Austin Daily Herald

For the first time in a long time the Packer girls' basketball team has a target on its back.

Austin High School starts the 2002-2003 season polled sixth in Class AAA, coming off a 12-12 season in which a 9-9 Big Nine Conference record netted the Packers a tie for fifth.

Though unsure what prompted the pollsters to pick the Packers, Austin plans to do what they can to earn their preseason position.

"I don't think rankings mean anything at the beginning of the season," said AHS senior co-captain Amy Kelly, one of four returning starters for the Pack. "I think rankings are stupid, especially at the beginning of the season."

Senior posts Steph Eslinger and Keri Feller join Kelly as captains for head coach Gary Peterson, who was at the helm of the Packer program for 11 years until 1998. Peterson coached within the Lyle/Pacelli girls' basketball program for the last two years, including the head coaching job a year ago. L/P finished 12-13 overall and 9-1 to win the Southeast Conference's West Division.

"We've got some players coming back," Peterson said. "(Being rated) will help with our confidence but we've got to prove it on the court.

"We've got to prove that we deserve to be there."

The Packers open the regular season with a Big Nine match Saturday night at home against Rochester John Marshall. Austin hosts the Rockets Saturday at 8 p.m. in Ove Berven Gym.

Familiar face

Peterson guided Austin to the Section 1 finals twice during his previous tenure, falling to Owatonna both times. He hopes that a top-three conference placing and another run toward state are in the mix for his first year back with the Pack.

"You're not going to go anywhere if your team is not working together," Peterson said. "Obviously we'd like to win the Big Nine and get to state."

The Packers return 10 letterwinners from last year's squad, including four starters. Kelly, Eslinger, Feller and junior Lisa Bue are back in the front five with the point guard spot being vacated by the graduation of Bridget Burzinski, who now starts at Riverland Community College.

Bue, who averaged 13.5 points as a sophomore, has been named by the Minnesota Basketball News to the Preseason Top 100 Player List. The 5-11 guard or forward will contributed as much to the rebounding as scoring, but the Packers are counting on a consistent team effort in all statistical categories.

"I think, to be successful, we'll have a team that will have balanced scoring," Coach Peterson said. "We don't have to rely on any one player."

Penny-pinchers

The same will be true for Austin's defense, which will center around a help-oriented man-to-man scheme. The Packers intend to be stingy, and should be because of their quickness.

"We need to work on our team defense, because last year we could score a ton of points but we just couldn't hold anybody," Kelly said. "We'll probably press a lot because we're quick.

"I know we can score better than anybody, we just need to keep teams under 40."

All three captains led the Packers in scoring at one time during the last season, and Bue's career-high of 35 points came in a win over then-seventh-rated Mankato West. Eslinger and Feller will again reign in the post, while Kelly, Bue and a cast of others will fill in around them.

"We're not real tall, but we've got some quickness," Coach Peterson said. "We've got experienced posts but we're not real big.

"We've got some varsity experience that'll make some difference."

Experienced bench

Junior Laura Geffert saw time at the small forward spot last year, while Brittney Erichson and Caitlin Jurgensen were both backup guards who saw considerable court time. Jurgensen has the tools to take over at point guard, but Erichson will also get a shot.

Six-foot junior Kelly Momsen is the tallest player on the Austin bench and will gain playing time in a reserve role.

"Things can change everyday in practice," Peterson said. "We need to develop a very positive team unity where these kids will sacrifice and work together."

From last year to this year, assistant coach Jeff Hovland said he has seen that kind of dedication through two weeks of practice.

"They're really making a more concerted effort this year," Hovland said.

"Everyone has a better attitude this year," Kelly added. "We want to keep everyone on the same page on the court and keep a positive attitude."