Packers shake off slow start to beat Scarlets
Published 11:15 pm Monday, January 30, 2017
The Austin boys basketball team survived an early scare to beat Mankato West 65-52 on Paint the Gym Pink night in Packer Gym Monday.
The Scarlets (8-8 overall, 5-7 Big Nine) led 20-13 half-way through the first half, but the Packers didn’t panic as they responded with a 16-3 run. That rally saw Duoth Gach hit a pair of three-pointers and Tate Hebrink hit one three-pointer.
The Scalrlets got as close as 56-50 late in the game, but Both Gach drove for a lay-up with 2:41 left in the game to make it 59-50 and Oman Oman scored on a post-up move to make it 61-50 with 2:16 left.
Both, who had 12 points and three assists, had sat out the second half of Friday night’s win after sustaining an eye injury but he was ready to go on Monday.
“I’m always looking to get back on the court,” Both said. “Tyler Tupy stepped up really big for me last week. Tonight I was reading how the defense played me and going off that.”
Mankato West was able to slow down the game with the play of their guards Jake Makela and Trey Burmeister and they hits some big shots early on in the game. Austin head coach Kris Fadness credited his team for keeping their composure, especially when they were trailing.
“You’re going to have nights where you have to win in a manner that’s not necessarily pretty. This was one of those nights,” Fadness said. “I thought Jany Gash gave us a nice game. He was solid defensively and he made some nice shots. I was really happy with Jany’s performance tonight.”
Kyle Oberbroeckling had 10 points, five rebounds and two blocks in the win for the Packers (14-1 overall, 11-1 Big Nine). Austin has now won both games over the Scarlets this season.
“We were prepared for it and we were ready for it because it was such a battle the last time we played them,” Oberbroeckling said.
West 25 27 — 52
Austin 32 33 — 65
Austin scoring: Both Gach, 12; Duoth Gach, 11; Kyle Oberbroeckling, 10; Tate Hebrink, 9; Jany Gash, 8; Oman Oman, 7; Moses Issa, 5; Pat Hagan, 3; free throws: 83 percent (12-for-14); rebounds: 23 (Oberbroeckling, 5); turnovers: 7