The final score was still drying as Coach Sloan Suess sought out and confronted her go-to guard.

Sunday, December 05, 1999

The final score was still drying as Coach Sloan Suess sought out and confronted her go-to guard. Suess wrapped her hands around Gina Golberg’s head, looked her dead in the eyes and said: "That is the kind of play we need from you … "

Suess was preaching to the choir.

By putting her everything into it, the senior Golberg discovered everything she ever wanted out of basketball on Friday as the Packers upset the Rochester Mayo Spartans, 71-66, in front of a buzzing Austin crowd.

"I love it. I feel like I played up to my potential," said Golberg, who was coming off a woeful six-point game in a season-opening loss to Waseca. "The crowd got me pumped up and I was mentally with it the whole game."

What a game it was. Against Mayo, the ninth-ranked team in Class AAA, Golberg played like a Miller twin.

She played on air, flying everywhere she needed to be, scoring 25, dishing out seven assists, snaring seven rebounds – all team highs.

"I played like I did last summer," said Golberg, who wowed college coaches while starring in the Minnesota Elite Camp at Bethel College in July.

Her play at Bethel earned her a scholarship to Division II Northern State University in Aberdeen, S.D.

Her play against the Spartans earned her mass applause from the crimson fans.

It also raised expectations.

"We knew she could play that way," Suess said. "Now, we’re not going to expect anything less."

While Golberg was busy establishing herself as the Ketchup Packer, other Packers filled in around her to complete the recipe for an upset.

Sara Turvey provided the mustard.

The senior was spicey-and-smooth all night from beyond the three-point arch. She hit six-of-seven three pointers on a night when Austin hit 10-of-19 as a team.

"I was feeling it," Turvey said. "I seriously didn’t think I could miss."

Turvery and Golberg were sophomores on the varsity the last time Austin beat Mayo. Turvey wasn’t about to let her career go by without another one.

"We wanted to get ’em back after the two losses last year," said Turvey, who hit a free throw to tie the game at 44, then hit a pair of threes to open up Austin’s lead for good.

After the game, Suess struggled to understand why the Spartans didn’t adjust their defense to stop Turvey’s bombing raids.

"I guess she’s never been a huge scorer," Suess said, "but she’s always had a nice shot."

Austin wouldn’t have been able to relish in the upset were in not for Stacy Fisher. The 5-foot, 7-inch junior patrolled the blocks most of the game and refused to let the bigger Spartans gain sole-ownership of the real estate.

Fisher’s 13 points were huge considering Lauren Feller, Austin’s most reliable post presence, missed the game and will be out for two weeks with a sprained ankle.

Fisher got help from the salt-and-pepper duo of Sarah Heins and Jana Madson, whose combined six points in the paint was just enough to help dash Mayo.

The Spartans, playing their first game of the season, didn’t help themselves from becoming mincemeat. While each team shot 24-of-55 from the field, Mayo canned just two-of-15 three-point attempts.

"Our shots just weren’t falling," said forward Jenni Fisher, who combined with 6-1 Megan Lindman to score 27 low-post points. "We played a good game, but our shots weren’t going in."

After the game and the pep talk from Suess, Golberg remained on the court to chat with family. A young boy approached her and presented her with a gift – the movie "Dance with Me."

"I’ve never seen it," Golberg said.

She might want to check it out.

Because if the compact Packers are to continue to win, it’ll be with Golberg taking the lead.

Just like she did against Mayo.

Austin 71, Mayo 66

Mayo (0-1): Hannah Swee 7, Laura Uehling 4, Angie Sisson 19, Jenni Fisher 17, Megan Lindman 10, Heather Robinson 9. Three pointers: Sisson, Fisher.

Austin (1-1): Sara Turvey 21, Stacy Fisher 13, Gina Golberg 25, Jana Madson 2, Jamie Nieland 4, Sarah Heins 4, Bridget Burzinski 2. Three pointers: Turvey 6, Golberg 3, Fisher.

B-squad: The Austin B-squad improved its record to 2-0 with a 45-38 win over the Spartans.

The win came on the heels of the Packers 27-point victory over Waseca.

Eighth grader Lisa Bue, the youngest player on the 10th-grade dominated team, scored 13 to lead the way.

Amy Kelly added eight points and Sarah Huffer six.