ALHS boys trounce Waseca
Published 12:00 am Monday, December 16, 2002
WASECA &045; The last time the Albert Lea High School boys’ basketball team faced the Waseca Bluejays, the Tigers did not have much luck on their side.
This time they didn’t need any.
The Tigers, nipped by Waseca on a desparation three-pointer at the buzzer in last season’s section semifinal, dominated in a 70-32 nonconference victory on the Bluejays’ court Saturday.
&uot;Overall, it was a real solid game for us,&uot; said ALHS coach Matt Addington.
It was also the Tigers’ first full game without leading scorer Ben Woodside, whose sprained ankle required a cast. With only one game scheduled in the next two weeks, Addington said the plan is to allow Woodside to fully heal before resuming the Big Nine schedule in January.
Woodside wasn’t missed Saturday because perennial power Waseca is anything but this year, fielding its most inexperienced team in decades.
The Tigers led 21-6 at the end of the first quarter, 39-18 at halftime and 57-30 after three quarters. Albert Lea had 13 turnovers to the Bluejays’ 19 and outrebounded Waseca 38-31. The Tigers’ bench outscored Waseca’s reserves 25-3.
Albert Lea’s individual leaders: Tyler Young 13 points, nine rebounds, four assists; Mike Behrends 13 points; Tom Munden 12 points; Stephen Thorn eight points, four rebounds, four assists; Ryan Moore six points; Jordan Skophammer six points, six rebounds; Ross Habben four points; Mitch Kortz three points; Jay Ackerman two points; Eric Shahan two points; Ryan Steele one point.
Addington said Moore and Marcus Thorstad did well handling the ball in place of Woodside. Another key, according to Addington, was the Tigers taking four charges on defense.