A trio of Buc hoopsters, Charlie Garlick, Garrett Anderson and Nick Lee take the ball to the basket in a home game against Albert Lea Friday night, Dec. 5. To see more photographs of this event, log on to http://cu.faribaultcountyregister.com

Good shot selection and domination of the boards proved effective as the Buc boys opened their basketball season with a non-conference win. They defeated the visiting Albert Lea Tigers by the score of 51-31.

While the host Bucs were shooting 70 percent of their shots from inside the paint, the Tigers were firing from long range. Albert Lea launched 28 shots from beyond the arc but only four of those attempts made their way through the hoop.

The Bucs, who out rebounded the Tigers 50-34, didn’t give their opponents many second chances. Led by Nick Lee and Garrett Anderson with 13 boards each, and Charlie Garlick who hauled down 10 misses, the Bucs physical strength was more than Albert Lea could handle.

“We were tenacious on the boards,” says head coach Gary Holmseth. “It will take a while to get our offense going the way we want, but it’s early in the season.”

A scoring drought at the start of the game put the Bucs in a 9-0 hole. Jared Smith finally put the maroon and gold on the scoreboard five minutes, 23 seconds into the game.

A trio of Buc hoopsters, Charlie Garlick, Garrett Anderson and Nick Lee take the ball to the basket in a home game against Albert Lea Friday night, Dec. 5. To see more photographs of this event, log on to http://cu.faribaultcountyregister.com

Trailing 14-4, Blue Earth Area ran off 11 unanswered points to grab a 15-14 lead. Tiger guard Brandon Antl converted two consecutive turnovers into lay ups, and forward Alik Smed added another lay up, and the Tigers had the lead back at 20-17.

It was a short-lived advantage.

Following a layup by Lee, Corey Liebl hit for three from the top of the key. Riley Holmseth ended the half with a baseline three to give the Bucs a 25-20 half time advantage.

The Bucs opened the second half with another three by Liebl and a Garlick bucket as they began to pull away. The Tigers could not stop the Bucs inside game as Anderson and Lee continued to rack up the points and the rebounds.

Anderson would lead all scorers with 17, followed by Lee with nine, Holmseth with eight, and Liebl with seven.

A trio of Buc hoopsters, Charlie Garlick, Garrett Anderson and Nick Lee take the ball to the basket in a home game against Albert Lea Friday night, Dec. 5. To see more photographs of this event, log on to http://cu.faribaultcountyregister.com

The Bucs were four of 11 from three-point range with Liebl and Holmseth connecting on two apiece. The Bucs shot only three of 12 from the free throw line.

The Bucs were to return to action on Saturday, Dec. 13, hosting Le Sueur-Henderson.

They host MCW on Tuesday, and Fairmont on Friday, this week.