By Sam Waller

The Moran Bulldogs and Lady Bulldogs basketball teams battled sickness and opponents last week with the situation continuing into this week.

The Lady Bulldogs hosted Cross Plains on Tuesday, Jan. 24, but the boys game was postponed to Wednesday, Jan. 25, because of too many players being out sick. Results will be reported next week.

Health issues forced Moran to forfeit games against Eula on Tuesday, Jan. 17.

On Friday, Jan. 20, the Lady Bulldogs lost 26-24 at home to Baird, while the boys lost 54-28.

Girls Basketball

By Sam Waller

The Albany Lions continue to receive recognition for their performance in winning the 2022 Class 2A Division II state championship, claiming 17 spots on the All-Big Country Preps football teams released last week.

Albany had 12 players honored with four selected on both offense and defense. That was topped off by head coach Denney Faith sharing the Coach of the Year superlative award with Hawley’s Mitch Ables.

By Sam Waller

Albany’s youth basketball teams played a partial schedule Saturday, Jan. 21, winning four of five games.

The boys played at Hawley with the girls at Eula.

The teams conclude their seasons Saturday, Jan. 28 with the boys teams playing at Hawley for the second week in a row while the girls play at Merkel.

The sixth grade boys will play Hawley at 10:00 a.m. and Jim Ned Blue at noon. The fifth grade boys will play Hawley at 10:00 a.m. and Merkel White at 1:00 p.m.

By Sam Waller

The Albany Junior High Cubs and Lady Cubs basketball teams faced a quick turnaround, playing Hawley on Thursday, Jan. 19 and Haskell on Monday, Jan. 23.

The junior high teams close out their seasons Monday, Jan. 30 against Stamford. The Lady Cubs will be at home with the boys teams on the road. Games start at 5:30 p.m.

By Sam Waller

A total of 65 players have registered to participate in the upcoming Albany Little Dribblers season, just one fewer than signed up last year.

League organizer Joe Tidwell said 38 girls and 27 boys registered, a more even split than last year when 42 girls participated. That necessitated creating a six-team division that played an unbalanced schedule.

Tidwell said both boys and girls divisions will have four teams this season and play a double round-robin schedule. Teams were drafted earlier this week.

By Sam Waller

The Albany Lady Lions showed flashes of good play last week against playoff contenders as the District 10-2A girls basketball race nears the final stretch.

The Lady Lions (8-17 overall, 1-8 district) visited Haskell on Tuesday, Jan. 24, losing 59-32. Details will be reported next week. Albany hosts Hamlin at 6:15 p.m. Friday, Jan. 27.

Following an open date on Tuesday, Jan. 31, the Lady Lions will have two games remaining – Friday, Feb. 3 at Stamford and Tuesday, Feb. 7 against Anson at home.

By Sam Waller

The Albany Lions boys basketball team endured ups and downs last week, emerging with a split against District 10-2A leaders Cisco and Hawley to strengthen its position in the playoff race.

The Lions (9-3 overall, 5-2 district) began the second half of the 10-2A schedule Tuesday, Jan. 24, with a 45-38 win at Haskell. Details will be reported next week.

Albany will host Hamlin at 7:30 p.m. Friday, Jan. 27.

By Sam Waller

The Moran Lady Bulldogs and Bulldogs basketball teams are in full swing in District 13-1A play.

The Lady Bulldogs dropped district games against Rising Star, 28-17 on Tuesday, Jan. 10 and May, 52-9 on Friday, Jan. 13. The boys opened district against May with a 66-7 loss.

Moran opened a three-game homestand against Eula on Tuesday, Jan. 17. Results will be reported next week. The teams will also be at home Friday, Jan. 20 against Baird,and Tuesday, Jan. 24 against Cross Plains.

Girls Results

By Sam Waller

The Albany Cubs and Lady Cubs basketball teams returned from a month-long holiday break Thursday, Jan. 12, with games against Cisco before the girls hosted a one-day tournament on Saturday, Jan. 14.

The teams have another Thursday date on Jan. 19 (tonight) against Hawley, with the girls on the road and the boys at home. Games at both locations start at 5:30 p.m.

Last week, the boys teams hosted Cisco with the girls on the road.

GIRLS

Red Team

By Sam Waller

Albany’s youth basketball teams enjoyed solid performances Saturday, Jan. 14 in their second outing of the season, winning seven of eight games with the only loss coming by one point in overtime.

In girls games played at Jim Ned, the sixth grade team defeated Eula 18-12 and Hawley Maroon 16-0. The fifth grade girls swept Merkel Purple 12-4 and Merkel White, 17-6.