Austin boys' basketball coach Kris Fadness prognosticated at the onset of the season that Albert Lea's Ben Woodside would be the best guard in the Big Nine Conference. Unfortunately Coach Fadness was right.

Woodside scored 15 of his game-high 32 points in the third quarter in leading the Tigers to a 74-57 triumph Friday night in Ove Berven Gym in Austin. Woodside also scored the last 10 Tiger points of the third quarter to spur the visitors to victory.

"Austin and Albert Lea is a big rivalry," Woodside said. "We came out here and wanted to win, and we played a full basketball game."

Woodside hit 6-9 field-goals in the third period and 10-19 for the game, but his six steals contributed as much to the win as his scoring. Austin had 23 turnovers to Albert Lea's 12, and the Tigers also had a decisive advantage in getting to the free-throw line.

"Woodside just controlled the whole game," Fadness said. "That and rebounding. Between that and the rough, physical play that allowed them to beat us up on the boards, there's nothing else to it."

Albert Lea led the rebounding 30-26, including 13 offensive caroms that often times led to second-chance baskets for the Tigers. ALHS had a 21-12 scoring advantage in the third period fueled by seven offensive rebounds and six Packer turnovers. Woodside flourished in the fast-paced frenzy with 15 points.

"We had a tough time stopping him tonight," said AHS senior Kyle Rizzi. "His drive just hurt us. He'd either shoot it or kick it out, and their guys were converting on it."

Rizzi was one of three Packers scoring in double-figures. Jon Bain led Austin with 16 points, John Duren scored 14 and Rizzi added 10.

Austin was within two points, 29-27, at the half before the Woodside show started in the third quarter. Albert Lea also hit 16-20 free-throws in the fourth period and 23-36 for the game.

"Anybody that has seen us play knows that we're not going to outscore anybody," Fadness said. "We've got to play better defense than that to win."

Albert Lea attempted 24 more free-throws than the Pack, who dipped to 5-7 overall and 2-5 in league play.

"We were hoping we could get back to .500 but it didn't turn out that way," Rizzi said. "They played harder than us."

Both teams shot right around 50 percent from the field. Austin's hopes of winning came down to stopping Albert Lea from scoring, which in the third quarter they seemed unable to do.

"It just basically got to the point that they were going to score every time they got the ball, it was just a matter of how many tries it was going to take them," Fadness said.

Albert Lea's Steven Thorn had eight rebounds, including four offensive, to lead his team. Austin was also whistled for 25 fouls to the Tigers' 14.

"Finally we came together and had good team chemistry tonight," Woodside said. "Coach said that if you get after it and play hard on defense that carries over into your offensive game.

"It was a heck of a game by us, we played four great quarters of basketball tonight."

Austin goes to Mankato West next Thursday for a 7:30 p.m. contest.

Boxscore:

ALBERT LEA (74) -- Steven Thorn 4-6 4-4 12, Ryan Moore 1-4 3-4 5, Marcus Thorstad 0-1 1-2 1, Eric Shahan 0-0 0-0 0, Ben Woodside 10-19 10-15 32, Mitch Kortz 0-0 0-0 0, Ryan Steele 0-0 0-0 0, Matt Duncomb 0-0 1-2 1, Tyler Young 3-3 2-3 8, Ross Habben 0-1 0-0 0, Tom Munden 2-4 0-0 4, Jordan Skophammer 0-0 0-2 0, Jay Ackerman 0-0 0-0 0. Totals 24-47 23-36.

AUSTIN (57) -- John Fargen 0-0 0-0 0, Kyle Rizzi 4-8 2-2 10, Joey Kroc 0-1 0-0 0, Mark Cavanaugh 1-3 0-0 3, Troy Hoefflin 2-4 0-0 4, Tucker Schieck 1-3 0-0 2, Jon Bain 7-10 2-3 16, John Duren 4-10 6-7 14, Jon Barnett 2-2 0-0 4, Jordan VanProosdy 2-5 0-0 4. Totals 23-46 10-12.

Albert Lea15142124--74

Austin15121218--57

Three-pointers--Albert Lea 3-9 (Woodside 2-5, Behrends 1-2, Moore 0-2); Austin 1-11 (Cavanaugh 1-3, Duren 0-3, Schieck 0-2, VanProosdy 0-2, Hoefflin 0-1). Rebounding--Albert Lea 30 (Thorn 8); Ausitn 26 (Bain 5, Duren 4). Team fouls--Albert Lea 14, Austin 25. Fouled out--Kroc. Turnovers--Albert Lea 12, Austin 23.