(2 TIE) Austinites celebrate as Packers make state basketball title game

The Austin Packer boys basketball team fell one game short of their ultimate 2013 goal: A state title. The team still managed to put forth a historic run that captivated thousands of Austin fans all season.

The boys finished 30-1 overall and won 30 games in a row over the course of the season that saw the team play its first game Dec. 1, 2012, and its last game March 23, 2013.

Along with a perfect regular season, the boys won their second-straight Big Nine title and took second place in the Class ‘AAA’ state tournament after losing 50-33 to a loaded De LaSalle squad.

The Packers took their fans through a postseason roller coaster ride, as the team had a flare for the dramatic. Austin narrowly beat Winona in the Section 1AAA semifinals 51-49. Top-seeded Austin trailed by as many as 11 in the first half and was tied at 49-49 with time for one last play. That play looked to be a disaster as Austin point guard Zach Wessels lost his footing and the ball one step inside the halfcourt line. Winona had three players closing on the ball with the other two streaking down to the other end of the court in anticipation of a turnover. Instead, Wessels dove forward and tipped the ball past Winona’s defenders into the hands of Ajuda Nywesh, who drove for a layup with four seconds left.

Austin then needed overtime to beat Red Wing, and the boys beat the Blake School 59-56. They again needed overtime to beat Marshall on their way to the state title game. The 68-65 win over Marshall in the Class ‘AAA’ semifinals in a game that had seven ties, 18 lead changes and neither team leading by more than six.

Austin had a balanced attack throughout the year, as the outside shooting touch of Joe Aase complimented the playmaking of Wessels and the inside play of Tom Aase.