Huskies clamp down on Packer boys
Published 11:48 pm Friday, January 21, 2011
Austin's Matt Duren takes to the air on a lay-up against Owatonna Friday night in Packer Gym. -- Eric Johnson/photodesk@austindailyherald.com
The Packers just couldn’t figure out Owatonna’s defense in a 53-41 loss in Packer Gym Friday.
Austin (7-7 overall, 5-3 Big Nine) had just one field goal in the game’s first 10 minutes as the Huskies (13-1 overall, 8-0 Big Nine) got off to a 12-4 start and they never gave up the lead the rest of the way.
“They’re real good defensively and they’re probably the best defensive team in the conference,” Austin head coach Kris Fadness said. “I thought they were holding a lot on our slips, but that’s physical basketball and we’ve got to learn to play physical.”
The Packers pulled to within 34-32 with 6:25 left after Zach Wessels drove for a lay-up that turned into a three-point play and Joe Aase scored inside.
From that point, the Huskies 11 straight points to put it out of reach. Drew Osmundson had a steal that led to a three-point play that made it 41-32 and he had another steal for a lay-up that made it 45-32 with 3:37 left in the game.
Austin's Tom Aase goes up against Owatonna's Drew Osmundson during the first half Friday night in Packer Gym. -- Eric Johnson@photodesk@austindailyherald.com
“We had too many cross court bounce passes that led to lay-ups. The difference in the game was they got too many turnovers that led lay-ups,” Fadness said. “I liked our effort and I liked the way we fought back and got it to two. Give credit to Owatonna, they made a run late.”
Austin held Owatonna’s top scorer Vaughn Thada scoreless in the first half, but he hit some key shots in the second half. After Jay Ettinger banked in a three to make it 30-25, Thada nailed a pull-up jumper to make it 32-25 and after Joe Aase scored to make it 32-27, Thada hit a runner in the lane to push it back to 34-27.
“He hit a couple of big shots when we were starting to make a run,” Fadness said of Thada.
Owatonna 20 33 — 53
Austin 14 27 — 41
Austin scoring: Joe Aase, 14; Zach Wessels, 12; Matt Duren, 10; Jay Ettinger, 3; Tom Aase, 2; rebounds: 20 (Tom Aase, 10); free throws: 70 percent (12-for-17); turnovers: 20
Owatonna scoring: Mike Sebring, 11; Tyler Supalla, 10; Vaughn Thada, 8; Mitch Hawkins, 8; Drew Osmundson, 8; Parker Butler, 3; Logan Busho, 2; Matt Simon, 1; free throws: 70 percent (14-for-20); rebounds: 30 (Sebring, 6); turnovers: 16
