While no team likes to lose, the Tigers took their loss Friday on the chin and are looking to finish their regular season strong.

The Owatonna boys’ basketball team defeated Albert Lea 83-53 Friday at Albert Lea High School.

“It was definitely a very physical game,” said Albert Lea coach Stan Thompson. “We battled to the end, without question.”

Jake Thompson and Jake Kilby led the Tigers offense. Jake Thompson had 19 points, four rebounds, five assists and a steal; and Kilby put up 20 points, grabbed six rebounds and had an assist and a steal.

The Tigers (1-22 overall, 0-20 Big Nine Conference) have three games left in the regular season before the postseason starts. The team’s next game will be the last home game of the regular season — a 7:30 p.m. tipoff against Austin (18-5, 16-4) on Tuesday. The Packers previously defeated the Tigers 78-63 Jan. 8.

Stan Thompson said Tuesday will be senior night for his team, and he counts on the community to continue the support it has shown throughout the season — something he reminded his players of during and after Friday’s game.

“I told them, ‘No matter what, you guys gotta realize nobody in the crowd left — it was as full as it was at the beginning. That’s a testament to how hard you play,’” he said. “The community’s behind us. … Anything can happen.”