WASECA – Sure, there were some opening-night jitters for the Albert Lea High School girls’ basketball team.

Wednesday, November 28, 2001

WASECA – Sure, there were some opening-night jitters for the Albert Lea High School girls’ basketball team.

But they didn’t last long.

The Tigers shook off their shakiness in the first quarter, overcoming an early deficit to win 50-32 in a nonconference game at Waseca Tuesday.

&uot;Once we got past the jitters and the kids got comfortable, we were O.K.,&uot; said Tigers coach Karol Hansen. &uot;It was fun to watch the kids play as a team out there. We had great balance. I can’t ask for more out of the kids.&uot;

Trailing 8-4, the Tigers went on an 8-2 run to take a 12-10 lead at the end of the first quarter. They extended it to 27-14 at halftime and 41-26 after three periods.

Some of the key numbers, according to Hansen, were rebounds, assists and turnovers. The Tigers outrebounded the Bluejays 47-38, totaled 18 assists and had 17 turnovers, reaching their goal of less than 20 turnovers.

Aubree Page led the Tigers in scoring with 16 points, tying for the team high with nine rebounds. Jenny Vanderploeg had 10 points, eight rebounds and four assists, Beth Kolling seven points, four rebounds and four assists, Danielle Jacobs six points, nine rebounds and six assists.

Also contributing to the win: Danielle Rankin, three points, eight rebounds; Ashley Rankin, two points, six rebounds; Amy Ravenhorst, four points, two rebounds; Jenny Hovendick, two points; Jess Hanson, one rebound.

It was one of three Albert Lea victories, following a 28-25 triumph by the ninth-graders and a 41-21 win by the B-squad.

&uot;A clean sweep,&uot; said Hansen. &uot;I don’t know if you can ask for a much better way to start the season.&uot;

The Tigers start Big Nine play Friday at Rochester Century.