By Sam Waller

The Albany Lady Lions wrapped up the regular season and began preparing for the playoffs with a pair of warmup matches over the past week.

The Lady Lions (30-5)had a bye through bi-district and will open postseason play in the area round against Colorado City at 3:00 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 6 at Jim Ned High School in Tuscola. 

The winner of that match will play the winner between Coleman and Quanah in the regional quarterfinals on Nov. 8 or 9 at a time and place to be determined.

By Sam Waller

The Albany Lions expected their toughest test of the season from the Santo Wildcats.

They got it and passed with flying colors.

Jaheim Newton and Brooks Neece each rushed for two touchdowns last Friday as the Lions defeated Santo 33-6 at Robert Nail Memorial Stadium, clinching the District 8-2A Division II championship – Albany’s 13th district title in 14 years.

By Sam Waller

The Moran Bulldogs suffered a 58-12 homecoming loss last Saturday against Lueders-Avoca, falling to to 1-6 overall and 1-2 in District 9-1A Division II. Lueders-Avoca (1-5, 1-1) picked up its first win.

“We’re trying to get better, like always,” Bulldogs coach John Hughes said. “Our youth showed with some missed assignments, but the guys played as hard as they could. We got in the fourth quarter again and that’s a big positive.”

Ellis Hise was 7 of 16 passing for 180 yards and two touchdowns.

By Sam Waller

Hannah Rogers and Arren Hawley were crowned Homecoming Queen and King last Saturday during halftime of the Bulldogs’ football game with Lueders-Avoca.

Others in the homecoming court were queen nominees Harmony Slaughter and Johnnie Hise.

Also honored were princess Samantha Hinkle, prince Keagan Kilcrease, duchess Vivi Green, duke Connor Hail, lady in waiting Aydan Moreno, and page Ellis Hise, as well as FFA Sweetheart and Beau, Johnnie Hise and Cotten Campbell.

Homecoming Queen

The Albany Junior High Cubs football teams will play different opponents in different locations Thursday (today).

The eighth grade team (7-0) will join the junior varsity for a doubleheader at Santo. The eighth grade game will start at 5:00 p.m.

The seventh grade Cubs (5-1) will play at Eastland at 5:30 p.m. in a game that was added to the schedule on Monday.

Both teams, along with the rest of Albany’s football players, were off last week during a break in the schedule.

By Sam Waller

The foursome of James Waters, Randy Walker, Rodney Barton, and Charles Barrett took a one-stroke victory in the 9th annual Albany Masonic Lodge Scholarship Golf Tournament Oct. 23, shooting a 12-under round of 59 in a competitive field of 32 players at the Albany Golf Course.

The four-person scramble benefits the Albany Masonic Wisdom Foundation, a 501(c)(3) organization, which awards college scholarships to Albany High School graduates each year.

Mason Randall Palmore said the event easily met its fundraising goal.

By Sam Waller

Tom Dibbern has transferred the success he enjoyed as an Albany athlete into a stellar coaching career in the college ranks.

A 1996 Albany graduate, Dibbern is in his sixth year as head track and field coach for the Angelo State men’s and women’s teams.

By Sam Waller

The Albany Junior High volleyball teams split a pair of matches against Hawley Oct. 18 with the seventh grade Lady Cubs wrapping up their season.

The eighth graders played their final match on Tuesday against Strawn. Results will be reported next week.

Against Hawley, the eighth grade won 26-24, 25-21 to improve to 9-2 overall and remain undefeated in district.

By Sam Waller

After a week off, the Albany Lions face their biggest test of the season Friday when the Santo Wildcats visit Robert Nail Memorial Stadium in a showdown for first place in District 8-2A Division II.

Kickoff is 7:00 p.m.

Albany (7-0 overall, 2-0 district) and Santo (8-0, 2-0) share the district lead after the Wildcats defeated Hico 34-14 last week.

By Sam Waller

Albany’s Jonathan Coody finished 60th in a field of 111 runners Monday at the Region II-2A cross country meet at Grand Prairie.

Coody, a freshman, covered the course at Lynn Creek Park in 21 minutes, 2.93 seconds. The time was about 47 seconds off what he ran at the District 10-2A meet on Oct. 13, but Albany coach Tate Thompson said the regional course was slightly longer.