Role change: Hovland emerges as Packers open with a win over Century
Published 10:12 pm Saturday, November 30, 2019
- Austin’s Victor Idris floats through the lane on the way to two against Rochester Century in the first half Saturday night in Packer Gym. Eric Johnson/photodesk@austindailyherald.com
Last season, Teyghan Hovland soaked up every bit of knowledge he could garner as he played in the Minnesota Class AAA Basketball Tournament and the Minnesota Class AAA Baseball Tournament.
With a much bigger role on the Packer boys basketball team this season, Hovland is already showing some of the lessons he’s learned. Hovland made some big plays in a 62-58 season opening win over Rochester Century in Packer Gym Saturday night.
Hovland, who finished with 19 points and seven rebounds, put the Packers ahead for good at 55-52 when he drilled a base-line three-pointer with 2:03 left in the game. Hovland added a lay-up that put Austin up 57-54 and he dished off to Okey Okey for a lay-up that put the Packers up 59-54 with 46.2 seconds left.
“Obviously we’re young this year and we had a lot of guys playing varsity for the first time tonight,” Hovland said. “There were some nerves, but once they stepped in and got used to it, they started flowing a little bit.”
Austin’s Agwa Nywesh throwing down with authority in the first half against Rochester Century Saturday night in Packer Gym. Eric Johnson/photodesk@austindailyherald.com
Austin sophomore Victor Idris, a 6-foot, 4-inch forward, made a strong debut for the Packers (1-0 overall, 1-0 Big Nine) as his older brother Moses Idris, who played big minutes last season, is out of the lineup with an injury.
Victor tied the game at 52-52 when he converted a three-point play on an offensive put-back. He finished with seven points, eight rebounds and four assists.
“I was pretty excited,” Victor said. “I just wanted to keep playing as well as I could.”
Austin trailed by as many nine points in the first half and it saw a 41-32 lead turn into a 46-43 deficit after the Panthers (0-1 overall, 0-1 Big Nine) hit four three-pointers in a two-minute stretch.
Austin’s Ogur Gari with the lay-up in the first half against Rochester Century Saturday night in Packer Gym. Eric Johnson/photodesk@austindailyherald.com
While Century’s Stephen Olander and Jack Fisher hit some big threes, Austin head coach Kris Fadness was more concerned with his team’s 21 turnovers.
“We should be able to handle the ball better and there was a lot of bad dribbling that got us in trouble,” Fadness said. “But we hung in there, we scrapped and fought and we had some run outs that just saved us.”
Agwa Nywesh had 13 points, six rebounds, five assists and seven steals for Austin and Pierre Lilly four steals as the Packers forced 25 turnovers.
Austin just began practice two weeks ago and it also had to deal with the Thanksgiving break before Saturday’s opener.
“This is what happens when teams have eight practices and are expected to go out and play a game. It’s nice to have it over with and it’s nice to get the win,” Fadness said. “I think we’re both going to be pretty good teams and there was a lot of good athletes on the court tonight, but obviously the basketball was sloppy. The defense is a little bit ahead of the offense right now.”
Austin’s Pierre Lilly fights through traffic against Rochester Century Saturday night in Packer Gym. Eric Johnson/photodesk@austindailyherald.com
Century 26 32 – 58
Austin 26 36 – 62
Austin scoring: Teyghan Hovland, 19; Agwa Nywesh, 13; Okey Okey, 12; Victor Idris, 7; Ogur Gari, 7; Pierre Lilly, 2; Ethan Owens, 2; free thorws: 83 percent (10-for-12); rebounds: 27 (Idris, 8); turnovers: 21
