The Packers had a huge contingent of fans on hand for the state title game against DeLaSalle (click the image above to enlarge), and they got off to a good start with an early 5-0 lead, but their perfect season came to an end on a less-than-perfect note in a 50-33 loss to the top-ranked Islanders.
Tom Aase led the Packers with 14 points, while Zach Wessels added 8. Collin Weisert scored 5, while Joe Aase, Bret Lukes and Ajuda Nywesh had 2 each.
The Austin Packers trailed by 7 at halftime, and the deficit was as large as 11, but they stormed back in the second half for a 59-56 win over The Blake School Wednesday in the Minnesota Class AAA quarterfinals at Williams Arena.
Joe Aase led the Packers with 20 points, including four second-half threes, while Ajuda Nywesh tallied 15 and had numerous timely steals. Zach Wessels chipped in 9, Tom Aase 8, Collin Weisert 5 and Bret Lukes 2.
The Packers now face #3 Marshall at 2 p.m. Thursday at Target Center. As you can see in the video above, the community support for the team Wednesday was amazing. Let’s make sure we’re just as strong for the semifinals.
If you can’t attend in person, you can follow on KAUS radio, or watch on KAAL Digital Channel 6.2. If you’re not in the Austin area, you also have the option to stream the game live on Prep45.com.
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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.
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.
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The Austin Packers showed flashes of excellence punctuated by some choppy patches Wednesday night on the way to a 71-35 first-round win at home against Kasson-Mantorville.
The top-seeded Packers built a 46-17 lead just after halftime, and the game got to running time with about six minutes remaining, but the second half wasn’t as crisp as the first. Joe Aase and Zach Wessels each scored 14 points, while Ajuda Nywesh had 13, Tom Aase 9, Bret Lukes 7, Gach Gach 6 and Collin Weisert and Curtis Oberbroeckling 4 each.
Here are the highlights:
Next up for the Packers will be fifth-seeded Winona, 68-64 winners over fourth seed Waseca. Game time is 7 p.m. Saturday night in Packer Gym
The Austin Packers used their suffocating defense to build a big lead early on the way to a 66-47 win Saturday night at Rochester John Marshall.
Junior Zach Wessels scored a layup in the first two minutes that put him over the 1,000-point mark for his career, and he added 16 more points over the rest of the game to lead the Packers in scoring. Tom Aase chipped in 14 points, Bret Lukes 13, Ajuda Nywesh 9, Joe Aase and Collin Weisert 4 each, Gach Gach 3 and Noah Brehmer 1.
Facing foul trouble that sidelined several players for extended portions of the game, coach Kris Fadness went deeper into his bench and the reserves responded with solid minutes.
The Packers’ win runs their season record to 24-0, tying them for the longest boys basketball winning streak in school history. They wrap up their regular season next Friday night in Owatonna before beginning section play at home on March 6.
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