WILLMAR – The Willmar Cardinals were 16-6 during the regular season and probably not expecting a big challenge from the Albert Lea Tigers in the opening round of the Section 2AAA girls’ basketball tournament.

Wednesday, February 27, 2002

WILLMAR – The Willmar Cardinals were 16-6 during the regular season and probably not expecting a big challenge from the Albert Lea Tigers in the opening round of the Section 2AAA girls’ basketball tournament.

But they got one.

The Tigers, who took an 8-14 record into the game, gave Willmar all it could handle before falling 58-47 Tuesday night.

&uot;All in all, I’m extremely proud of the girls and the way they played,&uot; said Albert Lea coach Karol Hansen. &uot;We took our game to Willmar and took them out of their game. I don’t think they knew what hit them in the first half.&uot;

That’s when the Tigers played some of their best basketball of the season, taking leads of 18-9 after one quarter and 28-23 at halftime.

&uot;In the first half, we played the kind of basketball we’ve been capable of playing all year long,&uot; said Hansen. &uot;Not that we played poorly in the second half. They just got hot shooting.&uot;

Shooting – and a 5-foot-5 guard named Allison Adamson – made the difference in the second half. The Tigers were 2-for-21 from the floor in the second half, including 2-for-11 on three-point shots, while Adamson scored 21 of her 26 points including four three-pointers. The Cardinals were 8-for-18 from the floor in the second half, 4-for-6 from three-point range.

Hansen refused to blame the loss on the road trip of three-plus hours but admitted it may have been a factor.

&uot;It might have,&uot; said Hansen. &uot;We got tired.&uot;

Hansen said the Tigers achieved most of their goals for the game, outrebounding Willmar 27-23, going 13-for-16 on free throws and committing only 16 turnovers, but the Cardinals were just too hot in the second half. For the game, Willmar made 7 of 11 three-point shots.

Aubree Page led the Tigers with 17 points. Beth Kolling and Jenny Vanderploeg scored seven each, Danielle Jacobs six, Amy Ravenhorst and Jenny Hovendick three and Danielle Rankin two.

&uot;We made excellent strides this season,&uot; said Hansen. &uot;The girls and the coaching staff would like to say thanks for the wonderful support we got this season from the fans. We’re looking forward to next year and even more good things.&uot;