Boys basketball: Packers get past Tigers
Published 11:47 pm Friday, January 8, 2016
Tate Hebrink spins to the hoop against Albert Lea in the second half Friday night in Packer Gym. Eric Johnson/photodesk@austindailyherald.com
The Austin boys basketball team cruised to a 78-63 win over Albert Lea, but the Packers weren’t exactly pleased with their defensive effort in Packer Gym Friday.
Austin’s Both Gach floats a shot against Albert Lea in the second half Friday night at Packer Gym. Eric Johnson/photodesk@austindailyherald.com
Austin (10-3 overall, 8-2 Big Nine) led by double digits for most of the second half, but the Tigers (0-12 overall, 0-10 Big Nine) were able to create some breakaway opportunities and they found some open shots. AL was within 28-23 in the first half.
“We’ve got to play defense better,” said Austin sophomore Both Gach, who had 11 points, four rebounds, four assists and three steals. “We’ve got to bring the intensity and not allow all of those easy points on drives to the basket. We need to focus on getting stops.”
Austin stayed aggressive on the defensive end of the court, but it was able to force just 13 AL turnovers. Austin head coach Kris Fadness credited the Tigers for playing well, but he wanted his team to sharpen its defense.
“Our guys played like they wanted to score 200 points and steal the ball on every pass,” Fadness said. “That’s not the way to play and you can’t look past anyone.”
Austin had seven players score at least seven points and senior Mark Manyuon gave the team a big boost off the bench with 11 points, four rebounds, three assists and two steals.
Manyuon said he doesn’t mind being the energy guy off the bench for the Packers.
“I’ll be a spark off the bench. I’ll be whatever the team needs me to be,” Manyuon said. “We’ve been knocking down shots these past couple of games and hopefully that continues.”
The Packers will reach the halfway point of their Big Nine schedule when they host Owatonna 7:30 p.m. Tuesday. Austin is in third place in the Big Nine and its only two losses in the conference are to Red Wing and Rochester John Marshall, who are both unbeaten in the Big Nine.
The Packers are hoping to play solid on both ends of the court against the Huskies.
Austin’s Zach Doffey drives to the hoop in the first half Friday night against Albert Lea in Packer Gym. Eric Johnson/photodesk@austindailyherald.com
“That’ll be a big game for us,” Fadness said. “We’ll have to play more like we did against East and less like we did tonight. We’ll have to have a really good practice on Monday to get ready for Owatonna.”
AL 37 26 — 63
Austin 45 33 — 78
Austin scoring: Duoth Gach, 12; Both Gach, 11; Mark Manyuon, 11; Tate Hebrink, 9; Jace Murray, 8; Jany Gash, 8; Oman Oman, 7; Zach Coffey, 5; Kyle Oberbroeckling, 4; Elijah Andersen, 3