Packers will play Islanders in state title game rematch
Published 9:05 pm Thursday, March 13, 2014
MINNEAPOLIS — The Austin boys basketball team remembers exactly how its season ended last year, and it is hoping to avoid that fate this season.
The Packers are back in the Class AAA state title game, and once again they’ll be taking one of the best basketball programs in the state of Minnesota — the two-time defending stat champs DeLaSalle Islanders. The championship game will begin Saturday at 6 p.m. in Target Center in Minneapolis.
Austin’s Curtis Oberbroeckling defends Holy Family’s Kyle Schumer during the first half Thursday in the Class AAA semifinals of the Minnesota State Boys Basketball Tournament at Target Center. Eric Johnson/photodesk@austindailyherald.com
Last year DeLaSalle knocked off an undefeated Austin team 50-33 in the title game, and the Islanders were ranked No. 2 in the state for most of this season. The Islanders (25-3 overrall) have a powerful inside game with Stanford commit Reid Travis and Sioux Falls commit James Lawson. The Islanders also get a strong perimeter presence from junior guard Jarvis Johnson, who has nine Division I offers, including ones from Minnesota and Wisconsin, according to espn.com.
“We’re just going to come out and give it our best shot and see what happens,” Austin head coach Kris Fadness said. “They’re a very dynamic team and they’re by far the best team in the state. They’re at a whole different level than everybody else.”
If the Packers want to stand a chance, they’ll have to keep Travis out of the paint. The 6-foot, 8-inch big man had 27 points and 12 rebounds in a 67-41 semifinal win over Orono in the semifinals.
“We’re going to play him as any big we’ve played this year,” Austin forward Gach Gach said. “We’ll try to limit his touches. He’s a good kid and we’re going to have to stop him. He’s their centerpiece and the best player on the team.”
The Packers blasted Holy Family 70-42 in the semis and they’ve won all five their postseason contests by at least 15 points. Austin has tallied a 18 wins in a row.
Austin point guard Zach Wessels said the Packers are aiming for good showing on Saturday.
“It means a lot,” Wessels said. ” We want a state championship and we’re going to work our butts off. We keep saying why not us?”
The Packers have now played in three straight Class AAA state tournaments and they did so this year without heavy expectations on their backs. Austin graduated Tom Aase to the University of Sioux Falls and Joe Aase is now at Davidson College.
“Not in my wildest dreams did I think we’d be back here,” Fadness said. “Zach Wessels is really good and Bret Lukes, Ajuda Nywesh and Gach elevated their games to a level that I didn’t know they could get to. They keep getting better and better.”
