Five Albany Lion football players were selected for the Class 2A all-state team selected by the Texas Sports Writers Association recently. Seniors Ryan Hill and Cameron Dacus both received first team picks, while fellow senior Payne Hebel was named to the third team.

The JV baseball team opened the season Monday with 6-4 win over Graford. The season continues this week with Albany hosting a JV tournament Thursday through Saturday. The Lions will play at 11:45 a.m. Thursday and Friday, as well as having a 1:30 p.m. game Friday.

The Lady Lion softball players are off to a strong start, winning their first five games, including four games at the Eastland Tournament last weekend. Albany started the season with a 7-5 win over Breckenridge in the home opener, followed by winning all four games in the tournament in Eastland.

One Lady Lion took an MVP award and six others were named to other District 8-2A positions recently by the district’s basketball coaches. Junior Jaleigh Morales was picked as the district’s co-Defensive MVP, along with Sadie McCambridge of Roscoe.

Seven local Little Dribblers teams continued their season, playing two games each in the old Albany High School gym last Saturday, Feb. 16. The next set of matches will take place this Saturday, Feb. 23, starting at 8:30 a.m. with Black facing Blue.

Boys head coach Harley Ethridge and girls head coach Dakota Fowler have scheduled meets for the Moran high school and junior high tracksters. The first meet of the year for all four teams will be next Thursday, Feb. 28 in Hico, followed by a Monday, March 4 meet in Gordon.

Seniors Cameron Dacus (seated, l) and Ryan Hill (r) both signed letters of intent to play football for Hardin-Simmons University. Witnesses for the Feb. 8 signing included coaches (standing, l-r) Rod Britting, David Fairchild, Denney Faith, Jimmy Fuentes, and Ryder Peacock.

The Lady Lions edged out Eldorado Monday night in Coleman, 32-30, to win the bi-district championship and advance to the second round. Albany (21-9) will face the Sundown Roughettes Friday in Colorado City in the area playoff.

The Lion basketball team traveled to Stamford on Tuesday for the regular season finale, hoping to bring home the district title by handing the Bulldogs a second loss. Albany had to settle for second in District 8-2A after a 77-55 loss to Stamford.

Four Albany seniors are among the 278 top athletes and cheerleaders of the area who make up the 2019 all-star class for Big Country Chevy Dealers Fellowship of Christian Athletes All-Star Festival, announced Sunday.