New Packers break the ice in home opening win over AL
Published 9:55 pm Tuesday, December 12, 2023
Austin’s Isaac Osgood finishes against the defense of AL’s Easton Schewe in Packer Gym Tuesday. Rocky Hulne/sports@austindailyherald.com
Austin’s J’dan Stevens dribbles past Albert Lea’s Cooper Kermes in Packer Gym Tuesday night. Rocky Hulne/sports@austindailyherald.com
Austin’s Peyton Ransom rips down a rebound against the Tigers. Rocky Hulne/sports@austindailyherald.com
Cole Hebrink pulls up for a jump shot. Rocky Hulne/sports@austindailyherald.com
Austin’s Banyaan Omot gets to the rim against AL’s Jack Skinness. Rocky Hulne/sports@austindailyherald.com
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The Packers have a lot of new players in the lineup this season and most of them got their feet wet in their first big home minutes in an 89-51 win over Albert Lea in Packer Gym Tuesday.
The Packers (1-1 overall) opened the game on an 8-0 run, but the Tigers (0-2 overall) pounced within 15-12 after Noah Teeter converted a lay-up, but that was as close as the game would get. Austin responded with a 25-9 burst that saw Dakota Retterath provide a scoring punch off the bench.
Retterath finished with a team leading 19 points and senior Peyton Ransom added 17 points, eight rebounds, five assists and six steals to help the cause.
“It’s been fun to finally get some meaningful varsity minutes. This group has been together for a few years now, so it’s nothing really new. It’s just a new level,” Ransom said. “It’s always fun to play Albert Lea because we know a lot of those guys. It was fun to see a lot of guys get in tonight.”
Austin senior Jackson Clausman gave the Packers a post presence as he finished with 13 points and eight rebounds.
“It felt really nice to get in there and do some work. You’ve got to start somewhere,” Clausman said. “We lost a lot of seniors last year who played heavy minutes and to bring in a lot of new guys, I think we’re playing pretty well so far.”
Fourteen players saw the court in the win for Austin and nine of them broke into the scoring column, with freshman Xzaveon Severin scoring his first varsity points late in the action.
Albert Lea 25 26 – 51
Austin 43 46 – 89
Austin scoring: Dakota Retterath, 19; Peyton Ransom, 17; Jackson Clausman, 13; Isaac Osgood, 13; Cole Hebrink, 8; J’dan Stevens, 6; Micah Christopherson, 5; Xzaveon Severin, 5; Banyaan Omot, 3
