Packer girls basketball team grinds past Falcons
Published 10:56 pm Friday, January 22, 2016
The Austin girls basketball team had to grind it out as it beat Faribault 43-35 on Hall of Fame night in Ove Berven Gym Friday.
Austin’s Rebecca Younis cuts to the hoop against Faribault’s Breanna Bresnahan during the first half Friday night in Ove Berven Gym. Eric Johnson/photodesk@austindailyherald.com
The Faclons (8-8 overall, 5-8 Big Nine) took a 24-22 lead when Elena Palmer scored, but the Packers answered with a 17-2 run over the next six minutes that saw Shayley Vesel convert a three-point play and hit a three-pointer.
Austin junior Rebecca Younis, who had eight points and five rebounds, said that the Packers (8-5 overall, 8-4 Big Nine) knew the Falcons were going to come in and play hard. Younis hit two threes in the first half as Austin clung to a 16-15 edge at the break.
“It was a good fight,” Younis said. “They came out strong and we expected it because the first time we played them it was hard in the first half.”
The Packers committed 21 turnovers, but they were able to force 31 Faribault turnovers in the win.
“Faribault has really come on and they take a lot of pride on their defense,” Austin head coach Todd Johnson said. “We felt the first half was more of their game with the pace slowed down and we talked about picking up the tempo and increasing our chances for steals. I thought our kids did a good job of turning that tempo up a little bit.”
Austin’s Kelsey Sederquest drives in off the break against Faribault’s Lauren Isaacson in the second half Friday night in Ove Berven Gym. Eric Johnson/photodesk@austindailyherald.com
Shayley Vesel, 17; Rebecca Younis, 8; Ruth Koang, 6; Kelsey Sederquest, 4; Amber Hansen, 2; Awenia Nywesh, 2; Ashley Hawkshead, 2; free throws: 67 percent (10-for-15); rebounds: 23 (Nywesh, 7); turnovers: 21
