Austin's triangle-and-two kept one key scorer for Mankato West quiet, but the other was not about to be silenced.

Andy Wills scored 15 of his game-high 25 points in the first half as the host Scarlets handed Austin a 54-41 setback in Big Nine Conference boys' basketball action Friday night.

The Packers aligned its defense to stop Wills and Scott Nessler, who finished with just two points. But Wills got his defender -- Tucker Schieck -- into early foul trouble and spoiled Austin's plans.

"They jumped on us early and never looked back," said AHS coach Kris Fadness. "We never closed the gap in the second half."

Mankato West's Wills scored 11 of his team's 15 first-quarter points and Tommy Saffert stepped up as an important contributor from beyond the arc. He scored 15 of his 17 points in the first half, including four of his five three-pointers in the second quarter alone.

The Scarlets led 34-20 at the break and Austin never got within striking distance.

"It's the same story, we did not shoot well," Fadness said. "West did a good job of setting the tempo."

Wills and Saffert combined for 78 percent of their team's points. Austin's top duo of John Duren and Jon Bain provided roughly the same for the Packers. Duren had 15 points and Bain added 14 in the second straight loss for AHS (5-8, 2-6).

The Packers host Faribault Tuesday night in a rematch of the season-opener at Faribault, which the Falcons won 71-60.

Boxscore:

AUSTIN -- Mike Tray 2, Kyle Rizzi 4, Joey Kroc 3, Tucker Schieck 4, Jon Bain 14, John Duren 15.

MANKATO WEST -- Andy Wills 25, Scott Nessler 2, Tommy Saffert 17, Jordan Henkelman 6, Jeremy Lund 2, Hans Storvick 2.

Austin6141110--41

Mnk.West1519128--54

Three-pointers -- Austin 2 (Duren 2); MW 6 (Saffert 5, Wills).