The Albert Lea eighth-grade traveling girls’ basketball team continued the second part of the Big Nine traveling tournament with three victories.

The first game was against Rochester Century. The Tigers packed in a tight zone defense, with Hali Hendrickson, Dezi Jacobs and Jessica Sosebee fronting Century’s go-to girl, taking her out of the game. The girls gave up only six points in the first half. The Tigers were able to pull the ball out to stall, forcing Century to foul and put the Tigers at the charity stripe, where they made 10 of 15 en route to a 41-22 win.

Next was Rochester John Marshall. The Tigers again were relentless on defense and allowed only six points in the first half while winning 47-18.

The girls slated faced Mankato West after only a five-minute break. West pressed the Tigers at the onset, hoping to capitalize on some tired legs, but the Tigers answered back and went on to win 35-27.

Jacobs, Annika Smed

and Chelsey Niebuhr led the defense, while Samantha Cole played her best offensive games setting screens for her teammates. Hendrickson and Sosebee dominated the boards for the weekend, pulling down 29 and 21, respectively. Jordan Reim also had some key rebounds.

Leaders for the tournament: Cole eight points, eight rebounds, two assists; Hendrickson 52 points, 29 rebounds, 16 steals, nine assists; Reim five points, five rebounds; Chelsey Niebuhr three points, six rebounds, three steals, four assists; Jacobs 36 points, nine rebounds, seven steals, seven assists; Beth Niebuhr, three rebounds; Smed, two points, four rebounds, four steals; Sosebee 17 points, 21 rebounds, two steals, two assists.

The girls are sponsored in part by the Elks Club of Albert Lea.