Packers double up Spartans
Published 11:05 pm Friday, December 14, 2012

Austin's Joe Aase is fouled on a drive to the hoop in the first half Friday night against Rochester Mayo in Packer Gym. -- Eric Johnson/photodesk@austindailyherald.com
The Packers cranked up the defense and slammed the door on Rochester Mayo (0-4 overall, 0-1 Big Nine) as they cruised to a 68-34 win in their boys basketball home opener in Packer Gym Friday.

Austin's Tom Aase gets an easy two in the first half against Rochester Mayo Friday night in Packer Gym.
No. 2 ranked Austin (4-0 overall, 2-0 Big Nine) led just 42-30 with a little over 11 minutes left when they turned up the tempo and went on a 26-0 run over the next nine minutes.
“We were so much better defensively and we were so much more active,” Austin head coach Kris Fadness said. “We were reading things better and we weren’t so helter skelter. That was nice to see.”
The Packers got a boost from junior guard Ajuda Nywesh in the first half as he hit a pair of threes during a 9-0 Austin run to make it 14-6.
“I’m finding my role and it’s a lot of fun,” said Nywesh, who finished with 10 points. “We’ve just to got to keep it going and play hard.”
Joe Aase, who scored 23 points to lead Austin, said Nywesh is coming along as expected as a spark off the bench.
“We’re used to Ajuda playing with us,” Aase said. “He’s been with us all fall and all summer and we’re not surprised by any means. He’s a good player and he’s playing to his potential.”
Austin was strong on defense throughout the night, but it’s offense took awhile to hit its stride. Austin missed 19 threes and the Packers committed 19 turnovers.
“We were pretty sloppy tonight actually, but it was a good win and the crowd got us going early,” Joe Aase said. “We’re getting good looks, just sometimes we need to settle down a little and get our feet under us.”
Fadness said he would’ve liked to see his team go into the post a little more. Especially because Joe Aase and Tom Aase were having their way against Mayo’s big men.
“Offensively, at times, I didn’t like what we were doing,” Fadness said. “It became three ball crazy for awhile there and I don’t mind shooting open threes, but you’ve at least got to try and get the ball inside first.”

Austin's Zach Wessels goes up for an early layup in the first half against Rochester Mayo Friday night in Packer Gym.
Mayo 22 12 — 34
Austin 34 34 — 68
Austin scoring: Joe Aase, 23; Tom Aase, 12; Ajuda Nywesh, 10; Zach Wessels, 9; Bret Lukes, 9; Tommy Olmsted, 3; field goals: 43 percent (25-for-58); three-pointers: 34 percent (10-for-29); free throws: 62 percent (8-for-13); rebounds: 41 (Wessels, 8); turnovers: 19