MANKATO – At the start of the season, new head coach Matt Addington said one of the keys for the Albert Lea High School boys’ basketball team was for the Tigers to learn how to win.

Saturday, December 08, 2001

MANKATO – At the start of the season, new head coach Matt Addington said one of the keys for the Albert Lea High School boys’ basketball team was for the Tigers to learn how to win.

They seemed to do so quickly, both on the road and in the Big Nine, winning at United South Central in their opener and defeating Owatonna in their first conference game.

The first Big Nine road win will have to wait.

The Tigers came out cold Friday night and lost 57-35 at Mankato West.

&uot;Mankato West came out and played extremely physical and we played extremely soft,&uot; said Addington.

The Tigers trailed 13-0 before scoring their first field goal with 35 seconds remaining in the opening quarter. A three-point basket by Corey Bowman pulled them within 13-5 at the buzzer.

West went on to lead 23-14 at halftime and 38-25 after three quarters.

The Tigers had trouble shooting all night, making 13 of 52 field goals and four of nine free throws..

West, meanwhile, made 19 of 48 from the floor and 15 of 22 free throws.

The Tigers were outrebounded 35-34 and had 21 turnovers to 18 for the Scarlets.

Bowman led the Tigers with nine points, all on three-pointers. Tyler Young scored six to go with a team-hgh 12 rebounds. Ben Woodside, the Tigers’ leading scorer after two games, was held to three points on one three-point basket.

The Scarlets were led by Dennis Baker’s 13 points. Sophomores Jordan Stolp and Andy Wills scored 10 and nine, respectively.

The loss was the first first for Addington’s Tigers, who fell to 1-1 in the Big Nine and 2-1 overall. It was the first win in three outings for the Scarlets.

The Tigers host Rochester John Marshall Tuesday.