Spartans outlast Packers
Published 9:51 pm Tuesday, December 11, 2018
- Austin’s Gavin Owens with the move inside against Rochester Mayo Tuesday night in Packer Gym. Eric Johnson/photodesk@austindailyherald.com
The Austin boys basketball team looked like it was on the verge of a blowout win when things turned south in the second half against Rochester Mayo.
The Packers led for much of the night, but the Spartans used a late spurt to win 93-88 in Packer Gym Tuesday.
After Medi Obang hit a three to put the Packers up 80-79, Mayo (2-1 overall, 2-0 Big Nine) immediately responded and took the lead for good when sophomore Andre Crockett, Jr. hit a baseline three-pointer to make it 82-80 with 3:40 left in the game. Mason Madsen, who scored 22 points, drilled a three on Mayo’s next possession. Austin never got closer than four the rest of the way.
Austin’s Agwa Nywesh breaks to the hoop around Rochester Mayo’s Mohamed Hammadelniel in the first half Tuesday night in Packer Gym. Eric Johnson/photodesk@austindailyherald.com
Obang scored 33 points and Agwa Nywesh finished with 33 points, five steals and three rebounds for the Packers (1-1 overall, 1-1 Big Nine).
Gabe Madsen led Mayo with 28 points.
“It was tough. Once they catch fire, it’s hard to stop them,” Nywesh said. “You had to get right on them and that’s something we struggled to do late in the game.”
The Packers used a quick 8-2 spurt go up 45-37 early in the second half, but Austin simply ran out of gas down the stretch. Obang missed a three-pointer that would’ve brought the Packers within one point with 26 seconds left in the game and that was one of 38 three-point attempts on the night for Austin.
Austi’ns Medi Obang splits a pair of Rochester Mayo defenders in the first half Tuesday night in Packer Gym. Eric Johnson/photodesk@austindailyherald.com
“We’ve got to be better. I thought it was disgusting basketball for the most part,” Austin head coach Kris Fadness said. “It got to a point where the first team to miss a three was going to lose. That’s not the way I want us to play. We shot way too many threes and we’ve got to be able to get to the basket. I’ve either got to play more guys or we’ve got to get in better shape. I thought we got tired and settled for jacking threes.”
Nywesh and Obang, who is the main carry-over from last year’s state qualifying squad, have led Austin’s offense in the the first two games and that’s likely to continue.
“I feed off of Medi,” Nywesh said. “He’s telling me ‘we’ve got this’ I’m going to feed off of him and do my best and I’m going to expect the same from him.”
Teyghan Hovland hauled down 14 rebounds for the Packers.
Austin’s Dongrin Deng drives the lane against Rochester Mayo in the first half Tuesday night in Packer Gym. Eric Johnson/photodesk@austindailyherald.com
Mayo 32 61 — 93
Austin 37 51 — 88
Austin scoring: Medi Obang, 33; Agwa Nywesh, 33; Ngor Deng, 6; Dongrin Deng, 5; Teyghan Hovland, 5; Moses Idris, 4; Gavin Owens, 2; free throws: 88 percent (14-for-16); rebounds: 34 (Hovland, 14); turnovers: 11
Austin’s Teyghan Hovland jumps to pass up-court against Rochester Mayo in the first half Tuesday night in Packer Gym. Eric Johnson/photodesk@austindailyherald.com
