Packers win 4th Straight

7 Jan

The Austin Packers used strong defense and good ball movement to close the first half on a 28-9 run en route to a 55-38 win at Mankato West on Friday night.

Joe Aase led the Packers with 20 points, while Zach Wessels had 13, Tom Aase 12, Bret Lukes 4, Goliath Oboyo 3, Zach Vierkandt 2 and Nate Schwab 1. Here are the stories in the Post-Bulletin and Austin Daily Herald, as well as KEYC TV in  Mankato.

Here are the full video highlights:

The Packers are now 6-2 and went into the game ranked #10 in the Minnesota Class AAA boys basketball rankings. In the Big 9, they’re 3-1 and in a five-way tie for second place. They return to action Tuesday night when they host Faribault.

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Packers top Waseca

4 Jan

After Waseca hit a three-pointer to cut Austin’s lead to 7-6 with 5 minutes gone in the game, the Packers used smothering defense to ignite a 27-4 run to close the first half with a 34-10 halftime lead, and went on to a comfortable 58-33 home win Tuesday night.

Several Packers saw extended playing time, and the scoring was extremely balanced as Joe Aase led the Pack with 10 points, while Bret Lukes and Zach Wessels both had 9, Nate Schwab had 8, Tom Aase and Zach Vierkandt scored 7 apiece and Goliath Oboyo and Collin Weisert scored 4 each.

Here are the video highlights:

The Packers are now 5-2 on the year and 4-0 against Section 1AAA opponents. They return to action Friday night at Mankato West in a Big Nine Conference matchup.

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Computer Ranks Packers in Top 5 in Minnesota Class AAA

1 Jan

College basketball fans are familiar with the Ratings Percentage Index, or RPI, which is a computer ranking of teams based on their winning percentage, their opponents’ winning percentage, and the winning percentage of their opponents’ opponents. It’s a way of more objectively comparing the more than 300 teams playing NCAA Division I basketball based on their records and strength of schedule, instead of just relying on the opinions of coaches or sportswriters.

For example, while Michigan State is currently 12-2 and ranked 16th in the Associated Press poll, the Spartans are at number 7 in the RPI based on their strength of schedule, which has been the 14th-toughest in the country. Even though Baylor is undefeated and ranked 10 spots higher in the polls, the Bears’ weaker strength of schedule (69) has them just two spots ahead of the Spartans in the RPI.

Minnesota high school sports have a similar computer ranking, called the Quality Results Formula, or QRF. It likewise is based on wins and losses and the opponents’ record, but only takes into account games against Minnesota teams. The QRF also recognizes that wins against Class AAA teams are worth more than those against Class AA teams, and wins against highly ranked Class AAAA teams get the highest recognition. With a final record of 14-12 last year, the Austin Packers came in at #31 of the 64 Class AAA teams in the season-ending QRF.

The first QRF rankings for 2011-12 came out last Monday, and the Packers (4-1 in Minnesota games) debuted at #5 on the Class AAA list. As the week progressed, the Packers crept up the list as teams above them lost, and as teams they had already played went 8-5 in holiday tournaments. Wins against Mankato East (now 6-1) and New Prague (6-3) have been important factors in building the Packers’ QRF score.

As the Packers come off an 11-day holiday break, the computer now has them ranked #3 in Class AAA:

After the 11-day period with no games, the Packers now get into the meat of their schedule, with 5 games in 11 days starting Tuesday when they host Waseca. And while the Packers haven’t yet cracked the top 10 in the Minnesota Basketball News poll, if they keep playing well it won’t be long before they get recognized by the voters, too.

Be sure to come out and support the Packers Tuesday night!

Packers clip Wingers

23 Dec

The Austin boys fell behind 3-2 at the start of their Thursday night game against Red Wing, but after that they never trailed as they went on to a 51-35 win.

The win moves the Packers to 4-2 overall, and 3-0 against section 1AAA opponents, which will help them get a favorable seed at tournament time if they keep up their current pace.

The Packers used tough defense and a balanced scoring attack to get the win. Joe Aase and Zach Wessels each had 11 points, Zach Vierkandt 9, Tom Aase and Bret Lukes 6 each, and Goliath Oboyo and Nate Schwab had 4 apiece.

It was a much different game from the high-scoring contest Tuesday in which Mankato East and the Packers combined to shoot 70 free throws: the Packers and Wingers shot just 11. See the story in the Austin Daily Herald.

Here are the highlights:

 

 

The Packers have a break now until January 3, when they host another section foe, Waseca. The Bluejay are currently 4-3 on the season.

 

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Packers drop Mankato East

21 Dec

The Austin Packers bounced back from last week’s tough loss at Rochester Mayo to knock off the visiting Mankato East Cougars 82-73 Tuesday night.

It was the first loss of the year for the Cougars, who have been ranked as high as #3 in the state Class AAA polls. The Packers had received votes in the most recent poll, and their vote total will surely increase after overcoming foul trouble that benched its two big men, Joe Aase and Tom Aase, for much of the game.

Here are the first-half highlights, which saw the Packers build a 40-26 lead at the break:

And here are the second-half highlights, during which the Packers built their lead to as much as 20 points before surviving a late East run that got to within four. While we don’t usually include free throws in the highlights, this game was so influenced by fouls that an account that didn’t show them would be incomplete. The teams took 70 free throws combined (East 38, Austin 32), with many of the Packers’ attempts coming as the Cougars fouled intentionally in the second half to stop the clock in their comeback bid. (Note that the free throws are all grouped at the end of the video, and are not necessarily in order.)

See the stories in the Austin Daily Herald and Post-Bulletin.

The win boosts the Packers’ record to 3-2 overall, 2-1 in the Big 9. Their next game is Thursday night at home against section foe Red Wing, a contest that will help determine seeding at tournament time. It’s also “Jam the Gym” night, as HyVee is giving hot dogs, chips and a soft drink to the first 300 fans attending the game.

 

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