By Chuck Anderson

50 years ago — 1962

Wells, from Region 2, defeated Lyle 44-36 in the opening round of the state basketball tournament. Al Redman scored 14 points and Ron Meyer 11 for Wells. Phil Block led Lyle with 14 points. South St. Paul defeated Wells 73-53 in a semifinals game. Wells defeated Danube 68-62 to finish in third place. Al Redman scored 31 points against Danube.

Named to the Big Nine All-Conference basketball team were Clair Flaten, Lowell Syverson, Gary Jacobsen and John Goodmanson from Albert Lea; Mike Burice, Don Shirk, Terry Ball and Tom Hardy from Austin; Jon Sivly from Rochester; Rick Brandvig from Faribault; Bob Grausnik from Winona; Jon Schumm from Northfield and Steve Smesrud from Mankato.

25 years ago — 1987

Named to the All-Border League East boys’ basketball team were Terry Hintz and Mark Meyer from South Central, Darrin Dylla from Alden-Conger, Rodney Goette from Freeborn, Eric Sheehan and Kevin Beck from Emmons.

Named to the All-Gopher Conference boys’ basketball team were Drew Vangen from Ellendale-Geneva, Paul Tordoff from Glenville and Ryan Rugroden from New Richland-Hartland.

Named to the All-Border League East girls’ basketball team were Kay Molskness, Laura Berkeland and Carol Ann Shudlick from South Central, Lisa Sveen from Emmons, Teresa Schuster from Freeborn and Deb Coughlin from Alden-Conger.

10 years ago — 2002

Lindsay Whalen scored 29 points and Lindsay Lieser 12 for the Minnesota Gophers in their 71-54 first round win over UNLV in the NCAA women’s basketball tournament.

Named to the All-Big Nine Conference basketball team from Albert Lea were Ben Woodside and Tyler Young. Receiving honorable mention was Josh Kasper.

Kjerstin Back of the Lake Mills girls’ basketball team was named the Albert Lea Tribune Area Basketball Player of the Year. Named to the first team were Back, Danielle Jacobs from Albert Lea, Nicole Krueger from Alden-Conger, Erin Anderson from New Richland-Hartland-Ellendale-Geneva and Andrea Eilertson from United South Central. Named to the second team were Aubree Page from ALHS, Alisa Rayman from Glenville-Emmons, Katie Pederson from Northwood-Kensett and Hilary Wacholz from USC.