Wednesday, January 12, 2000

Thirteen of 15 Packers scored Tuesday as the Austin boys basketball team drilled Albert Lea, 73-47, at Southwest Junior High School.

The win was the second straight for Austin (6-4, 4-2 in the Big Nine).

It was the seventh consecutive loss for Albert Lea, which fell to 0-6 in the conference and 1-7 overall.

"We were flat," said Albert Lea coach Jason Bakke. "We were outhustled, out-played and out-coached."

Austin got to the free throw line 28 times in the game – hitting 17 – and pulled away after a 14-13 first-quarter lead.

"I liked that we were attacking the land offensively," Austin coach Kris Fadness said. "We moved the ball well and had a nice inside-outside game."

Tanner Schieck, a 6-foot, 7-inch forward, led the team with 16 points. Center Brian Elwer added 13 and Brent Holck 11.

Also scoring for the Packers were Nick Rohne 7, Matt Christopherson 5, Matt Smith 4, Jeff Becker 3, Jeff Clark 3, Corey Christopherson 3, Andy Erichson 3, Clint Ripley 2, Matt Schneider 2 and Dan Smith 1.

Chris Rebelein led the Tigers in scoring with 13 points.

Austin hosts Century on Friday.

The Panthers have just two Big Nine wins, but Fadness calls them "dangerous."

"They’re athletic," Fadness said. "They’ll have trouble with our size, but we’ll have trouble matching up with their athleticism."