Girls basketball: Packer backcourt steps up in win over Tigers
Published 10:40 pm Friday, December 2, 2016
- Austin’s Rebecca Younis navigates the drives against Albert Lea in the first half Friday night in Ove Berven gym. Eric Johnson/photodesk@austindailyherald.com
The Austin girls basketball team received a big effort from its young backcourt as it beat Albert Lea 66-27 in Ove Berven Gym Friday.
Sophomore Abby Lewis netted a career-high 17 points, to go along with five rebounds and three steals, and freshman Colie Justice scored a career-high 15 points, to go along with four rebounds, three assists and six steals.
Both players saw limited time on Austin’s varsity team last season.
Austin’s Colie Justice pulls up off the break in the first half against Albert Lea Friday night in Ove Berven Gym. Eric Johnson/photodesk@austindailyherald.com
“It’s been a big step for us playing more on varsity, but it’s a lot of fun playing with the team,” said Lewis. “They’re so positive and we work together.”
Austin head coach Anna Meyer said the young duo has gelled in nicely.
“They were our leaders last year on JV,” Meyer said. “They’ve had to step up this year and they’ve had huge shoes to fill and they’ve been up to that challenge.”
Austin (2-1 overall, 1-0 Big Nine) jumped out to a 14-3 lead early on against AL, but the Tigers (0-2 overall, 0-2 Big Nine) pulled to within 18-14 late in the first half. The Packers closed the first half on a 9-2 run as Emily Hegna scored five straight points to give her team an 11-point lead at the break.
The Packers turned up the intensity in the second half as they held the Tigers to just four points in the last 18 minutes of the contest.
Austin’s Abby Lewis drives the baseline in the first half against Albert Lea Friday night in Ove Berven Gym. Eric Johnson/photodesk@austindailyherald.com
“We knew we were playing down to their level and we can’t do that,” Justice said. “In the locker room we talked about playing harder.”
Austin received a boost from Rebecca Younis in the second half as she scored all eight of her points in that frame after battling foul trouble in the first half. Meyer was pleased with how her team battled after the Tigers pulled close in the first frame.
“The girls were kind of down but at halftime we told them they were doing a lot of things really well, and then they came back and proved they could do everything well,” Hebrink said. “The girls played great team basketball and it was contagious.”
Austin’s Emily Hegna brings the ball up the court in the first half against Albert Lea Friday night in Ove Berven Gym. Eric Johnson/photodesk@austindailyherald.com
AL 23 4 — 27
Austin 34 32 — 66
Austin scoring: Abby Lewis, 17; Colie Justice, 15; Rebecca Younis, 8; Awenia Nywesh, 8; Emily Hegna, 7; Paiton Schwab, 4; Erica Lundberg, 3; Amber Hansen, 2; Kyra Watlers, 2; free throws: 56 percent (10-for-18); rebounds: 42 (Amber Hansen, 10)
Austin’s KieJuana VanZant puts a shot over Albert Lea’s Samantha Skarstad during the first half Friday night in Ove Berven Gym. Eric Johnson/photodesk@austindailyherald.com
