The Austin girls basketball team had its hands full with No. 8 ranked Kasson-Mantorville in Ove Berven Gym Saturday. The Packers hung around for a little while, but in the end they lost their fifth straight game as they fell 87-66 to the KoMets.

Austin (1-5 overall) was within 58-47 after Shayley Vesel, who scored 18 points, came though with a lay-up, but KM (7-0 overall) answered with a 13-0 run that put the game away.

“I thought the kids played really hard considering back to back nights we played the No. 8 ranked team [Rochester John Marshall] in AAAA and the No. 5 ranked team in AAA,” Austin head coach Todd Johnson said. “I thought they played super hard and came after it tonight. We have kind of a never say quit attitude.”

Austin sophomores Ruth Koang and Awenia Nywesh had solid efforts for the Packers. Koang had 12 points, nine rebounds and two blocks and Nywesh had 14 points and nine rebounds.

“I think Awenia’s had a really good last three games,” Johnson said. “She’s kind of finding her stride around the varsity basketball court. She’s stepped up big for us; she’s making buckets, getting rebounds and learning how to play good defense. Hopefully she’ll be another piece of the puzzle for us.”

KM 42 45 — 87

Austin 30 36 — 66

Austin scoring: Shayley Vesel, 18; Awenia Nywesh, 14; Ruth Koang, 12; Alex Hansen, 7; Kelsey Sederquest, 6; Amber Hansen, 4; Jaidyn Bastian, 3; Sydney Murphy, 2