Gach’s monster game lifts Packers over Tiger girls
Published 11:56 pm Tuesday, December 10, 2013

Austin’s Merideth Fritz pulls up for a jump shot against Albert Lea in Ove Berven Gym Tuesday. — Rocky Hulne/sports@austindailyherald.com
Austin junior girls basketball player Mer Gach wasn’t necessarily looking to have a big night Tuesday, but that’s exactly what she did as the Packers downed Albert Lea 63-54 in Ove Berven Gym.
Gach poured in 30 points, grabbed 20 rebounds and dished out three assists as the Packers (3-1 overall, 1-0 Big Nine) dominated the paint in the win.
“I just keep playing, I don’t even know how many points I have during the game,” Gach said. “We’ve been working on getting inside and it worked well tonight. They were trying to get it in to me and I was open. It worked.”

Austin’s Mer Gach puts up a shot over Albert Lea’s Sarah Niebuhr in Ove Berven Gym Tuesday. — Rocky Hulne/sports@austindailyherald.com
The Tigers (1-2 overall, 0-1 Big Nine) hit four 3-pointers in the first five minutes and they surged to a 29-19 lead. From that point on, the Packers switched from a zone defense to a man-to-man to shut down AL’s perimeter attack.
On offense, Austin fed Gach inside on nearly every possession and she lead the team on a 16-4 run to end the half.
Gach had 21 of her points in the first half.
“Mer had just an incredible game and her teammates got her the ball and fed the hot hand,” Austin head coach Todd Johnson said. “It’s one thing to talk about (getting inside), but when the kids execute it, that’s really great.”
While Gach dominated the first half, Austin sophomore forward Shayley Vesel stepped up in the second half. She drilled a 3-pointer to give Austin a 42-40 lead and the Packers never trailed again. Vesel finished with 18 points and five rebounds in the win.
“I feel like I improved a lot from last year,” Vesel said. “It was hard coming out as a freshman.”
Austin received a boost from junior guard Alex Hansen, who was playing in her first game since she tore her ACL last March. Hansen started the game and finished with four points and three assists.
“We were very happy to see Alex,” Johnson said. “She’s such an inspiration for the kids. For her to be back playing already is absolutely freakish I think. She’s been practicing and she’s one of the first kids done in a lot of our drills.”
AL 33 21 — 54
Austin 35 28 — 63
Austin scoring: Mer Gach, 30; Shayley Vesel, 18; Alex Hansen, 4; Merideth Fritz, 4; Ruth Koang, 4; Tori Grev, 2; Sydney Murphy, 1; rebounds: 42 (Gach, 20); free throws: 56 percent (13-for-23); turnovers: 30