Tiger Classic set to tip off
Published 12:00 am Thursday, December 26, 2002
Holiday tournaments have been in fashion for several years, and Albert Lea High School sports teams have logged a lot of holiday travel miles getting to them.
This year, two local squads won’t have to travel. Make that four, counting junior varsity.
The inaugural Tiger Basketball Classic is Friday and Saturday at ALHS, bringing to town boys’ and girls’ teams from Faribault Bethlehem Academy, Eagan and Spring Grove.
&uot;After our tournament last year in Worthington, we thought it would be a great opportunity to host a tournament bring some people into Albert Lea,&uot; said ALHS boys’ basketball head coach Matt Addington, who is credited for spearheading the tournament effort. &uot;We have such a wonderful facility, and using it for a venue for this tournament is a great PR move for our school and basketball programs. It should be a great chance for fans to see some great basketball each day.&uot;
The boys’ field appears particularly strong. Spring Grove returns players from a team that won 18 games last year, Eagan was over .500 in the Lake Conference with only one senior last year, and Bethlehem Academy has key players back from a state tournament squad.
Lining up opponents was not a difficult task.
&uot;I was surprised at the number of schools interested in getting in,&uot; said Addington. &uot;If all goes well this winter and there is interest again, we would like to go to eight teams next year if possible.&uot;
Addington said Mike Moore and Gary Schrad of the Albert Lea Boys’ Basketball Boosters deserve recognition for helping organize the tournament.
&uot;They did much of the leg work,&uot; said Addington.
Here’s the schedule for the tournament:
Friday
– 9 a.m. &045; Albert Lea boys’ JV vs. Spring Grove JV
– 9 a.m. &045; Bethlehem Academy girls’ JV vs. Eagan girls’ JV
– 11 a.m. &045; Bethlehem Academy boys’ JV vs. Eagan boys’ JV
– 11 a.m. &045; Albert Lea girls’ JV vs. Spring Grove girls’ JV
– 1 p.m. &045; Bethlehem Academy girls’ varsity vs. Eagan varsity
– 3 p.m. &045; Albert Lea varsity vs. Spring Grove varsity
– 6:30 p.m. &045; Bethlehem Academy varsity vs. Eagan varsity
– 8:30 p.m. &045; Albert Lea varsity vs. Spring Grove varsity
Saturday
– 9 a.m. &045; Junior varsity girls’ third-place game
– 9 a.m. &045; Junior varsity boys’ championship
– 11 a.m. &045; Junior boys’ third-place game
– 11 a.m. &045; Junior varsity girls’ championship
– 1 p.m. &045; Varsity girls’ third-place game
– 3 p.m. &045; Varsity girls’ championship game
– 6:30 p.m. &045; Varsity boys’ third-place game
– 8:30 p.m. &045; Varsity boys’ championship game