Coach Neil Chalmers said he and the Albert Lea High School girls’ basketball team have had enough of this moral victory stuff.

Saturday, December 11, 1999

Coach Neil Chalmers said he and the Albert Lea High School girls’ basketball team have had enough of this moral victory stuff.

They’re ready for the real thing.

&uot;I tell you what, it’s tough to swallow,&uot; said Chalmers. &uot;I kind of want to stay away from the moral victory thing, because we need a real victory.&uot;

And coming close is no consolation at this point.

&uot;No,&uot; said Chalmers. &uot;It’s not.&uot;

The Tigers’ latest close call came Friday night, when they took perennially strong Mankato East to overtime before falling 54-47 at Southwest Junior High School.

The loss was the 33rd consecutive for the Tigers, who did not win a game last season and are 0-3 this year.

Chalmers said they’re so close to snapping the skid they can taste it.

&uot;I think we’re tired of coming close,&uot; he said. &uot;It’s time for us to put somebody away. We played great basketball again tonight. We can taste it. The victories are right there.&uot;

That was apparent from the outset, as the Tigers played aggressive on both ends of the floor while trading the lead with the Cougars throughout the first half.

East led 10-9, 20-17 and 39-25 at the first three quarter breaks, but the Tigers outscored the Cougars 20-6 in the fourth to tie it 45-45 at the end of regulation.

The difference, according to Chalmers – both in regulation and overtime – was free throws and turnovers.

The Tigers were 3-for-3 at the line, East 23-for-34, and Albert Lea had 20 turnovers to the Cougars’ 13.

&uot;The story is, we’re not getting to the line enough and our opponents have been,&uot; said Chalmers.

The Tigers were 21-for-49 from the field, East 15-for-50.

Sophomore Danielle Jacobs led the Tigers in scoring for the third game in a row, netting 15 points while adding three assists. Amber Sickels had 12 points, six rebounds and three steals, Beth Kolling seven points, four rebounds and two steals. Jess Hanson contributed eight points, Afton Delger three and Katie Nordstrom two. Lisa Amundson had three assists.

Chalmers praised the play of Nordstrom off the bench.

&uot;It’s fun to have a good basketball game,&uot; said Chalmers. &uot;But it’s tough to win a close ballgame if you’re not used to winning. As soon as we start to win the close ones, that’s when we’ll turn the corner.&uot;

The Tigers travel to Owatonna Tuesday.