By Chuck Anderson

50 years ago – 1961

Mitch Page scored 22 points to lead the Austin Packers to a 71-53 victory over the Albert Lea Tigers in a Big Nine basketball game. The Tigers were led by Paul Wilke with 15 points and Gary Jacobson with 14.

Ellendale improved their season record to 7-4 with a 42-41 win over Hayfield. Larry Pence scored 14 points, and Dan Morris 11 for Ellendale.

In Border League basketball, Kiester remained undefeated at 8-0 with a 62-51 win over Freeborn. Glen Meyer scored 17 points and Darrel Meyer and Leon Walcholz added 13 each for Kiester. Gabby Pierce of Freeborn had 26 points for Freeborn. The Alden Blackhawks defeated Elmore 55-51. Duane Tiede scored 14 points and Don Brummer 13 for the Blackhawks.

25 years ago – 1986

Tim Struck scored 18 points, Greg Deyak 16 and Mike Petersen 14 for the Albert Lea Tigers in their 60-47 win over the Austin Packers.

The Freeborn girls basketball team defeated Kiester 59-20. Freeborn was led by Teresa Schuster with 18 points, Amy Colvin 16 and Peggy Colvin 10.

The Minnesota Gopher men’s basketball team with only six scholarship players left on the team after suspensions because of academics, etc. defeated Ohio State 70 -65. The Gophers were led by John Shasky with 19 points, Marc Wilson with 14 and Tim Hanson and Kelvin Smith with 10 each.

10 years ago – 2001

The Albert Lea boys’ swimming team defeated Farmington 94-86. Double winners for the Tigers were Ben Lindeman in the 100-yard freestyle and and the 500-yard freestyle, Mark Hickman in the 200-yard individual medlay and the 100-yard backstroke and Ryan Lowe in the 50-yard freestyle and the 100-yard freestyle.

In a Southeast Conference boys’ basketball game Glenville-Emmons defeated Mabel-Canton 66-29. Glenville was led by Paul Kleven with 18 points and Adam Bremer with 11.

Kerri Muellar scored 11 points, and Andrea Eilertson 10 for the United South Central girls basketball team in their 43-39 victory over Albert Lea.