That’s more like it
Published 9:49 pm Thursday, February 10, 2011
Austin's Joe Aase finishes off a two-hand dunk against Waseca in the second half Thursday night in Packer Gym. - Eric Johnson/photodesk@austindailyherald.com
On Tuesday, the Packer boys basketball team didn’t do what it wanted to do against a one-win John Marshall team.
But things were much different on Thursday when Austin led throughout in a 73-44 win over Waseca (3-13 overall) in Packer Gym Thursday.
Running time kicked in with nine minutes left in the game and Austin’s starters sat most of the second half as they rolled to a win.
“Other than a slow start where we just weren’t making shots, I thought we were pretty smooth and we moved the ball well,” Austin head coach Kris Fadness said. “Joe (Aase) shot well and Matt (Duren) was able to create some things off the dribble.”
Austin's Matt Duren drives past Waseca's Zach Hiller during the second period Thursday night in Packer Gym. - Eric Johnson/photodesk@austindailyherald.com
Joe Aase found his mid-range jump shot early on as he poured in 18 points in the first half. The sophomore finished with 25 points, seven rebounds and three blocks in limited playing time.
“I was feeling pretty good on my shot and they were giving me a pretty big cushion,” Joe Aase said. “I’ve been kind of struggling the past few games and I haven’t had a big offensive game in awhile, so this was nice.”
Joe Aase put an exclamation point on the night when he threw down a two-handed dunk while being fouled by Zach Hiller early in the second half. He hit the free throw to make it 50-26.
Joe Aase was mobbed by his teammates after the jam and he wasn’t sure what was going on at first.
“I didn’t even know what just happened for a couple of seconds and Matt (Duren) came up and ran into me,” he said.
Austin (10-8 overall) started off just shooting perimeter jumpers, but eventually freshman Zach Wessels, who finished with 15 points, four rebounds and four steals, and senior Matt Duren, who finished with 11 points and five assists, started to get penetration that opened the game up.
Waseca 24 20 — 44
Austin 41 32 — 73
Austin scoring: Joe Aase, 25; Zach Wessels, 15; Matt Duren, 11; Andrew Kaiser, 9; Tom Aase, 6; Zach Fadness, 3; Jay Ettinger, 2; Caleb Knorr, 2; free throws: 75 percent (9-for-12); rebounds: 26 (Joe Aase, 7); turnovers: 9
Waseca scoring: Brock Kolander, 11; Colten Tlusty, 8; Jacob Sass, 7; Nic Rudolph, 6; Zach Hiller, 6; Barry Gullickson, 6; free throws: 50 percent (4-for-8); rebounds: 30 (Sass, 8); turnovers: 17
