Packers drop seesaw battle to Wingers in Ove Berven Gym
Published 9:36 pm Thursday, February 13, 2025
Austin’s Addison Walsh drives off the perimeter against Red Wing in the first half Thursday night in Ove Berven Gym. Eric Johnson/photodesk@austindailyherald.com
Austin’s Mackenzie Brede passes down to the corner during the first half against Red Wing Thursday night in Ove Berven Gym. Eric Johnson/photodesk@austindailyherald.com
Austin’s Atee Obang reaches up for a high pass during the first half against Red Wing Thursday night in Ove Berven Gym. Eric Johnson/photodesk@austindailyherald.com
Austin’s Ajiem Agwa drives to the basket during the first half agianst Red Wing Thursday night in Ove Berven Gym. Eric Johnson/photodesk@austindailyherald.com
Austin’s Marissa Shute cuts through Red Wing traffic during the first half Thursday night in Ove Berven Gym. Eric Johnson/photodesk@austindailyherald.com
Austin’s Gracie Arndt shoots under pressure during the first half against Red Wing Thursday night in Ove Berven Gym. Eric Johnson/photodesk@austindailyherald.com
|
Getting your Trinity Audio player ready...
|
The Wingers and Packers went down to the wire with Red Wing making the final push to beat Austin 71-58 in a girls basketball game in Ove Berven Gym Thursday.
The final eight minutes game went back and forth as Austin (18-6 overall) held a 44-39 advantage, only to watch the Wingers respond with a 18-3 run to take a 13-point lead. Austin responded with a quick 12-0 burst to get within 57-56 with three minutes left, but the Wingers (17-6 overall) closed the game on a 13-2 run.
Sophomore Quinn Osgood hit a three, and she converted two steals for scores to help Austin storm back into the game in the late minutes. Osgood finished with 22 points and four steals as she filled in for senior Ajiem Agwa, who scored 10 points while missing big minutes with foul trouble.
“With our lead scorer on the bench in foul trouble, I knew I had to step up,” Osgood said. “I just took the open shots when they were there and I stayed ready for anything. It was a very back and forth game and we had some communication errors on defense where we didn’t get to our spots, but we were able to score when we had the ball. It was just a very tight game.”
Austin led by as many as 23-16 in the first half and it held a 32-31 lead at halftime.
“When you have the lead going into halftime, you want to stay up and put the pressure on them,” Austin head coach Eric Zoske said. “They went on that big run and we called a timeout. Then Quinn did a lot of things for us and a lot happened for us to get back within one. With three minutes left we had to close out, but things just didn’t go our way. Atee (Obang) had a really good game off the bench and Quinn had her best game of the season. That’s really good to see out of two sophomores.”
RW was led by senior Bryn Guse, who scored 19 points and junior Izzy Guetzlaff added 17.
Austin has two more road games slated for next week and the Packers will likely have to win at Northfield at 7:30 p.m. Tuesday if it wants to have a chance to host a playoff game in the Section 1AAA Tournament. The Packers lost to the Raiders 64-41 on Jan. 11.
“We have to bring all of our talents (next week), we have to bring everything,” Osgood said.
Red Wing 31 40 – 71
Austin 32 26 – 58
Austin scoring: Quinn Osgood, 22; Ajiem Agwa, 10; Addison Walsh, 9; Atee Obang, 7; Marissa Shute, 4; Nyabol Mourwal Gach, 3; Gracie Arndt, 3
