The Austin Packers earned the #2 seed as expected, and drew #7-ranked Blake from the unseeded pool for their quarterfinal match-up in the Minnesota State High School League Class AAA Boys Basketball Tournament.
The Packers face the Bears at 2 p.m. on Wednesday at Williams Arena on the University of Minnesota campus.
Here is the complete bracket:
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The Austin Packers earned their second straight state tournament trip Friday night with a 52-43 overtime win over Red Wing in the Section 1AAA title game.
The Packers built an early 12-5 lead before an extended scoring drought allowed the Wingers to close the gap and take a 14-12 lead. It was a four-point Packer lead at halftime, and the Packers maintained a slight edge for virtually all of the game, but a Red Wing put-back with five seconds left in regulation tied the score at 40. A Red Wing free throw gave them a one-point lead early in the four-minute extra period, but the Packers closed on 13-2 run for the win.
Zach Wessels led the Packer scoring with 19 points, while Joe Aase scored 18, Tom Aase 7, Ajuda Nywesh 4, Collin Weisert 3 and Bret Lukes 1.
See the stories in the Austin Daily Herald, Rochester Post-Bulletin, Red Wing Republican-Eagle and TV coverage on KAAL and KTTC. It was the 300th career win for Packer Coach Kris Fadness.
Here are the highlights:
The Packers begin MSHSL State Tournament play Wednesday at Williams Arena on the University of Minnesota campus. The top five teams will be seeded, with #4 and #5 facing each other and the top three seeds drawing one of the other teams at random. The bracket will be filled in later today.
Follow the Packers at State on Twitter, and connect on Facebook.
Thanks to Austin alumnus Chris Harder and his collection of State Tournament programs dating back about half a century, we’ve updated our Packer History page with some interesting information, including the fact that Austin has won more Big 9 titles than any other school.
We’re missing data from 2001-2005, so if you can help fill in the gaps, we would appreciate your help. Check it out!
Meanwhile, lest anyone feel anything other than relief at the Packers’ dodging a bullet on Saturday night against Winona, it’s helpful to remember that the last three Packer state tournament teams had at least one close call on the way to the tournament:
The point? Winning streaks are nice, but they don’t matter right now. Neither does the last game. All that counts is the next one.
Almost every good team that ends up making a tournament run needs to win a close game along the way to stay alive.
The Packers did just that on Saturday.
On Friday night they can claim a return trip to Williams Arena. Plan to go to the game and invite your friends!
With their cliffhanger win over Winona Saturday night, the Austin Packers extended their winning streak for the 2012-13 season to 27 games. They remain the only undefeated team in Class AAA, and there are no undefeated teams in AAAA or AA. Class A Upsala (29-0) is the state’s only other unbeaten team.
Over the last couple of years, the Packers have built some other streaks as well, which are now on hold until next year. Among those are:
The Packers have an opportunity to add to their season streak, and more importantly claim a spot in the MSHSL State Tournament, with a win Friday night in Rochester against Red Wing. Game time is 6 p.m. at Mayo Civic Arena.
Let us know on Facebook that you’re coming, and invite your friends!
The Box Office opens for ticket sales at 4:30 Friday, and the doors to the arena open at 5.
Let’s have a great crowd to cheer the Packers to victory!
Ajuda Nywesh goes up for the game-winning lay-up
The Austin Packers, down 21-10 midway through the first half, came back against Winona Saturday night for a 51-49 cliffhanger victory in the Section 1AAA semifinal.
Joe Aase led the Packers with 22 points, making 6 of 10 from behind the arc. Zach Wessels added 11, Ajuda Nywesh 9 (including the game-winning lay-up), Collin Weisert 5 and Tom Aase 4.
See the Austin Daily Herald story.
Updated: Here also are the Rochester Post-Bulletin and Winona Daily News stories.
Here are the highlights:
The win puts the Packers in the championship game on Friday, March 15 at 6 p.m. at Mayo Civic Arena in Rochester, where they will face Red Wing, upset winners over New Prague. The Packers defeated the Wingers 64-52 at Red Wing on Dec. 21.
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