Mike Webber

Last night’s boys’ basketball game against Waseca featured a full house, packed stands in support of the home Albert Lea Tigers and visiting Waseca Bluejays.

Wednesday, December 19, 2001

Last night’s boys’ basketball game against Waseca featured a full house, packed stands in support of the home Albert Lea Tigers and visiting Waseca Bluejays.

The fans got their money’s worth.

The upstart Tigers gave the Bluejays – ranked No. 4 in the state in Class 3A – all they could handle for most of the night before falling 69-59.

After two minutes of missed shots and turnovers, Waseca scored the first basket. Shortly afterwards center Tim Benesch answered for the Tigers.

After Benesch, guard Ben Woodside scored on a three-point shot, the first of four three-pointers he would hit.

The Tigers had control at the end of the first quarter, 19-10.

The second quarter went off a lot quicker than the first, with Albert Lea scoring two field goals and Waseca scoring three, two of them three-pointers.

The quick scoring of Waseca made the game a close 23-20 at the beginning of the second. This was a factor that Tigers head Coach Matt Addington was trying to prepare for going into this game.

&uot;We had to slow down the game and had to cover (Kellen) Driscoll and (Sam) Conway,&uot; said Addington. &uot;We had to play intelligent and not turn over the ball.&uot;

Waseca had a two-point halftime lead, 31-29.

In the second half Waseca again was the first to score. Woodside hit a couple free throws, but the Bluejays kept their high-pace game going and by then end of the third, had a nine-point lead at 50-41.

Waseca wasn’t about to stop there, scoring early in the fourth to take a comfortable lead. After about four minutes of Waseca controlling Albert Lea had enough and fired back, but the rally fell short.

Ben Woodside led the Tigers with a game-high 23 points. Tyler Young scored 17.

The loss dropped the Tigers’ record to 3-3 overall.

Albert Lea’s next action is at the Worthington Invitational on Dec. 27 and 28, with the first game against Park Center.