A last-second 3-pointer stole the show on Saturday as the Albert Lea boys’ basketball team hosted Stewartville.

With five seconds left in regulation, Stewartville erased a two-point deficit by banking in a desperation heave to win 67-66.

“It’s easy to look at that play, but we had plenty of opportunities to really open up the game at various times,” said Albert Lea head coach Lucas Kreuscher.

Kreuscher referred to his team’s performance at the charity stripe.

“We were 14 of 26 from the free-throw line, and in the last two games we left 28 points at the free throw line and lost by a total of 11 points.”

In the first half, Stewartville hit six 3-pointers, but Albert Lea used its transition game to build a six-point lead at halftime.

Dedoch Chan led Albert Lea with 22 points.

“He’s improved on getting squared up to the passers so they can get the ball to him,” he said. “He’s so naturally quick to the basket that he’s hard for the other team to guard.”

Tesloch Kuey scored 16 points and grabbed seven rebounds. Cody Scherff was one rebound away from a double-double with 11 points and nine boards.

Jake Thompson and Cole Keyeski led Albert Lea’s backcourt. Both guards had six points and two assists.

“I thought our passers did a nice job of looking for Dedoch and Cody on the inside all night,” Kreuscher said.

Stewartville and Albert Lea both have a tiger as their mascot.

Despite losses on back-to-back days — Albert Lea lost 52-42 at Winona on Friday — the Tigers have shown progress.

“We continued to get great looks inside, and that’s what we need to focus on and build from that,” Kreuscher said. “As we move on from this game, I think we will realize that we’ve taken a step forward in our last two games.”

Next, the Tigers (3-11 overall, 1-6 Big Nine Conference) host Mankato East at 7:30 p.m. Tuesday.

Mankato East (6-8, 2-6 Big Nine Conference) has lost two of its last three games and is coming off a 62-58 win at Hutchinson on Saturday.

Statistics are in the Scoreboard: Jan. 18, 19 post.