Backcourt trio scores 56 points

The Albert Lea girls’ basketball team began its season Tuesday with a 59-53 come-from-behind win over Northfield at home.

The Tigers trailed by a basket at halftime (26-24), but they outscored Northfield by eight points in the second half.

Albert Lea head coach Lindsey Hugstad-Vaa said her team’s offensive explosion was due to out-rebounding Northfield 27-16 in the second half.

“We were more aggressive in the second half, and we knocked down some big shots,” she said.

Junior guard Megan Kortan led the Tigers with a double-double. She scored a team-high 22 points, grabbed 15 boards and had three steals.

Sydney Rehnelt scored 18 points and chipped in five rebounds, three steals and three assists. Bryn Woodside led the Tigers at the top of the key. She dished out seven assists, scored 16 points and grabbed five rebounds.

“All three of them looked great,” Hugstad-Vaa said.

The game was also Northfield’s season opener.

Next, Albert Lea will play at Kasson-Mantorville at 7:30 p.m. Saturday. The KoMets are 2-1 overall, coming off an 80-22 home win against Triton on Tuesday. Earlier this season, Kasson-Mantorville went 1-1 at the Dover-Eyota tournament with a 65-46 win over Zumbrota-Mazeppa and a 72-69 loss to Dover-Eyota.

Last year, the Tigers beat No. 3-seed Winona in the first round of the Section 1AAA tournament and lost to Kasson-Mantorville 67-58 in the second round.

View the box score in the Scoreboard: Dec. 3 post.