By Sam Waller

Three of Albany’s youth basketball teams reached the championship games of their respective divisions in the final weekend of competition Saturday, Feb. 12 at Eula.

The fifth grade boys won their bracket to finish the season undefeated.

The fifth grade girls reached the final of their bracket before losing.

The sixth grade boys also won their first game, advancing to the final before losing their second.

The sixth grade girls, playing for just the second time this season, lost both of their games.

Fifth Grade Boys

By Sam Waller

The Albany Lions baseball team gets its first test against outside competition this Friday with a scrimmage at Merkel.

“We’re going to take the kids we have, the ones who aren’t in basketball, and go have a good practice,” Lions coach David Fair­child said.

Albany opens regular season play by hosting a JV tournament Feb. 24-26. The first varsity competition will be March 3-6 at the Eastland tournament.

Fairchild said Friday’s outing will allow the Lions to face game situations.

By Sam Waller

The Albany Lady Lions wrapped up their basketball season on Tuesday, Feb. 8 with an 81-16 loss at Stamford.

The Lady Lions finished the season 3-18 overall and 1-9 in District 10-2A.

Stamford, ranked No. 13 in Class 2A by the Texas Association of basketball Coaches, won the district title and played Quanah on Monday in a bi-district playoff.

Lady Lions coach Tate Thompson said the Albany team, which included four sophomores and three freshmen, made progress during the season despite the lack of success in games.

By Sam Waller

The postseason honors keep coming for the Albany Lions football team with six players selected to the Texas Sports Writers Association Class 2A state team for their performances in the 2021 season.

Offensive lineman Zane Waggoner and wide receiver Cooper Fairchild were named to the first team, with running back Jaheim Newton and defensive end Taren Farmer earning spots on the second team. Linebacker Brooks Neece was voted to the third team with quarterback Cole Chapman receiving honorable mention.

By Sam Waller

The Albany Lions basketball team closed out District 10-2A play last week with a pair of road victories, beating Stamford 57-38 on Tuesday, Feb. 8, and Haskell 50-14 on Friday, Feb. 11.

“These games gave us a chance to get a lot of guys time on the floor, get some experience as we go into the playoffs, and hopefully go in on a high note in terms of scoring,” Lions coach Ryder Peacock said. “We were able to rest some guys at the same time, so it was good on both ends.”

By Sam Waller

The Moran Bulldogs are moving south for the next two football seasons following biennial realignment.

Moran was placed in District 14-1A Division II with Paint Rock, Panther Creek, and Rising Star.

The UIL announced alignment Feb. 3 for the next two years for football, volleyball, and basketball.

The new football district has road trips of 83 miles to Panther Creek and 113 miles to Paint Rock.

“Travel is really the only negative,” Bulldogs football coach and athletic director John Hughes said.

By Sam Waller

The Moran Lady Bulldogs kept their playoff chances alive last week despite dropping their two District 13-1A girls basketball outings.

On Tuesday, Feb. 1, Moran lost 69-20 at Cross Plains. After being pushed back a day because of weather, the Lady Bulldogs lost 76-11 at Eula on Saturday, Feb. 5.

By Sam Waller

The Albany baseball and softball teams are nearing the start of their seasons with both looking to return to the playoffs.

The Lions baseball team will scrimmage Merkel on Friday, Feb. 18, with the junior varsity hosting a tournament Feb. 24-26.

The varsity schedule begins with the Eastland tournament March 3-5.

Lion coach David Fairchild returns 11 players from the 2021 varsity, which went 22-5-1 and reached the state quarterfinals. The task for the early portion of the season is filling lineup spots left vacant by graduation.

By Sam Waller

The Albany Lions will have less travel for district football games the next two years following the release of the University Interscholastic League’s biennial realignment,announced Thursday, Feb. 3.

The Lions will compete in District 6-2A Division II, a six-team league that includes Hamlin, Miles, Roscoe, Abilene Texas Leadership Charter Academy, and Cross Plains. Abilene TLCA will play its first season of 11-man football in 2022.

By Sam Waller

Nine high school seniors and one coach from Shackelford County have been selected to participate in the Big Country Chevy Dealers 2022 FCA All-Star Festival.

More than 325 athletes representing 88 high schools will compete in basketball, baseball, football, golf, softball, and volleyball in addition to cheerleaders for two locations.