Hustle and Flow: Shute’s early effort gives Packers an edge over Rockets
Published 10:11 pm Friday, January 24, 2025
Austin’s Quinn Osgood passes during the first half against Rochester John Marshall Friday night in Ove Berven Gym. Eric Johnson/photodesk@austindailyherald.com
Austin’s Marissa Shute brings the ball up court against Rochester John Marshall during the first half Friday night in Ove Berven Gym. Eric Johnson/photodesk@austindailyherald.com
Austin’s Addison Walsh drives around Rochester John Marshall’s Ciara Seifert during the first. half Friday night in Ove Berven Gym. Eric Johnson/photodesk@austindailyherald.com
Austin’s Mackenzie Brede lines up a three-point shot during the first half against Rochester John Marshall Friday night in Ove Berven Gym. Eric Johnson/photodesk@austindailyherald.com
Austin’s Ajiem Agwa drives to the basket during the first half against Rochester John Marshall Friday night in Ove Berven Gym. Eric Johnson/photodesk@austindailyherald.com
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A little bit of effort can go a long way when a team is looking to seize momentum.
Austin senior Marissa Shute did just that for the Packer girls with an early hustle play that flipped a slow start into a solid night as the Packer girls beat Rochester John Marshall 71-58 in Ove Berven Gym on senior night Friday night.
The Rockets (9-10 overall) opened the game on an 8-3 run, but after that lead dwindled to 8-7, Shute chased down a loose ball all the way from the half court line back to the end line as she ran past a JM player, and saved the ball to sophomore Quinn Osgood, who drilled a wing three-pointer to give Austin a 12-10 lead that it would never relent.
“I thought it would be out of bounds, but then I saw the other girl was jogging so I went for it,” Shute said. “I got it, and then Quinn knocked down a really big three. The whole gym was ecstatic.”
That play came in the midst of a 21-3 Austin run and the Rockets never got closer than eight after the early Austin surge.
Shute finished with 25 points, six rebounds and five assists in one of the most productive games of her career. She was a strong compliment to fellow senior Ajiem Agwa, who posted 22 points, five steals and four assists.
“It kind of takes me back to AYB days playing with Ajiem, where we both were really big scorers,” Shute said. “Tonight we were both assisting each other and it was really nice.”
Agwa credited Shute’s offense for making the ball movement flow easier and she also embraced scoring a win on senior night.
“I feel really old, but I’m really happy that I get to play with these girls for my last year and I’m really happy that we won tonight,” Agwa said.
JM was led by senior post player Ciara Seifert, who tallied 31 points and 27 rebounds in a dominant paint performance. The Packers were able to offset JM’s inside advantage by forcing multiple turnovers and hitting 10 three-pointers as a team.
“I think with our energy on offense, that just kept us going,” Agwa said. “On defense, we knew we were going to be shorter, so we just had to fight through them.”
Austin senior Nyabol Mourwal Gach gave the Packers (14-3 overall) two points and eight rebounds in the paint. Austin held every other JM player besides Seifert to single digit scoring.
“There was so much that happened,” Austin head coach Eric Zoske said. “We knew they had maybe the best two post players in the Big Nine and it was our top end guards against their top end post players. It was two contrasting styles and we got that early lead. That was really important for us.”
Shute recently made her commitment to run cross country and track at Division I Western Illinois. The Leathernecks compete in the Ohio Valley Conference.
Shute is a four-time state qualifier in cross country and a one-time state qualifier in track and field.
“I’m really excited to join Western Illinois and their program,” Shute said. “When I visited campus, it felt like my second home and it was a place I really wanted to be. Everyone here, including all of my basketball, track and cross country teammates and coaches, and of course my family, have helped me to get to that point. Getting that out there and off my shoulders before the game felt really good.”
Zoske said that Shute has always been one to give all of her effort, no matter what she’s doing.
“On senior night, you kind of reflect on the seniors’ careers. The fun part of coaching is I’ve been able to see them since they were in AYB,” Zoske said. “Marissa has always been a 100 percent effort kid and she can make plays that some people cannot, because she’s going to give that effort. She’s been successful in the classroom, on the court, in 4-H or whatever club she’s doing because whatever she’s doing, she’s 100 percent into it.”
JM 18 40 – 58
Austin 32 39 – 71
Austin scoring: Marissa Shute, 25; Ajiem Agwa, 22; Quinn Osgood, 9; Atee Obang, 6; Addison Walsh, 5; Gracie Arndt, 4; Nyabol Mourwal Gach, 2
