By Sam Waller
The Albany Lions boys varsity basketball team stumbled in its first District 10-2A outing before taking its holiday break and using the time to practice for the remainder of district play.
Albany (4-2 overall, 1-1 district) lost to Hawley before Christmas, then resumed competition on Tuesday, Jan. 4, with a district game at Hamlin. The Lions won easily 52-12, with details to be reported next week.
By Sam Waller
Albany’s Sarah Cotter was named to the Texas Girls Coaches Association Class 2A all-state volleyball team and was one of three Lady Lions to earn academic all-state honors.
Cotter, a senior middle blocker, led the Lady Lions with 541 kills and 64 blocks as Albany won the District 8-2A championship and advanced to the Region II-2A tournament. She also recorded 103 aces on 414 service attempts and had 216 digs.
By Sam Waller
Local fifth and sixth grade basketball players will tip off their season Saturday, Jan. 8, with four teams competing against opponents from other area towns.
“We’ve been practicing for about a week now,” league coordinator and coach Clint Chapman said.
Chapman said Albany’s boys team will play at Eula with the girls teams at Hawley. Albany will have four teams in the league with boys and girls teams for both fifth and sixth graders.
By Sam Waller
The Albany Junior High Cubs and Lady Cubs basketball teams resume play tonight (Thursday) following the holiday break.
The Lady Cubs will host Abilene Christian, while the boys teams visit Abilene Christian. Games start at 5:30 p.m. at both locations.
The games start the second round of the junior high schedule. Competition will revert to Mondays starting next week (Jan. 10) with the boys hosting Cisco and the girls playing at Cisco.
By Sam Waller
Registration for Little Dribblers basketball got underway this week for the upcoming season.
“Registration forms went out (Tuesday) morning, and I hope to get those back by Friday,” league organizer Joe Tidwell said. “Hopefully, we can get players drafted the week after that, and everybody will have a couple of weeks to practice before the season starts in February.”
Tidwell said games start Feb. 5 and will continue each Saturday through the end of the month.
Hunters still have a chance to bag a trophy during special seasons on the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department calender.
Youth-Only (16 and younger) and Special Late white-tailed deer seasons run through Jan. 16. A Youth-Only fall turkey season also is open through Jan. 16.
Regular duck season concludes Jan. 30.
Quail season continues through Feb. 27.
The youth-only license costs $7 and may be purchased online or at several Albany retailers.
By Sam Waller
Harmony Slaughter and Arren Hawley were crowned queen of the Winter Formal as Moran High School students celebrated the end of the fall semester.
The event, which was sponsored by Moran’s senior class, was held Dec. 18 at the Moran Community Center.
Moran principal Jo Hise said the formal event was open to all high school students and drew about 35 attendees, including a number of out-of-town guests.
“We had a good number show up, and they had a good time,” she said.
By Sam Waller
The Moran Bulldogs and Lady Bulldogs basketball teams took their lumps last week at the Gordon Holiday Ford Classic, with both going winless in the tourney.
The Lady Bulldogs lost 48-24 to host Gordon and 62-16 to Class 3A Dublin in pool games on Tuesday, Dec. 28, then fell 39-27 to Wichita Falls Christian on Wednesday, Dec. 29 to wrap up the calendar year.
The Moran boys opened with a 62-24 loss to Gordon and followed with a 47-10 loss to Chico on Tuesday, Dec. 28, before falling 46-32 to Bryson on Wednesday, Dec. 29, in their final game of 2021.
By Donnie A. Lucas
Some of the props and facilities of the Fort Griffin Fandangle are showing their age, prompting the board of directors to initiate a capital improvements drive to make needed updates.
Originated in 1938 by Albany playwright Robert Nail, the annual show held in June has been performed at its own Prairie Theater since 1964.
While minor improvements have been made to the theater over the years, the directors feel it is time to make more substantial and lasting repairs to safely see the show through its first century of performances.
By Donnie A. Lucas
Anyone who doesn’t have lunch plans on Christmas Day this Saturday is invited to attend the annual Christmas Feast set from 11:30 a.m. until 1:00 p.m. at the Matthews Memorial Presbyterian Church.
This is the 13th year that the church has provided a meal for the community on Dec. 25.
“It is intended to provide fellowship on Christmas Day for those who may not have family in town for the holidays, or for anyone regardless of the circumstances who would like to come join us,” said Tamara Trail, one of the event organizers.
