When the game was on the line and the pressure was cranked up, the Austin girls basketball team kept its cool and executed as it was able to beat Faribault 50-47 in Ove Berven Gym Friday.

The Falcons (4-3 overall, 3-2 Big Nine) had clawed to within 42-41 after they scored five straight points, but Austin sophomore Kyra Walters settled down, drove baseline and kicked it out to Chloe Sheehan, who drilled a corner three-pointer to put the Packers up 45-41 with 1:35 left in the game. Faribault got no closer than two the rest of the way.

Sheehan was coming into the game fresh off the bench and it was her first three-pointer of the year.

“It felt great. We worked on that pass from the baseline a lot in practice. I had to block out the situation or else I’ll get distracted,” Sheehan said. “It’s a huge win for us. We haven’t beaten Faribault in awhile. Everyone’s playing their role.”

Austin head coach Eric Zoske said he has faith in Sheehan as a shooter and he liked how his team responded with the game on the line.

“Chloe’s a really good shooter and it’s only a matter of time for a kid with that talent to see one go in,” Zoske said.

The Packers (3-2 overall, 2-1 Big Nine) were trailing 34-25 early in the second half when they used a 17-2 run to take a 42-36 lead. Erica Lundberg had a key three-point play to tie the game at 36-36 with 9:10 left and Emma Dudycha put Austin up for good when she scored on a lay-up to make it 38-36.

Emma and her twin sister Hope, who are both eighth graders, played some solid defense for the Packers in the second half as they made their run.

Austin senior guard Emily Hegna, who had 10 points and four rebounds, said the middle schoolers are holding their own.

“We knew it was all on defense. We just needed to communicate, work together and stay positive,” Hegna said. “The whole bench is doing a great job and both [Dudycha’s] are really mature.”

Kiwi Van Zant added 12 points and six rebounds for the Packers, and she came up with a key offensive rebound that allowed Sheehan to knock down two free throws that made it 49-45 with 17 seconds left.

“We set the precedent for ourselves to close games out and find a way to win,” Zoske said. “Tonight all nine girls who played did a phenomenal job. All nine did their job and there’s no job too small. Kiwi Van Zant did a phenomenal job of the bench and Hope and Emma Dudycha played most of the second half and they played well beyond their age.”

Faribault 28  19  —  47

Austin 22  28  —  50

Austin scoring: Kiwi Van Zant, 12; Emily Hegna, 10; Erica Lundberg, 6; Chloe Sheehan, 5; Kyra Walters, 5; Abby Lewis, 4; Emma Dudycha, 4; Hope Dudycha, 3; free throws: 50 percent (10-for-50); rebounds: 50 percent (10-for-20); turnovers: 11