Dry shooting sinks Pack; No. 5 Austin struggles to close out No. 2 Red Wing at home
Published 11:49 pm Tuesday, December 15, 2015
The Austin boys basketball team hit a slump at the worst time as it lost its second straight game to a top-10 in the state in Packer Gym Tuesday. The Packers went seven minutes without scoring a point down the stretch as the No. 2 ranked Wingers came back from a nine point second half deficit to beat Austin 62-53.
Austin’s Zach Coffey works the ball up top against Red Wing in the first half in Packer Gym Tuesday night. Eric Johnson/photodesk@austindailyherald.com
No. 5 ranked Austin (4-2 overall, 3-2 Big Nine) did most of its offensive damage in transition throughout the game and when it’s defense couldn’t get stops late in the game, it’s offense stalled. Travis Toivonen controlled the paint for RW (8-0 overall, 7-0 Big Nine) as he racked up 22 points, including all 10 Winger points in a run that saw them turn a 50-50 tie into a 59-50 lead.
“I felt they jammed the ball down our throat and they did a nice job of getting the ball to Toivonen,” Austin head coach Kris Fadness said. “He did a nice job of making plays for them in the high post and mid post range. To me that was the difference in the game, where we went through a stretch where we just could not stop them.”
The Packers led 47-38 after a pair of Trent Brown post ups and and a breakaway by Both Gach with eight minutes left in the game, but Austin would connect on just two more field goals the rest of the way. Both finished with 10 points and three assists, Tate Hebrink added 10 points and Jace Murray had eight points, three assists and three rebounds.
Fadness wanted to see his team play stronger at the rim against a physical Winger squad.
“It wasn’t the end that hurt us as much as it was not being able to finish at the basket. I thought we just missed too many shots at the basket tonight,” Fadness said. “They’re a physical team and they’re probably the best man to man defensive team we’ll see all year. We’ve got to learn how to play better half court offense.”
Austin will now play its next four games on the road, before it begins a four-game home stand that begins Jan. 2.
Red Wing 26 36 — 62
Austin 29 24 — 53
Austin scoring: Both Gach, 10; Tate Hebrink, 10; Jace Murray, 8; Duoth Gach, 7; Kyle Oberbroeckling, 5; Mark Manyuon, 4; Trent Brown, 4; Oman Oman, 3; Zach Coffey, 2; free throws: 50 percent (4-for-8)
Austin’s Mark Manyuon goes up in pressure against Red Wing Tuesday night in Packer Gym. Eric Johnson/photodesk@austindailyherald.com
