10 victory over a team it pummeled 55-6 seven weeks earlier.

Regional Playoff

Albany, ranked fourth in the state, gets an even bigger test in the third round, taking on No. 2 Muenster at Porcupine Field in Springtown Friday at 2:00 p.m. The Hornets (12-0) advanced with a 63-24 victory over Seymour.

By Sam Waller

The Albany Lady Lions placed eight players on the All-District 6-2A volleyball team, including four superlative awards.

The team was selected by a vote of the district coaches.

Sarah Cotter was named district MVP with Tristen Brown selected Offensive MVP, Robin Lucas Defensive MVP, and Clara Holson Outstanding Setter.

Ansleigh Garcia and Kiana Roberson were elected to the first team with Ashlyn Holson and Gracie Price earning second team honors.

By Sam Waller

The Albany Lions and Lady Lions basketball teams cancelled Tuesday games at Eula because of Albany’s involvement in the volleyball and football playoffs.

Also cancelled is Albany’s participation in the Randal Murry Classic in Seymour. The Lady Lions were originally to play all three days of the Nov. 18-20 tourney, but the varsity will now open their season when they host Guthrie at 6:00 p.m. Monday. Varsity and JV will visit Comanche on Tuesday before taking off for the Thanksgiving weekend.

By Sam Waller

The Albany Lady Lions fell short in their quest to reach the state volleyball tournament, falling to Wink 20-25, 18-25, 25-27 in the semifinals of the Region-I-2A Tournament on Friday at San Angelo.

“I’m happy that the girls got to experience the real regional tournament this year,” Lady Lions coach M.J. Reneau said. “They set high goals for themselves this season and continued to get closer each day.”

Albany ended its season with a 32-6 record.

Reneau said falling behind early, even if just by a few points, made the difference against Wink.

By Sam Waller

The Albany Lions took the first step forward in the Class 2A Division II football playoffs last Thursday with a 68-0 bi-district victory over the Era Hornets at Iowa Park’s Hawk Stadium.

The margin of victory was the largest in Albany’s postseason history, surpassing 57-point bi-district victories against Ranger (64-7 in 1989) and Rotan (70-13 in 2008).

By Sam Waller

The Moran Bulldogs closed out their football season in a big way last Thursday, defeating the Rochelle JV 50-0 at Mullin.

Moran scored 30 points in the second quarter to take a 44-0 halftime lead and ended the game with a touchdown in the third quarter.

“I couldn’t have asked for anything better,” Bulldogs coach John Hughes said. “We got a win and sent my lone senior (Arren Hawley) out on a winning note.”

Moran (2-7) rushed for 252 of its 262 total yards.