Getting your Trinity Audio player ready...

The No. 5 seeded Austin boys basketball team stayed within striking distance for much of the night, but it wasn’t able to make a decisive push as it lost to No. 4 Northfield (15-12 overall) 43-39 in a Section 1AAA quarterfinal in Northfield Wednesday night.

Trailing 41-37 in the final minute, Austin (10-17 overall) missed back-to-back three-pointers, but it pulled to within 41-39 when J’dan Stevens converted a lay-up with 8.9 seconds left.

Stevens hit a three to bring the Packers within 30-24 with 12:40 left in the game and Xzayvien Severin converted a pair of paint finishes to bring Austin within 30-28 with 7:14 left. 

The Packers were held without a field goal until Banyaan Omot scored to bring them within 6-4 with 10:45 left in the first half. Austin took its first and only lead when Ohlani Omot scored on a put-back to make it 7-6 with 7:21 left in the first half.

Austin 13  26  –  39

Northfield 24  19  –  43

Austin scoring: J’dan Stevens, 9; Xzayvien Severin, 9; Ohlani Omot, 7; Banyaan Omot, 7; Cole Hebrink, 3; Micah Christopherson, 3; Mady Kwot, 1