Alba-Golden basketball fans should buckle up for an exciting season. Despite having dropped their home opener, 59-46, to the Lone Oak Buffaloes, the 2025-26 Panthers are an impressive squad. 

First-year coach Nathan Sabo has clearly attuned the Alba-Golden athletes to the challenges of the court and installed structure to their hardwood efforts. 

Lone Oak is a challenging test for any team this year. They are quick, well-balanced, aggressive, and they can shoot. So when they had a big second quarter and went up by 15 points at the half, most fans would consider the game to be decided. 

No only did Alba-Golden fight back, but they carried much of the action in the second half, and were within striking distance with 3:00 remaining to play.

The Panthers ran an aggressive (and clean) man-to-man defense which frustrated the Buffaloes throughout the game. Lone Oak had to turn to their perimeter shooting as they were turned away from the paint time and again.

Offensively, Alba-Golden moved the ball quickly around the perimeter and did a nice job working off of high screens and give-and-go’s. The Panthers are able to drive the lane with effectiveness, and they have the wherewithal and size to compete on the boards.

Among the takeaways from the game will surely be improving free throw shooting, denying short baseline jumpers and improving perimeter shooting percentages. Any two of the three would have taken the Panthers to an early season win over Lone Oak.

This season’s squad is composed of posts Blake Harris, Landon Dunham and Hunter Hoffman; guards Boogie Trimble, Sam Olson and Brett Sutton; and forwards Leo Mataj, Easton Samples, Collin Speck and Noah Richardson.

After a long road stand, the first opportunity to catch the Panthers at home will be Tuesday, Dec. 16 when they host Wolfe City. Tip-off is set for 6:15 p.m.