By Melinda L. Lucas
Tyler Beard, who played both ways as a lineman for the Albany Lions, was one of only a few Big Country football players named to Even Ren’s 2019 “True Grit” Team on the Big Country Preps online sports site recently.
Nominations came from coaches in area schools from 1A all the way up to 6A.
By Kathy Thomson
Moran’s basketball season is winding down, and although they have lost most of their district games, all Moran coaches report that their players are improving, learning, playing better, and coming together as a team, even if the scores don’t reflect it.
The junior high teams will close out the season next Monday night when they host Strawn to games starting at 6:00 p.m.
By Donnie A. Lucas
The eighth grade Lady Cubs won the last game of the season on Monday, squeaking by Roscoe 14-13, while the seventh grade lost in Roscoe, and the combined B team tied.
The eighth grade finished the season with a 9-7 record, including 6-4 in district.
“This was an exciting game to end the season with,” coach Jamie Wilson said. “We were down by two points with 16 seconds remaining when Robin Lucas stepped up and made the game-winning three-pointer.”
The coach thanked the team for a “fantastic” season.
By Donnie A. Lucas
The Lady Lion basketball team finished the first round of district play with a 3-2 record, splitting games last week with Hawley and Haskell.
Albany started the second half of district on Tuesday, hosting the Cross Plains Lady Buffaloes. The Lady Lions won the bout 50-31 to improve their record to 4-2.
Details were not available at press time, but will be reported next week.
By Donnie A. Lucas
The Lion basketball team played a pair of close games last week but were still searching for their first district win after losses to Hawley and Haskell.
The Lions hosted Cross Plains on Tuesday, finding their first district victory, 38-37, improving to 6-12 overall, including a 1-3 district record.
Albany will play in Stamford Friday, with the JV taking the court at 5:00 p.m., and the varsity tipping off at about 7:45 p.m.
By Donnie A. Lucas
Albany players were awarded several spots on the All-Big Country Class 2A football team and one selection for the All-Big Country Super Team.
Senior Tyler Beard was Albany’s lone pick for the Super Team, which includes all classifications from 1A through 6A.
Beard was named to the first team as an offensive lineman. He was graded at 96 percent with eight pancakes.
Beard was also one of four Albany athletes that received unanimous selection to the Class 2A All-Big Country first team.
By Kathy Thomson
Due to scheduling conflicts, the sixth grade girls were the only Albany youth basketball team that was able to fill their roster and play games last weekend.
The fifth and sixth grade boys teams will be back on the road this Saturday, Feb. 1, with games scheduled in Jim Ned, while the sixth grade girls will be in Clyde.
Fifth grade girls coach Loree Lee said that her team would not be playing basketball on Saturday.
By Donnie A. Lucas
The Cubs and Lady Cubs played Hawley on Monday, with the girls hosting at home and the boys playing on the road.
The Cubs will host a two-day tournament on Thursday (today) and Saturday at the local gyms.
The seventh grade is scheduled to play Baird at 5:00 p.m. Thursday, followed by a 6:00 p.m. B team game against Munday. The eighth grade will play the Abilene Hawks at 7:00 p.m.
By Kathy Thomson
Moran varsity basketball teams are in the midst of district competition, with the girls 0-5 after the first round, and the guys, who started district play a week later, currently at 1-2.
Both teams traveled to Gordon for games on Tuesday, Jan. 28. Results were not available at press time and will be reported next week.
Moran continues on the road to Ranger on Friday, Jan. 31, with the girls’ match at 6:00 p.m. and the boys to follow.
Moran will host Baird on Feb. 4, starting with the Lady Bulldogs’ tip-off at 6:00 p.m.
By Donnie A. Lucas
The Lion basketball team opened district last Friday in Roscoe with a close loss, followed by a second defeat on Tuesday in Hawley.
Albany fell 48-54 to the Bearcats on Tuesday, to post an 0-2 District 8-2A mark.
The Lions will host Haskell on Friday starting at 5:00 p.m. with the JV boys, followed by the varsity boys at about 7:45 p.m. after the varsity girls.
Albany will also play at home next Tuesday, Jan. 28 with the Cross Plains Buffaloes coming to Albany for another district bout.
