If there’s one thing that’s become clear during Matt Addington’s two years at the helm of the Albert Lea High School boys’ basketball team, it’s that he does not like to lose.

And Friday’s 61-47 loss to Rochester Century was particularly distasteful.

It put the Tigers in the Big Nine basement at 2-7, and Century is coached by Jeff Wells, Addington’s high school coach at Rochester John Marshall.

&uot;At a point where I felt we might have been playing consistent basketball, it’s back to the realization we’re a very inconsistent team,&uot; said Addington. &uot;We’ll just have to keep starting over every day, and hope that the group that’s inspired and plays with emotion shows up, and I hope they do.&uot;

Emotion is what Addington felt the Tigers were lacking when he pulled all five starters off the floor midway through the second quarter.

&uot;It was like two teams that didn’t want to play basketball tonight,&uot; said Addington. &uot;But one team had to lose, and it was us.&uot;

The Tigers trailed 14-13, 31-21 and 41-30 at the breaks.

The Panthers secured the victory at the free-throw line, making 15 of 23 attempts in the fourth quarter alone.

Century improved its record to 3-6 in the Big Nine and 6-9 for the season.

The Tigers, 7-7 overall, host Owatonna Tuesday, seeking a regular-season sweep of the Huskies.