A decisive win last week by the Lion football team in the first round of the playoffs sets up what the team, coaches and fans all hope will be another “traditional” playoff run for Albany.

Albany defeated the Rocksprings Angoras 47-7 at San Angelo Stadium, propelling the Lions to the next step in the Class 2A  Div. 2 playoffs, something some might have doubted earlier in the season after a surprising 0-5 non-district start.

The Lions (6-5) will face the Santo Wildcats (10-1), who are fresh off a 63-30 win over Quanah last Friday in Clyde.

The varsity Lady Lions split games on the road last week, and suffered a second loss this week to put their record at 3-2.

The girls were on the road Monday, losing to Ballinger 47-37. Due to an early deadline, details from the game will be reported next week.

Albany also hosted Munday on Tuesday before taking a break for the Thanksgiving holiday, but results were not available at press time.

Both the varsity and JV teams are scheduled to be on the road to Hamlin next Tuesday for a set of games starting at 4:00 p.m.

A total of 10 Albany players were named to the District 6-2A volleyball teams, splitting All-District honors with the Hawley Lady Bearcats.

Albany and Hawley were the only 2A schools in District 6, which also included five 1A teams that advanced into a separate bracket of the playoffs.

Sophomore Alli Hill was named the district’s Defensive MVP, while the Lady Bearcats took the other four superlative honors.

The seventh grade Lady Cubs won their bracket at the Woodson Tournament on Saturday, while the boys B team split games in tournament play.

All of the junior high teams were in action on Monday, with the girls playing in Haskell and the boys hosting three games. Results were not available at press time due to an early deadline.

Albany will take the court again next Monday, Nov. 26 with the girls playing in Cross Plains and the boys hosting the Buffaloes. Games will start at 5:30 p.m. at both locations.

The Albany Flag Football season concluded Monday evening, Nov. 19, when the playoffs for both the youngest and the oldest groups took place at Robert Nail Stadium.

“Semifinal games went on at both ends of the field,” said league organizer Anthony Ceder. “The winners from each of those games then took on each other to determine the champion in that age division. Both of Monday’s finals took place at the same time, on opposite ends of the field.”

The second and third grade division title was determined on Friday, Nov. 16.

The junior high Bulldogs won both of their games at the Woodson basketball tournament last Saturday, bringing home the championship trophy, and the only Moran victories last week.

Varsity Basketball 

The Lady Bulldogs, playing varsity basketball for the first time in two years, lost to Blanket by a score of 20 to 38 on Tuesday, Nov. 13.

Moran fell behind early, trailing the visitors 4-19 at the end of the first half, and in spite of a much stronger showing in the second half, could not catch up to the Lady Tigers.

The Lady Lion basektball team got off to a successful start last week with a pair of wins, both at home.

The team went on the road Tuesday to play Abilene Christian High School in Abilene, earning another win 50-30.

The varsity will be in action again on Saturday in Snyder with a 6:00 p.m. tip off following a 5:00 p.m. junior varsity game.

Albany will return home to host the Munday Lady Moguls on Tuesday, Nov. 20.

The junior high boys basketball teams will hit the court this week, with one group playing in the Woodson Tournament on Saturday and all three teams hosting Haskell on Monday.

Plans for the high school boys teams are on hold currently due to most of the athletes still being involved in the football playoffs. 

Coach Ryder Peacock said that he will be getting together a junior varsity team that will play first, but the varsity will wait until the football playoffs are completed.

The JV Lion football wrapped up the season with a win in Hamlin last Thursday, finishing the year with a perfect 9-0 record.

Albany came out on top of a 20-14 battle.

The Lions’ first score came on a 12-yard pass from Cooper Fairchild to Everett McWhorter, followed by a two-point pass from Fairchild to Brooks Neece.

Neece later recorded a 31-yard touchdown run to push the Lions ahead 14-0. The two-point attempt failed.

Albany scored the final tally on a two-yard run by Robert Bailey for the win. The conversion attempt failed.

The Albany Cubs went separate directions last Thursday to end the regular season, splitting games against different opponents.

The eighth grade team traveled to Hamlin for their finale, bringing home a 36-0 rout to finish the season with a 6-1-2 record.

“This was an excellent year for the guys,” coach Richard Sullivan said. “They showed a vast amount of improvement and growth each week as the season progressed. Their goal was to improve, and they did just that.”