Panthers use fast start to power past Packers
Published 9:34 pm Tuesday, January 23, 2024
Austin’s Cole Hebrink battles through the Rochester Century defense during the first half Tuesday night in Packer Gym. Eric Johnson/photodesk@austindailyherald.com
Austin’s Banyaan Omot drives the baseline during the first half against Rochester Century Tuesday night in Packer Gym. Eric Johnson/photodesk@austindailyherald.com
Austin’s J’dan Stevens passes along the baseline during the first half against Rochester Century Tuesday night in Packer Gym. Eric Johnson/photodesk@austindailyherald.com
Austin’s Peyton Ransom handles the ball against the Rochester Century defense during the first half Tuesday night in Packer Gym. Eric Johnson/photodesk@austindailyherald.com
Austin’s Isaac Osgood pulls up for a three against Rochester Century during the first half Tuesday night in Packer Gym. Eric Johnson/photodesk@austindailyherald.com
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The Austin boys basketball team started off slow and it couldn’t work its way back in it as the Packers lost to Rochester Century 79-53 in Packer Gym Tuesday.
Century rattled off the first 16 points of the game as Austin didn’t get on the scoreboard until J’Dan Stevens hit a three-pointer with 10:43 left in the first half. The Packers got as close as 34-23 at halftime, but they were never able to get in an offensive flow.
“We play our best basketball when we can play inside out, whether its posting up or dribbling to the basket and we weren’t getting much of that at all,” Austin head coach Jamaal Gibson said. “We don’t shoot that well when we’re not going inside out. It was just tough for us to get anything going when we’re just dribbling and passing around.”
Shaun Wysocki, a 6-foot, 7-inch center, had 18 points for the Panthers (10-5 overall) in limited minutes. Wysocki has committed to Division II Minnesota State University Moorehead.
“Shaun’s the best player in the conference and I don’t even know if it’s close. There is a reason he’s going to play college basketball for free,” Gibson said. “He’s been putting up points against us for three years now and we saw his brother do it for three years before that. We knew he was going to be a problem. They’re just so long and athletic and they really bothered us from the beginning. It kind of made us shell up like we were at the beginning of the year and we made lazy passes.”
J’Dan Stevens led Austin (5-10 overall) with 13 points and Peyton Ransom added 10 points, three steals and four assists.
Austin played much of the game without sophomore guard Cole Hebrink as he sustained an early ankle injury.
Century 34 45 – 79
Austin 23 30 – 53
Austin scoring: J’Dan Stevens, 13; Peyton Ransom, 10; Isaac Osgood, 9; Micah Christopherson, 9; Banyaan Omot, 3; Dakota Retterath, 3; Omot Ohlaani, 3; Jackson Clausman, 3
