Packers take care of business against KoMets
Published 8:26 pm Saturday, March 10, 2018
- Austin’s LaHenry Gills finds a seam during the first half against Kasson-Mantorville in the Section 1AAA semifinals Saturday night in Rochester. Eric Johnson/photodesk@austindailyherald.com
ROCHESTER – The top-seeded Austin boys basketball team started strong and kept pace to knock off No. 5-seeded Kasson-Mantorville, 79-47 in the Section 1AAA semifinals at Mayo Civic Center Saturday.
The Packers (25-2 overall) opened the game on a 22-7 run and KM (13-15 overall) never got closer than nine points the rest of the way.
Austin’s Nyagoa Obany battles inside during the first half against Kasson-Mantorville in the Section 1AAA semifinals Saturday night in Rochester. Eric Johnson/photodesk@austindailyherald.com
“I was pretty happy with the start, We got on top early and this time of year you just want to win and move on,” Austin head coach Kris Fadness said. “It wasn’t always pretty, but we got on top right away. We know they can score the ball and I thought we forced our fair share of turnovers. The start of the second half was huge for us.”
Austin has struggled on the boards this season but senior Nyagoa Obany picked up the slack on Saturday. Obany finished with 14 points and nine rebounds.
“Rebounding is a really big part of us winning. We came out to rebound and push it on the break,” Obany said. “We had to make sure we were prepared after the long break. I don’t think we had too much energy in the first half, but in the second half we got going. We’re really excited to have a chance to go back to state.”
KM crept to within 53-40 in the second half when Duoth Gach, who had 14 points and three steals, came up with back-to-back breakaway jams to put things away for good. Gach said the Packers had to find their energy after an eight-day lay-off, but they were excited to be back on the court.
Austin forced 25 turnovers in the win.
Austin’s Duoth Gach skies for the second-half dunk in the Section 1A semifinals against Kasson-Mantorville Saturday night in Rochester. Eric Johnson/photodesk@austindailyherald.com
“We just have to take it one game at a time. We knew they could score like they did against Winona and we had to come out and play defense on them,” Gach said. “Obany was pretty good tonight. We need him to play like that throughout the whole playoffs if we want a state championship.”
KM was within 32-23 late in the first half when Obany scored six straight points to put the Packers up by 15 points at the break.
Austin will play in the Section 1AAA title game in Mayo Civic Center March 16 at 7 p.m.
Austin’s Logan Braaten looks for outlet after a rebound against Kasson-Mantorville in the Section 1AAA semifinals Saturday night in Rochester. Eric Johnson/photodesk@austindailyherald.com
KM 23 24 – 47
Austin 38 41 – 79
Austin scoring: Duoth Gach, 14; Nyagoa Obany, 14; Moses Issa, 10; Tate Hebrink, 10; Ngor Deng, 8; Medi Obang, 7; Logan Braaten, 4; LaHenry Gills, 4; Gavin Owens, 2; Pierre Lilly, 2; Dongrin Deng, 2; free throws: 89 percent (8-for-9); rebounds: 23 (Obany, 9); turnovers: 12
