The varsity Lady Lion basketball team opened district with a win over Cross Plains last week, then traveled to Stamford on Tuesday for the second league game.

Down by three at the half, Albany pulled ahead in the third quarter and held off Stamford in a big 46-45 win to up their district mark to 2-0 and go 15-8 for the season. Details of the bout will be reported next week.

The march towards the playoffs will continue on Friday, with Albany hosting Roscoe. The JV will take the floor at 4:00 p.m., followed by the varsity girls at 6:30 p.m.

The youth fifth and sixth grade basketball teams will play their first games of the season on Saturday, Jan. 12, with the four local teams competing in both the Albany High School gym and the Albany practice gym.

Basketball games will take place every hour from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. with two games scheduled for each of the 16 teams playing in Albany this Saturday. 

The Lady Bulldogs suffered defeat in both of their games over the Christmas break.

Moran hosted Lueders-Avoca for an 11:00 a.m. match on Dec. 31, and the visiting Raiders left with a 46-22 victory.

The varsity girls also dropped their first district bout on Friday, Jan. 4, to Gordon by a final score of 18-45, according to coach Dakota Fowler.

The Lady Bulldogs traveled to Ranger on Tuesday, Jan. 8, for a 6:30 p.m. tip off.

Results were not available at press time.

Local fifth and sixth graders who signed up for local youth basketball teams have started practicing in preparation for the first tournament of the season on Jan. 12.

According to coach and league coordinator Clint Chapman, 36 students signed up for the four teams designated for fifth and sixth grade boys and girls.

“The teams have already started practicing, so we will not be able to take any late registrations since those kids would already be too far behind,” Chapman said. “There are a total of eight area towns participating over five Saturdays.”

The varsity and JV Lady Lions split games at home last week, both falling to the Goldthwaite Lady Eagles and then both beating the Throckmorton Lady Greyhounds.

The teams have been idle for the Christmas break, but the varsity will resume action at a local tournament on Thursday and Friday. The Lady Lions are hosting several teams for the two-day event, with admission of $4 for adults and $2 for students each day.

The Lion varsity basketball team got off to a late but successful start last week, defeating the visiting Abilene Hawks.

The Lions have had a week-long break for Christmas, returning to the court on Friday at the Windthorst Tournament.

Albany is scheduled to play Vernon at 2:00 p.m. Friday in the first round, followed by a 6:30 p.m. second round game against City View. The Lions will play Iowa Park at 1:30 p.m. on Saturday, ending the tourney with a 6:00 p.m. game against Slidell.

The Lady Bulldogs brought home their second win of the season on Friday, Dec. 14 with a 26-23 victory over the visiting Throckmorton Lady Greyhounds.

The high school girls were off a week for Christmas, but are back on the court at the Dec.27-29 Munday Tournament.

The varsity girls will play Lueders-Avoca in Bulldog Gym on Dec. 31 at 11:00 a.m.

The junior high Lady Bulldogs lost 10-42 in Strawn last Monday, Dec. 17.

The end to what was one of the best comeback seasons ever, the Lion football team was stopped by the Gruver Greyhounds just one step away from a storybook ending of reaching the state championship game last Thursday.

Albany lost the Class 2A Div. 2 semifinal playoff 30-17 despite leading until midway through the third quarter.

Both teams had to fight a constant 30 MPH north wind, but the Lions also had to overcome injuries to a couple of key players.

The Lion football team dominated the District 7-2A selection announced this week, including receiving the majority of the superlative honors.

Senior Cutter Edgar was named the district’s MVP, while senior Cameron Dacus was picked as the Offensive MVP and senior Ryan Hill was the Defensive MVP.

“I thought that we were really well represented, especially with the special awards,” head coach Denney Faith said. “You always wish there were a few more kids recognized, but the guys did very well and they are all very deserving.”

The Lady Lions earned a pair of wins last week and hosted Goldthwaite on Tuesday as they head into the Christmas break.

Albany dropped to 10-7 with a close 36-29 loss to the state-ranked Goldthwaite Lady Eagles on Dec. 18. Details were not available at press time but will be reported next week.

The Lady Lions will host Throckmorton at home on Friday, with the JV starting at 3:00 p.m., followed by the varsity girls at 4:00 p.m.

The varsity will take a week off before coming back to host a girls tournament Dec. 27-28.