Girls basketball: Packers power past Huskies

Published 10:13 pm Friday, February 19, 2016

Austin’s Shayley Vesel reaches for a rebound against Owatonna in the first half Friday night in Ove Berven Gym. Eric Johnson/photodesk@austindailyherald.com

Austin’s Shayley Vesel reaches for a rebound against Owatonna in the first half Friday night in Ove Berven Gym. Eric Johnson/photodesk@austindailyherald.com

The Austin girls basketball team showed a lot of balance as they beat Owatonna (14-10 overall, 12-8 Big Nine) 64-49 in Ove Berven Gym Friday.

Ruth Koang had 14 points and 14 rebounds, Rebecca Younis had 11 points and four steals and Shayley Vesel had 14 points in the win for the Packers (13-9 overall, 12-8 Big Nine).

Austin’s Rebecca Younis cuts against the Owatonna defense during the first half Friday night in Ove Berven Gym. Eric Johnson/photodesk@austindailyherald.com

Austin’s Rebecca Younis cuts against the Owatonna defense during the first half Friday night in Ove Berven Gym. Eric Johnson/photodesk@austindailyherald.com

“We had some really good contributions for everybody that played for us,” Austin head coach Todd Johnson said. “Ruth had a monster game on the boards and Amber [Hansen] had some good minutes for us in the first half. Kelsey [Sederquest] hit some shots, Ashley [Hawkhshead] played well and Shayley got going.”

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Sederquest had nine points, Hansen had six points and Hawkshead had four points, six assists and three rebounds.

The game was tied at 21-21, but Younis and Koang led an 8-0 to give the Packers a 29-21 lead just before the half. Austin led 48-38 halfway through the second when it used a a 14-2 run to put the game away.

“I felt really good about the way we played tonight,” Johnson said. “In the second half we came out, we got a couple of steals and we kind of got momentum going.”

Owatonna 22 27 — 49

Austin 29 35 — 64

Austin scoring: Shayley Vesel, 14; Ruth Koang, 14; Rebecca Younis, 11; Kelsey Sederquest, 9; Awenia Nywesh, 6; Amber Hansen, 6; Ashley Hawkshead, 4