Rockets hit target, Austin falls
Published 12:00 am Monday, November 25, 2002
The Packers no longer have to worry about being a marked team.
Rochester John Marshall knocked off the Austin girls' basketball team -- which was rated sixth in the Class AAA preseason poll -- 61-59 in both team's season- and Big Nine Conference openers Saturday night at Ove Berven Gym in Austin.
"I think there was a target on us with that dumb preseason ranking," said Austin coach Gary Peterson. "That target put on us a lot of pressure. Maybe it'll be a little less pressure on them now."
The Packers trailed most of the game until taking a one-point lead with 1:30 to go in the fourth quarter. John Marshall hit enough of its free-throws down the stretch and Austin couldn't miss even when it was trying.
Trailing by four with two seconds left, Austin's Steph Eslinger hit the front end of a two-shot foul and tried to miss the second attempt so the Packers might get a last-second three-point attempt. Her line-drive shot skipped off the front of the rim and banked off the glass and in.
"It was really a close, exciting game the whole way," Coach Peterson said. "Our shooting wasn't bad, they just shot way more free-throw attempts than we did."
John Marshall, which returned four of five starters from last year, was 14-of-26 from the line and hit 55 percent (5-9) three-point attempts. The Packers were 7-13 from the free-throw line.
"We made some early game mistakes," Peterson added.
The Rockets ran a full-court press for much of the game, forcing Austin into 16 turnovers in the season-opener.
"JM played pretty well for a first game," Peterson said. "I thought we played fairly well for our first game. You never know how it's going to go until you play."
Lisa Bue started her junior year with a game-high 20 points, fueled by Austin's only two three-pointers. Steph Eslinger chipped in 12 from the post.
Ali Smarzyk led the Rockets with 16 points, and Cassie Lee added 10. Smarzyk hit four of JM's five three-pointers.
The Packers continue Big Nine play at home Tuesday, Dec. 3, against defending conference champion Faribault. Austin's first road game is Friday, Dec. 6, at Rochester Mayo.
Boxscore:
John Marshall1421917--61
Austin10171616--59
JOHN MARSHALL (61) -- Swancutt 9, Severson 4, Nelson 7, Smarzyk 16, Lee 10, Block 8, Krueger 2, Gossman 5.
AUSTIN (59) -- Caitlin Jurgensen 2, Nicole Turvey 2, Amy Kelly 9, Keri Feller 6, Steph Eslinger 12, Laura Geffert 8, Lisa Bue 20.