For most of this young season, the third quarter has been disastrous&ltbr&gtfor the Albert Lea High School boys’ basketball team.

Sunday, December 19, 1999

For most of this young season, the third quarter has been disastrous for the Albert Lea High School boys’ basketball team.

Things were different Friday night.

This time it was the second quarter that spelled defeat.

The Tigers were outscored 21-9 by visiting Rochester Century and had a second-half rally fall short in a 50-41 Big Nine loss at Southwest Junior High School.

&uot;It was nice to see us compete in the third quarter,&uot; said coach Jason Bakke.

The Tigers also continued to compete surprisingly well without their leading scorer and rebounder, Nick Cunningham, who’s sidelined with a stress fracture.

&uot;We’re getting so much better,&uot; said Bakke. &uot;We’re starting to do the little things right.&uot;

Neither team could do much right offensively in the first quarter, which ended in a 7-7 tie.

The Panthers slowly pulled away in the second, taking a 28-16 lead into halftime.

Century’s lead remained 12 points early in the third period before the Tigers began battling back, pulling within five points. They nearly narrowed it to three, but a shot by Matt Ladwig bounced in and out. The Panthers led 37-30 entering the fourth quarter.

&uot;It was a great defensive effort,&uot; said Bakke. &uot;And we were patient offensively, cutting our turnovers from 12 in the first half to four in the second.&uot;

The Tigers were 15-for-36 from the floor and 9-for-13 on free throws while Century hit 12 of 18 from the line. The Panthers had 12 turnovers while outrebounding Albert Lea 25-21.

Junior Chris Rebelein had his best game of the season, making seven of 11 field goals and three of four free throws while scoring 17 points. He also led the team with six rebounds.

Ladwig had seven points, five rebounds and two blocked shots. Dan Ravenhorst also had seven points.

The Tigers to 0-4 in the Big Nine and 1-4 overall. Century improved to 1-3.

The Tigers host Waseca in a nonconference game Tuesday.