Packers rough up Panthers on senior night
Published 9:23 pm Friday, February 9, 2018
- Austin’s LaHenry Gills drives against Rochester Century’s Stephen Olander during the first half Friday night in Packer Gym. Eric Johnson/photodesk@austindailyherald.com
The No. 2 ranked Austin boys basketball team celebrated its senior class with a 90-42 win over Rochester Century on senior night in Packer Gym Friday.
Duoth Gach racked 19 points, four steals and five rebounds as he made plenty of hi light dunks in the wi for Austin, Tate Hebrink had 10 points, five steals and five assists and Nyagoa Obany had two points, four rebounds, five assists two blocks and three steals.
Austin’s Agwa Obang passes around Rochester Century defense Friday night in the first half in Packer Gym. Eric Johnson/photodesk@austindailyherald.com
Austin has just two home games remaining this season and the Packers (19-1 overall, 15-1 Big Nine) showed a sense of urgency against the Panthers (5-15 overall, 5-11 Big Nine) as they jumped out to a 16-3 lead to start the game.
“We’re getting good wins against good teams and we’re pushing,” Gach said. “We’ve been communicating well. Everybody likes each other on the team and we play unselfish play basketball.”
Agwa Obang, a senior, had a career-high 13 points in the win for Austin and his younger brother Medi Obang, who is a junior, racked up 14 points, five assists and four steals. Agwa came out aggressive on Friday and he said he’s enjoyed playing this season with Medi.
Austin’s Tate Hebrink toes the line as he tries to stay inbounds early in the first half against Rochester Century Friday night in Packer Gym. Eric Johnson/photodesk@austindailyherald.com
“I was confident with my shot tonight and I was looking to shoot,” Agwa said. “Playing with my brother this year has been a huge thing. I’ve played with him since I was an eighth grader and this has been a fun experience.”
The Packers have seven seniors on their roster and a few of them were part of the team that took second place in the Minnesota Class AAA state tournament last season. Austin head coach Kris Fadness said this has been a great group to work with.
“We’ve got a lot of basketball left to be played, but they’ve had special careers all the way back to youth basketball,” Fadness said. “We knew for quite awhile that this was a group coming and it was going to have a measure of success, it was just a matter of how much. I think we’ve got a good group of guys that love basketball and they love playing together. We’ve got a lot of guys, this is their first love.”
Austin’s Luke Hawkshead looks to pass around the defense of Rochester Century’s Macauley Horvath Friday night in Packer Gym. Eric Johnson/photodesk@austindailyherald.com
Century 18 24 — 42
Austin 48 42 — 90
Austin scoring: Duoth Gach, 19; Moses Issa, 16; Medi Obang, 14; Agwa Obang, 13; Tate Hebrink, 10; Logan Braaten, 4; Ngor Deng, 3; Pierre Lilly, 3; Nyagoa Obany, 2; Gavin Owens, 2; Connor Byram, 2; Jeremy Flores, 2; free throws: 80 percent (8-for-10); rebounds; 26 (Gach, 5); turnovers: 18
Austin’s Duoth Gach tries to finish off a dunk in the first half against Rochester Century Friday night in Packer Gym. Eric Johnson/photodesk@austindailyherald.com
