The Austin Packer Boys Basketball team travels to Owatonna tonight with a lot to accomplish, including a chance to make history on several fronts:
- The 2012-13 Packers are currently tied with the 1980-81 Packers for longest boys basketball winning streak in school history, at 24 games. A win tonight, and these Packers hold the record by themselves.
- With a win tonight, the Packers would claim the conference crown by at least four games. which would match the margin for the 2009-2010 Winona Winhawks, the last team to go undefeated in the Big 9. The 2008-2009 Mankato West Scarlets also went 18-0 in the conference, and won by five games over Austin. An Albert Lea win tonight over Rochester John Marshall (combined with an Austin win), would stretch the Packers’ margin to five games.
- No Big Nine team has gone undefeated in the regular season since at least 2005-1006. Both the ’08-’09 Scarlets and the ’09-’10 Winhawks lost non-conference match-ups, while this year’s Packers are 7-0.
- The Packers are looking for their first season sweep of Owatonna since at least 2004-2005. From that year through 2010-11, Owatonna won 12 of 14 games. A win tonight would give the Packers three of the last four.
Most importantly, the Packers are preparing for tournament play, and this is their last tune-up before they open at home next Wednesday night at 7 p.m.
If you have information on the last Big Nine team to go undefeated throughout the regular season (including non-conference), please leave that information in the comments below. Also, if you know when Austin last swept Owatonna, that would be helpful too.
Please join us in Owatonna tonight! The opening tip is at 7:30. Then plan to root the Packers on through the playoffs!
Packer Fast Break Club 