Homegrown talent; Despite hard loss, Packers display what they accomplished in 2016-17
Published 10:41 am Monday, March 27, 2017
- Austin captains Both Gach, Kyle Oberbroeckling and Tate Hebrink carry the second-place trophy back to the team after losing to DeLaSalle in the Class AAA Minnesota State Boys Basketball Tournament Saturday night at Target Center. Eric Johnson/photodesk@austindailyherald.com
MINNEAPOLIS — When the dust settled after the Austin boys basketball team lost to DeLaSalle for the third time in the last six years in the Minnesota Class AAA state title game, there was some frustration, anger and sadness.
There was also some reflection.
Austin fan Isaac Arnold holds up a sign proclaiming Austin’s heroes after the final buzzer of the Class AAA Minnesota State Boys Basketball Tournament championship game Saturday at Target Center in Minneapolis.
Although the Packers lost 72-44 to the Islanders with the state title on the line, Austin senior Kyle Oberbroeckling was happy to look back at the good times and embrace the success the team enjoyed in taking second in state.
“We showed the town what we had and then we came here and we showed the cities what we had. It’s pretty cool to have all the community support and all of the fans have been great,” Oberbroeckling said. “When I come back to high school 50 years from now and I see that plaque on the wall, I can smile and say I was part of that and my teammates were too.”
Austin’s Both Gach drives against DeLaSalle’s Tyrell Terry during the first half in the Class AAA Minnesota State Boys Basketball Tournament championship Saturday night at Target Center.
Austin head coach Kris Fadness was pleased with his team’s effort this season and he also credited DeLaSalle head coach Dave Thorson for leading the Islanders to six straight state titles.
“They’re extremely good,” Fadness said. “Dave does a great job, he has a great staff and you’ve got to be really, really good to beat them. I feel no shame in losing to them at all. I feel shame in not being able to be more competitive.”
Austin’s Oman Oman gets a layup in the second half against DeLaSalle in the Class AAA Minnesota State Boys Basketball Tournament championship Saturday night at Target Center.