Only time will tell if it translates into victories in the Big Nine this winter, but Albert Lea High School boys’ basketball coach Matt Addington can’t help but be encouraged by the success of his players this summer.

Four Tigers &045; Ben Woodside, Mike Behrends, Ryan Moore and Parker Skophammer &045; played on select squads that competed against the best in the nation, and their Albert Lea teammates joined them to post a record of roughly 20-5.

The team ended summer competition Aug. 2-3 with the Pacesetter Sweet 16 tournament at St. Cloud, where it went 2-2 against top-notch competition.

&uot;It’s summer basketball, it’s not quite the same, but we competed,&uot; said Addington. &uot;It doesn’t count for much right now, but when we’re in the thick of it in February and March, I think the experience will help us.&uot;

A highlight was the opener in the Pacesetter tournament, in which Albert Lea led Osseo 34-27 before falling 69-59. Osseo lost to Minneapolis North in double-overtime in the Class AAAA state championship game this past season. Woodside scored 25 points and Behrends had 14.

&uot;It has to be good for our confidence to go out and play well against the best of the best,&uot; said Addington.

The Tigers then faced Byron, which was 27-2 in the high school season, and won 71-51. Woodside scored 31, Behrends 19 and Ross Habben 10.

Next was Mankato Loyola, which went 29-0 while winning last season’s Class A state title, and the Tigers fell 61-60 in what Addington called a frustrating game. Behrends scored 18, Woodside 13 and Stephen Thorn 12. Habben and Trent Miller played well defensively against Loyola’s 6-foot-9 Division I prospect.

The Tigers defeated Morris 72-56 in their final pool game as Woodside scored 29 and Skophammer had 10.

Also playing in the tournament for Albert Lea were Moore, Zach Marty, Ryan Steele, Brock Sorenson and Travis Klatt.

With Addington allowed to work with his players only in June and July, former Tigers Mark Habben and Luke Behrends coached the team at St. Cloud.

Also this summer, Woodside played for Minnesota’s top select team, the Gold, while Behrends and Moore were moved up as juniors to the Maroon team. Skophammer played on the 15-and-under select team.

Tournaments they attended included the Kentucky Hoop Fest in Louisville and the Adidas Big Time in Las Vegas, at which every Div-ision I college has at least two coaches.

Based on what he’s seen this summer, Addington expects an exciting winter.

&uot;We’ve got some kids that can fly and play above the rim,&uot; said Addington. &uot;It’s going to be an exciting group to watch.&uot;

(Contact Jim Lutgens at sports @albertleatribune.com or 379-3437.)