Packers press their way past Albert Lea girls
Published 11:28 pm Friday, January 9, 2015
Austin’s Sydney Murphy goes around Albert Lea’s Katie Rasmussen during the first half Friday night in Ove Berven Gym. Eric Johnson/photodesk@austindailyherald.com
The Austin girls basketball turned up the pressure to break open a close game and beat Albert Lea (2-9 overall, 1-7 Big Nine) 54-38 in Ove Berven Gym Friday.
After playing to a 20-20 tie at the break, the Packers (3-7 overall, 3-5 Big Nine) opened the second half on a 15-2 run as they brought a full court press that turned the game to a track meet in Austin’s favor.
Austin’s Ruth Koang reches for a rebound during the second half against Albert Lea Friday night in Ove Berven Gym. Eric Johnson/photodesk@austindailyherald.com
“Coach [Anna] Hebrink suggested that we go to a full court press and we went to a full court press and it seemed to energize the girls,” Austin head coach Todd Johnson said. “It was kind of what we were looking for and we got a lot of steals, tips and turnovers. Collectively as a team we all got into it, even the bench was into it.”
Austin led 11-2 to start the game, but the Tigers took over for the rest of the first half as they tied things up. Austin’s offense wasn’t clicking and the team was frustrated, but the switch to the press made a big difference in the team’s attitude.
“I know everybody got excited when they said we were pressing in the locker room,” said Austin senior Sydney Murhpy, who had four steals and four assists in the win. “The energy went up and we wanted to come out strong.”
Ruth Koang, who had 15 points, eight rebounds and four blocked shots, and Shayley Vesel, who had 19 points and five rebounds, were both beneficiaries of the up-tempo style as they ran the court and got some some easy hoops to put the Tigers away.
“We were looking for a ton of steals and we wanted to make them throw the ball away. It worked. In the second half, we stepped up a ton,” Vesel said. “We knew we should’ve been ahead [at halftime] and we just had to show it out there.”
Austin’s Alex Hansen wrestles the ball from Albert Lea’s Dayna Edwards, right, and Kathryn Flaherty during the second half Friday night in Ove Berven Gym. Eric Johnson/photodesk@austindailyherald.com
The Packers have now won back-to-back games, but it took them awhile to regroup after AL made its initial first half run.
“I think they were playing rough, so we were just playing sloppy,” Murphy said. “We played down to them and we just need to play our own game.”
AL 20 18 — 38
Austin 20 34 — 54
Austin scoring: Shayley Vesel, 19; Ruth Koang, 15; Awenia Nywesh, 6; Alex Hansen, 4; Kelsey Sederquest, 4; Amber Hansen, 2; Rebecca Younis, 2; Jordan Huntley, 1; Sydney Murphy, 1; free throws: 41 percent (9-for-22); rebounds: 31 (Koang, 8); turnovers: 15
