New Prague hit 10 3-pointers in the first half against the Albert Lea boys’ basketball team Wednesday in the first round of the Section 1AAA playoffs and rolled to a 67-45 victory in New Prague.

The Tigers (4-21) fell behind by 19 at halftime, but did mount a comeback in the second half.

Albert Lea forced turnovers on five consecutive possessions and cut the lead to 13 temporarily.

Tigers senior Damian Montes hit five 3-pointers and scored a career-high 19 points. Colby Strilaeff added nine points and Silas Randall eight for Albert Lea.

Tigers head coach Lucas Kreuscher said he thought the team played well offensively despite the loss.

“Both teams shot right at 50 percent from the field,” Kreuscher said. “The difference was we were trading 2s for 3s.”

Danny Geiger led New Prague with 18 points and Alex Dittberner scored 14 points. Cale Girten added 13 points.

Kreuscher said Albert Lea didn’t do a good enough job of challenging the Trojans’ shots.

“They were too comfortable offensively,” Kreuscher said. “You can’t let a team like New Prague just catch and shoot, they’ll bury you.”

The Tigers played without junior Alix Smed, who was out because of illness, and his loss shortened an already short bench for Kreuscher.

“I felt that it was a game that we didn’t necessarily lose, but a game New Prague went out and won,” Kreuscher said.

Montes and Strilaeff are two starters who graduate this spring.

New Prague 67, Albert Lea 45

Albert Lea 21 24 — 45

New Prague 40 27 — 67

Albert Lea scoring: Damian Montes 19, Colby Strilaeff 9, Silas Randall 8, Kyle Ooms 4, Aaron Klatt 3, Ethan Abben 2.

New Prague scoring: Danny Geiger 18, Alex Dittberner 14, Cale Girten 13, Nick Litzau 6, Jed Kreuser 6, Joe Hatch 3, Luke Busch 3, Nick Gerdes 3, Josiah Nunemaker 2.