Albert Lea boys fall at Mankato West

Published 4:02 am Wednesday, February 12, 2014

The Albert Lea and Mankato West boys’ basketball teams went down to the wire for the second time this year.

The Scarlets snuck away with a double overtime win at Albert Lea on Feb. 3, and they took down the Tigers 66-57 Tuesday to sweep the regular-season series.

With 3 1/2 minutes left the Tigers had the ball with a three-point deficit. However, Albert Lea was unable to chip away in the waning moments.

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Neither team could pull away in the first half, and the Tigers led 26-24 at halftime.

Dedoch Chan led Albert Lea with 21 points.

“He had an outstanding night,” said Albert Lea head coach Lucas Kreuscher. “He beat them with quickness. That’s what he brings to the table, and our passers did a nice job of finding him.

Cody Scherff scored 11 points in the paint, and Tesloch Kuey added nine.

The Tigers were thin in the backcourt. Tyler Vandenheuvel rested in hopes of not aggravating a previous knee injury, and Charlie Morris did not play, Kreuscher said. Cole Keyeski led Albert Lea’s guards with eight points.

After losing by 37 points at home Monday against Waseca, the Tigers played competitively at Mankato West.

“In the big picture, I was pleased with how we responded to some adversity,” Kreuscher said.

Next, Albert Lea (6-17 overall, 4-11 Big Nine Conference) will host Rochester Century at 7:30 p.m. Friday.