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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.