AUSTIN &045; On Senior Night for the Austin girls’ basketball team, juniors Lisa Bue and Laura Geffert showed that they’ll be in good hands even after this year’s class departs. The Packers dominated Albert Lea 50-33 Tuesday, evidence they aren’t overlooking anyone as the regular season winds down.

Neither team was setting the hoops afire in the first quarter, as both teams struggled to hold onto the ball, but the Packers went on a 19-2 run to seize control of the game by halftime.

The second half featured more of the same, as the Packer defenders used their

size and quickness to stifle the Albert Lea attack and extend the lead to 34-11. Bue in particular gave them trouble, creating a number of turnovers and establishing position inside for some putback baskets.

&uot;Our press defense is just deadly,&uot; she said. &uot;Mostly because we’ve had it drilled into our heads so much in practice, we could probably do it with our eyes closed.&uot;

The Tigers finally began to get some of their three-point attempts to fall, courtesy of Jess Hanson, but it was too late to pose much of a threat.

Albert Lea fell to 4-17 overall and 2-13 in league play.

The Tigers were led by 11 points from Hanson and six from Amy Ravenhorst, who took on the entire Austin defense on drives to the hole to earn each of her baskets.

The Packers had a balanced attack. Bue led the way with 14 points, three blocks and a steal. Senior Amy Kelly had 10 points, despite playing on another sprained ankle she suffered in practice on Monday, while classmate Steph Eslinger had six in her final game at Ove Bergen Gym. Laura Geffert added 10 points, eight of them in the decisive first half.

Austin improved to 18-4 and 13-4 to stay tied with Rochester Mayo for the conference lead. The Packers finish the regular season at Mankato West this Friday night, with a win guaranteeing them at least a share of the Big Nine title.

The Tigers host Winona Friday.