The Austin Packers squeaked out a close win, 45-44, over Owatonna in Wednesday’s subsection 1AAA basketball game at home.

Thursday, March 08, 2001

The Austin Packers squeaked out a close win, 45-44, over Owatonna in Wednesday’s subsection 1AAA basketball game at home.

The time had run out in the game and the score was 44-44 when Zach Tufte was fouled by a Huskie player just as the buzzer went off. Tufte then shot the free throw that won the game and sent the crowd roaring and flying out of their seats. This is the third time this year that the Packers have played the Huskies and won. Both teams came to subsections with 13-9 records.

"It was quite a feat to play Owatonna three times and defeat them each time," Packers coach Kris Fadness said. "I feel bad for Owatonna getting beat the way they did. I have a lot of respect for their program. We are pretty evenly matched as far as our teams go. It was a wild game."

Indeed it was. Both teams made mistake after mistake. They were falling all over each other, and twisting , rolling and slipping on the basketball court. The Packers and the Huskies played the game as if they were packs of dogs fighting over a bone, and the bone was the ball.

The Huskies were ahead in the first half of the game with Packer Andy Erickson keeping the score close with his three-pointers. The Huskies looked smooth at first with their passing, while the Packers were scrambling and missing baskets as they twisted their way through the players. Tufte had a mask of angst on his face in the first period, leaping into the air, aiming for the basket and missing it by a breath. The crowd groaned each time Tufte missed his mark.

The game was still tight in the second period. Then it was as if Corey Christopherson got a much-needed shoot of adrenaline, and he started to get basket after basket. The crowd leapt out of their seats when the Huskies were leading 36-33, with Christopherson’s baskets. The players of both teams were both falling over each other and still wanting that bone, or rather the ball.

There was less than three minutes left in the game when the Huskies were leading, 44-43. Tufte and Owatonnan T.J. Pechachek were on the floor fighting over the ball. The ball was awarded to Owatonna. The crowd rose in protest and after conferring with the coaches the ball was awarded to the Packers.

Tufte danced through the players again, shooting and missing. The crowd was screaming, "Defense! Defense!" The score was now 44-44 when the buzzer went off and Tufte was fouled and then he made the free-throw that won the game.

Owatonna Coach Bob Churchill was reflective on the game with his comments: "The kids did a great job. We wish the Packers a lot of luck. It was a great atmosphere here tonight. Unfortunately someone has to lose and it had to be us. I feel sorry for the kids. It was a tough way to lose. It would have been easier if we had lost by 40 points."

Fadness said his team won by determination.

"Our kids worked hard tonight," he said. "They don’t leave anything on the floor. We have to appreciate how hard they work."

The next game for the Packers is at 1 p.m. Saturday at the Mayo Civic Center. They will be playing Rochester Mayo or Rochester Century, which will be determined today.

Call Sheila Donnelly at 434-2234 or e-mail her at sports@austindailyherald.com.