Following a trying week that included a starting lineup shakeup after a down-the-stretch collapse in Owatonna, the Austin boys’ basketball team played perhaps its finest fourth quarter of the season in a 61-56 victory over Mankato East at home on Tuesday.

Wednesday, February 16, 2000

Following a trying week that included a starting lineup shakeup after a down-the-stretch collapse in Owatonna, the Austin boys’ basketball team played perhaps its finest fourth quarter of the season in a 61-56 victory over Mankato East at home on Tuesday.

Andy Erichson, a junior guard starting for the first time in his career, broke open a 45-45 game on consecutive possessions, hitting a three pointer before stealing the ball and making the bucket.

"We’ve played so well then let it go at the end of games," said Erichson, who finished with a career-high 12 points. "It’s nice to close it out and realize how to win."

After Erichson’s heroics, the Packers continued to seal the win, their mistake-free play allowing them to stave off a trio of East three pointers. Down the stretch, Austin:

– Hit 9-of-12 free throws on its way to a 20-of-24 game.

– Hustled. On consecutive possessions with just under a minute remaining, Austin post men Brian Elwer and Tanner Schieck raced to chase down loose balls following East misses, preventing second-chance opportunities. Also, Nick Rohne cut in front of an East passing lane to tie up the ball with the score 52-47. The tie-up gave Austin possession of the ball.

"The first three quarters haven’t been our problem this year," Coach Kris Fadness said. "It’s been our decision making in the fourth quarter all year.

"Tonight, we kept our composure and made good decisions."

Of Erichson, first-time starting point guard Zach Tufte, and forward Dan Smith, who scored six in his first extended varsity action of the season, Fadness said, "They took advantage of their opportunities tonight."

The win improved Austin to 11-7, 9-5 in the Big Nine.

East, which started the season 5-0 and was once the second-ranked team in the state’s Class AAA, fell to 8-8, 8-6 in the conference.

"We don’t match up well at all with them," East coach Dave Johnson said after watching the Packers beat the Cougars for the second time this season. "We don’t have anybody that can guard Elwer."

Elwer, the 6-foot, 7-inch team leader, called the Packers’ most recent exploits – which included breakdown losses to Faribault and Owatonna – "strange."

"Things happen during life and you’ve got to deal with it, get over it and move on," he said. "As far as I see, we’re all on the same page. We want to put it behind us and get ready for the rest of the season."

Fadness said he hasn’t settled on a firm starting lineup. He said he’d like the shakeup to lead to more intense competitions during practice.

"We need to start competing in practice," the coach said. "We need guys beating other guys in practice. We want guys to step up in practice and make it easy for us. That hasn’t happened yet."

Mankato East (56)

Ben Kaus 26, Doug Espenson 8, David Larsen 2, Bryan Wolle 17, J.R. Schulte 3. Three pointers: 5 (Espenson 2, Wolle 2, Kaus). Free throws: 11 made. Fouled out: Aaron Herzberg.

Austin (61)

Brent Holck 2, Zach Tufte 5, Nick Rohne 5, Tanner Schieck 11, Andy Erichson 12, Matt Christopherson 4, Dan Smith 6, Brian Elwer 16. Three pointers: 3 (Rohne, Elwer, Erickson). Free throws: 20-of-24.