Both Albany Cubs basketball teams won two out of three games at the Breckenridge tournament last Saturday, then they split games with the Abilene Hawks on Monday.

The Cubs will be off for the Christmas break until Jan. 10 when they will host Hawley.

The seventh grade boys lost the first round at Breckenridge to Eastland, 25-21.

“It was a good game, but we missed several lay-ups,” coach David Fair-child said. “The guys played good defense.”

Scoring were Houston Heatly 8, Adam Hill 10, and Lanxton Viertel 3.

The Lion basketball season finally got underway on Tuesday, after being on hold for several weeks while many of the players were involved in the football playoffs.

The varsity took the court against the Abilene Hawks, posting a 67-52 win in their first outing. Details of the game will be printed next week.

The varsity will be off for a week for the Christmas holidays, returning to the court at the Windthorst Tournament on Dec. 28 and 29.

The JV boys played in the Jacksboro tournament last Saturday, splitting games.

The last couple of weeks were tough ones for the Moran basketball teams, with several losses reported and only one win. 

However, the majority of the season still lies ahead, with varsity district games not starting until Friday, Jan. 4 in Gordon, when the Lady Bulldogs hit the court at 6:00 p.m. 

The high school boys start their district run one week later, hosting Baird to an 8:00 p.m. tip-off on Friday, Jan. 11.

This Friday the ’Dawgs travel to Highland for a 1:00 p.m. non-district match.

Overcoming an 0-5 start in what may be the worst pre-district record of any team to make it to the fifth round of the playoffs, the Lions are now among the final four Class 2A Div. II teams left standing as they head into the state semifinal game on Thursday.

Albany won a rematch with district foe Hamlin, 41-28, last week to take the quarterfinal trophy and end the Pipers’ season at 12-2.

Albany (9-5) will face Gruver (13-1) on Thursday in Plainview’s Greg Sherwood Memorial Stadium. Kickoff is set for 6:00 p.m.

The JV Lion basketball team hosted a 16-team tournament last week, but games on Saturday were called due to the threat of icy weather.

The teams competed on Thursday, but didn’t come back for the second day of games on Saturday.

The JV will travel to Jacksboro on Saturday for a one-day tourney, then host the Abilene Hawks on Tuesday, Dec. 18 starting at 5:00 p.m. in the ancillary gym.

The Albany Cubs swept all three games against the Roscoe boys on Monday at home, while the girls lost two out of three on the road in Roscoe.

The boys will host the Abilene Hawks on Monday, Dec. 17 starting at 5:00 p.m. with the seventh grade. The eighth grade will follow at about 6:00 p.m. There will not be a B team game.

The girls are off for the Christmas break, resuming action on Jan. 10 in Hawley.

The 8A boys defeated Roscoe 44-20.

Last week the Moran Bulldogs were third at the Woodson tournament on Saturday, Dec. 1, beating the Albany JV 40-24, losing to Newcastle 36-53, and rebounding to defeat Anson JV 66-24.

On Thursday and Saturday, Dec. 6-8 the ’Dawgs played in the Rochelle Tournament.

They squeaked by the host team 42-40. Other results were not available at press time.

Clawing back from a 14-point deficit, the Lions mounted a second-half assault that steamed rolled over the Wheeler Mustangs, 48-27, in the regional playoff in Vernon last Friday to set up a quarterfinal rematch.

Albany (8-5) will face off for the second time this season against the Hamlin Pied Pipers (12-1) for the quarterfinal at Shotwell Stadium in Abilene. Kickoff is set for 7:00 p.m. with the Lions serving as the home team. Tickets are $5 per person, with the usual passes honored.

Both the varsity and JV Lady Lions were busy last week, getting in a lot of court time at area tournaments.

The varsity played for the championship at the Dublin tournament, coming in second behind Goldthwaite.

The JV girls swept the Woodson tournament to win the title by defeating Anson’s JV.

Both teams were idle on Tuesday, with the varsity playing in the Breckenridge Tournament on Thursday through Saturday.

The junior high basketball teams fared well against Stamford on Monday, with the girls and boys both winning two out of three games.

The Cubs and Lady Cubs will play Roscoe next Monday, with the boys hosting and the girls on the road. Games start at 5:30 p.m. at both locations.

The 7A girls defeated Stamford 30-19 at home on Monday.

“I really thought the girls hustled well against Stamford,” coach Lauren Peacock said. “We created some turnovers to lead by 10 at the half. They played really hard and are starting to see the floor and make good passes.”