By Sam Waller

After two weather cancellations, the Albany Junior High Cubs and Lady Cubs track teams finally got a taste of competition Tuesday, Feb. 25 at the Bronco Relays in Breckenridge.

The teams returned to action Monday, March 3 at the Cross Plains meet. Results will be reported next week.

The Breckenridge meet was a ribbon meet with runners in each heat receiving a ribbon. Official results and team points were not kept. The main factor was finally facing outside competition.

By Sam Waller

The Albany tennis team took just three entries to the Hawley Invitational on Thursday, Feb. 27, but came home with the top two spots in mixed doubles.

With the entire lineup available Monday, March 3 at the Vernon Invitational, Albany claimed one title and five medals in three draws. Details will be reported next week.

Albany takes next week off for spring break, then returns to action Tuesday, March 18 at the Abilene High tournament.

By Sam Waller

The Albany Lions saw their boys basketball season come to an end Friday, Feb. 21 with a 66-46 loss to Graford in the area round of the Class 2A Division II playoffs at Eastland.

The Lions, who reached the second round for the fifth year in a row, finished the season with a 14-9 record.

By Sam Waller

The Albany Lady Lions earned 13 places on the All-District 10-2A girls basketball honors list with four team members cited for both their play and academics.

The team was selected by vote of district coaches and released following the exit of all district qualifiers from the playoffs.

On the court, senior Caroline Holson was voted to the first team with junior Madi Parrott and sophomore Ashlyn Miller on second team. Receiving honorable mention were sophomores Charlee Hefner and Tatum Grady and freshman Charli Trail.

By Sam Waller

For the first time in roughly a decade, Albany Golf Course played host to high school tournaments with the Lady Lions Invitational and Lions Invitational.

The girls tournament was played Monday, Feb. 24, drawing a field of 34 golfers. The boys tournament was played Wednesday, Feb. 26. Those results will be reported next week.

Albany golfers will return to action at the Eula tournament at Shady Oaks Golf Course. Boys will play Monday, March 3 and girls on Wednesday, March 5.

By Sam Waller

Albany Little League is wrapping up its player registration period, but there is plenty of work to be done before the start of the season.

In the latest in a long line of renovation projects, a new backstop and new dugouts are being installed at the baseball complex. Past years have seen the addition of batting cages, restrooms and new sod on the field.

Steve Sutton said such projects help improve facilities.

By Sam Waller

The Albany Lions boys basketball team extended its season Monday, Feb. 17 with a 46-33 victory over Petrolia in a Class 2A Division II bi-district playoff at Graham.

The Lions (14-8) advance to the area round later this week to face the Graford Jackrabbits, who won against Crawford on Tuesday night. Albany coach Ryder Peacock said the area game will be played Friday, Feb. 21 at 7p.m. in Eastland’s Marshall Gymnasium. Ticket information was still being worked out at press time.

By Sam Waller

Four high school seniors from Albany and one from Moran have been selected for the 26th Big Country FCA All-Star Festival, which will be held the first week of June.

The all-star selections were announced Sunday, Feb. 16 at a parents meeting in Abilene.

By Sam Waller

The Albany Lady Lions got their softball season off to a belated start Monday, Feb. 17 with a 9-1 loss to Lipan at Webb Park.

The game against Westbrook on Friday has been cancelled because of weather, but Albany is  scheduled to play in the Eula tournament Thursday, Feb. 27 through Saturday, March 1.

The Lady Lions were slated to open the season Thursday, Feb. 13 at the Clyde tournament, but the event was cancelled because of weather.

By Sam Waller

Tryouts for Albany Little League baseball and softball, originally scheduled for this weekend, have been pushed back a week to Saturday, March 1 because of this week’s cold weather.

Meanwhile, player registration continues this week with players urged to sign up as early as possible.

This year, the local youth softball program will operate under the Little League banner, allowing the organizations to streamline and coordinate operations.