Coach Matt Addington believes that eventually he’ll find something positive about Friday night’s Albert Lea High School boys’ basketball game.

But on Friday night he was having a time doing it. About all he could think of was an eight-turnover second quarter and 14 missed free throws, which led to a

72-68 loss to Mankato West on the ALHS court.

&uot;I know I will find some good out of this,&uot; said Addington. &uot;But to just absolutely beat yourself in the first half, and then the free throw thing, it’s frustrating.&uot;

Time will tell if the Tigers can turn it into a positive.

&uot;I hope this lights a fire under us in that we can play at a pretty high level,&uot; said Addington. &uot;We just can’t turn it off and on. We need to leave it on all the time. Sometimes a loss to a good team can spark you. Hopefully it will, and we’ll go from here.&uot;

The Tigers played from behind most of the night, staging more than one impressive rally. The first came in the final 1:30 of the first quarter, when the Tigers scored six unanswered points to pull within 14-11 after trailing 14-5.

The second quarter brought the turnover troubles for the Tigers, and it allowed the Scarlets to build a 31-21 lead with 1:06 left until halftime.

A three-point basket by Mike Behrends and free throws by Ross Habben and Behrends go the Tigers within 33-27 at the intermission.

West went on a run to start the third quarter and quickly had a 36-29 lead, but again the Tigers battled back. Consecutive three-pointers by Ben Woodside made it 38-36 and, at the midway mark, another Woodside three cut it to 40-39.

The Tigers took their first lead when Tyler Young blocked a shot and quickly passed to Woodside, who set up Tom Munden with an alley-oop pass. Munden made the basket, was fouled and added the free throw to put the Tigers up 46-44. West took a 51-50 edge into the fourth.

It was back and forth in the fourth, which included dunks by Woodside and Young, but the Tigers hurt themselves by missing five free throws. West’s Andy Wills had a key basket and three free throws down the stretch for the Scarlets.

Woodside led all scorers with 28 points, adding six assists and four steals. Young had 13 points, 10 rebounds and two blocks, Behrends nine points and four rebounds. Jordan Skophammer and Munden scored six, Stephen Thorn five.

Sophomore Scott Nessler’s 19 points led four West scorers in double figures. Andy Wills scored 16, freshman Tommy Saffert 12, Jordan Stolp 11.

The Tigers were 24-for-48 from the floor, including 4-for-14 on threes, while making 16 of 30 free throws. West was 26-for-58 from the floor, 3-for-13 on threes, and 14-for-20 at the line. The Tigers, outrebounded 27-23, had 14 turnovers to 13 for West.

&uot;In the second half we played well,&uot; said Addington.

The loss evened the Tigers’ record at 1-1, both in the Big Nine. It was the season opener for the Scarlets.

The Tigers travel to Rochester John Marshall Tuesday.