Gach gets revenge as Packer boys blow past Falcons
Published 9:28 pm Tuesday, February 12, 2013
Austin's Joe Aase drives to the basket against Faribault late in the first half Tuesday night in Packer Gym. -- Eric Johnson/photodesk@austindailyherald.com
Austin's Tom Aase grabs a rebound during the first half against Faribault Tuesday night in Packer Gym.
The top team in the Big Nine was hosting the last place team in the Big Nine in Packer Gym Tuesday and it was pretty obvious which one was which.
The No. 2 Packers took care of business as they opened the game on a 10-2 run and beat the Falcons (3-18 overall, 0-13 Big Nine) 78-31.
Austin sophomore forward Gach Gach was especially pumped up for the game as he was very familiar with the Falcons. Gach finished with a career-high 10 points to go along with his four assists in the win.
“I used to live in Faribault so this was a big game for me,” Gach said. “I just wanted to destroy them.”
Austin head coach Kris Fadness said that he was glad Gach is playing for the Packers and he thinks the young swing player has a good future.
“I just don’t want him to move back (to Faribault). I want to keep him here,” Fadness said. “He’s getting better and better. He’s got a big upside.”
At halftime, with the Packers (21-0 overall, 14-0 Big Nine) leading 43-15, Austin senior Joe Aase was recognized as one of the 471 male finalists who was nominated for the McDonald’s All American basketball game.
Aase already new about the nomination but he said it was good to be recognized.
“I’ve known about it for awhile, but it was nice to get acknowledged,” Aase said. “I wanted to get over there as fast as I could so I could get back in the locker room. I didn’t go into the season expecting it going into the season, but it’s a nice honor.”
The 24 final McDonald’s All-Americans will be announced Feb. 14 and the game will be played April 3 at Chicago, Ill. and it will be broadcast on ESPN.
Austin's Bret Lukes floats a shot over Faribault's Nash Bauer (2) and Nate Emge during the first half Tuesday night in Packer Gym.
Aase had 19 points and seven rebounds in Austin’s win Tuesday and he was able to watch for most of the second half from the bench.
“It was nice to put them away early and not really have any drama about it,” Aase said. “We played a couple of other bad teams and kept the score a little closer than it should be.”
Faribault 15 16 — 31
Austin 43 35 — 78
Austin scoring: Joe Aase, 19; Bret Lukes, 11; Gach Gach 10; Ajuda Nywesh, 9; Tom Aase, 9; Collin Weisert, 8; Tommy Olmsted, 2; Ryan Synoground, 2; field goals: 60 percent (29-for-48); three-pointers: 46 percent (13-for-28); free throws: 78 percent (7-for-9); rebounds: 26 (Joe Aase, 7); turnovers: 8
