The Packer boys basketball team has nearly been in hibernation over the past two weeks, but they’re about to awake from their slumber.

After having just one game in 13 days, the No. 10 ranked Packers (18-0 overall, 11-0 Big Nine) will play at Mankato West (11-7 overall, 8-4 Big Nine) Friday at 7:15 p.m. and they will host Albert Lea (10-7 overall, 5-6 Big Nine).

The Scarlets are fourth in the conference and AL took Austin to double overtime earlier this season, so Austin head coach Kris Fadness said his team will be ready for a challenge.

“The first goal is to win the conference,” Fadness said. “Right now it looks like us or JM and if one us slips up it’s gonna cost us them the conference. This is a big week.”

Fadness certainly wasn’t upset about his team having the long break. Austin guards Bret Lukes and Zach Wessels and forward Collin Weisert have all been nursing ankle injuries and it was uncertain if Lukes and Wessels would’ve played if there was a game Tuesday.

The team is now set to be healthy in time for Friday’s game.

“We needed a little break and it was good that we didn’t have to play Tuesday,” Fadness said. “It’s helped us heal a little. It’s been a weird week between the flu bug and ankle injuries.”

With the winter season being a long one, the Packers have reached that point were practices are dragging on and the Section 1AAA tournament is still a month away. But the team has stayed focused on the task at hand.

“I’m really impressed with how the boys have stayed in the moment and I hope it stays that way,” Fadness said.