Austin
Hunt for a Title Packers
WEDNESDAY, MARCH 21, 2018
Packers ready to take on the state By Rocky Hulne sports@austindailyherald.com
The Packers will play in their fifth Minnesota Class AAA Boys State Basketball Tournament in seven years this week, which means they likely won’t be blown away by the environment or shocked by what they see. They will, however, have to come out ready to play when they take on Sauk Rapids-Rice in Williams Arena in the state quarterfinals at 2 p.m. Wednesday. The Storm (21-8 overall) resemble a pair of teams that gave Austin problems this season — Northfield and Owatonna – as they have size up front. They will likely lean on the play of Bemidji State commit Cody Landwehr, a 6-foot, 7-inch post and Deng Deang, a 6-6 forward who is the cousin of Duoth Gach. “They’re big and physical. They’re long and lengthy and they’re tough to score on around the basket because of their size and length,” Fadness said. “[Deang] has been out a couple of games, but we expect him to be playing. He’s a disruptor and defender and he can play around the basket.” Austin senior Tate Hebrink is expecting the
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Austin head coach Kris Fadness directs the Packers in practice in Packer Gym. Rocky Hulne/sports@austindailyherald.com
Storm to bring it inside, which means the Packers will have to bring some toughness. Hebrink thinks the state experience Austin
picked up last year when it finished second behind DeLaSalle will help out the team. “We’re all a little more confident now that
we’ve got a little more experience,” Hebrink said. “You’ve got to come ready to play, that’s for sure. There are some really good teams up there and they’ll come out with a lot of energy. You have to match it.” Gach said he can’t wait to get out on the court and put it all on the line. “We’re trying to make another run at it and I can’t wait to get out there and play,” he said. Fadness insisted that the Packers have to come out with fire if they want to move on in the tournament. Austin certainly can’t allow the Storm to push them around. “They’re a good team and they’re a physical team,” Fadness said. “For us it comes down to our defensive pressure and can we create enough havoc and can our defense be good enough to generate points for us. If we struggle with that and we struggle with our shooting, it’s going to be a tough game.” Austin senior Moses Issa said the Packers will have to keep their cool if the intensity picks up. “We have to play hard and level headed.,” Issa said. “We know we’re one of the good teams too.”
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Stacking the schedule
A look at the top 6 games the Packers played this year against some tough competition Austin 71, Lakeville North 65, Dec. 29
The Packers picked up their first signature win of the season when they went up to Lakeville North and knocked off a team that has qualified for the Minnesota Class AAAA Boys State Basketball Tournament. The Packers raced out to a 43-33 lead at halftime after hitting 10-three-pointers in the first frame. Austin sealed the win when Logan Braaten hit a fade-away to make it 52-47 and Tate Hebrink hit a three-pointer to make it 6457. Moses Issa finished with 19 points.
Austin 81, Mankato East 74, Jan. 9
Austin guard Tate Hebrink dumps down low to Luke Hawkshead during the second half against Rochester John Marshall. Herald file photo
The Packers made some big plays to get the win in a game between two athletic teams that are both in the Minnesota Class AAA Boys State Basketball Tournament. Medi Obang hit a three-pointer to put the Packers up 72-71 and he converted a lay-up to put the Packers up 74-71. Gach led the Packers with 20 points.
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Austin 80, Roch. John Marshall 64, Jan. 13
The Packers used a big second half rally to spur them to a win that helped them eventually clinch a share of the Big Nine title. Austin opened the second frame on a 17-2 run to go up 60-41. Moses Issa, who finished with 19 points and seven rebounds, hit a pair of three-pointers to get the rally started. Gach added 16 points in the win.
Austin 61, Minnehaha Academy, 59, Feb. 3
The Packers’ most dramatic victory of the season came against a star studded Minnehaha Academy team on a Saturday night in St. Thomas Academy. Minnehaha seemed to steal momentum when Jalen Suggs converted a steal into a three-pointer to tie the game up at 59-59, but the Packers had an answer when Hebrink converted a put-back lay-up to beat the buzzer and score the win. Issa led the Packers with 19 points.
Austin 56, Northfield 49, Feb. 13
Austin faced its biggest halftime deficit of the season and finished with a season-low in points, but it was able to pick up a key win over Northfield. Austin trailed by 14 points at the break after Northfield used an 18-2 run, but the Packers ended the game on a 14-4 run over an eight-minute stretch. Gach hit a three-pointer to tie the game at 41 and he converted a three-point play off an Obang steal to put the Packers up 46-45 with 7:14 left. Hebrink finished with 19 points, four rebounds, four assists and three steals.
Austin 74, Owatonna 70, OT, Feb. 23
The Packers avenged an earlier loss to the Huskies when they slipped past Owatonna in overtime. Hebrink, who had 19 points, hit three straight free throws to put the Packers up 71-67 with 1:26 left in the game and he forced OT when he drove for a lay-up with six seconds left in regulation. Obang led the Packers with 22 points.
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Double Deng Double Trouble By Rocky Hulne
sports@austindailyherald.com
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The Deng twins provide a defensive spark off the bench
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henever the Packers get off to a slow start and they need a boost, they often turn to their bench and bring in the Deng twins, who can change the came with their focus and fury in the full court press. Dongrin and Ngor, who are juniors, have developed into the head of the press and they’ve developed a reputation for becoming big-time stoppers. “They’re just high energy guys,” Austin head coach Kris Fadness said. “Defensively they’re in your space and they can be very disruptive defensively. If one of them can hit a couple of shots, it’s icing on the cake. They’re good basketball players.” Dongrin and Ngor never lack the ability to communicate and they’re often simultaneously collapsing on a ball handler to force a double dribble or grab a steal. “It’s kind of like a twin thing,” Dongrin said. “We just tell each other to lock in and then we go out and get stops. It’s fun harassing other players and if you can get them to get turnovers, that’s a fun thing to do.“ Austin senior Tate Hebrink said there’s nothing better to do when he comes out of the game than to look up and see the Deng’s creating havoc. “They’re very active on defense and they’re very fast,” Hebrink said. “When I’m watching them from the bench, I swear they never get tired. It’s incredible.” While Austin is bringing a veteran team with state experience to the state tourna-
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“They’re really quick, smart guards and they always come into the game and make plays right away.” Moses Issa ment, this will be the first time the Deng’s play on the big stage. It’s a moment they’ve been looking forward to for quite some time. “We’ve been dreaming about playing [at state] for a long time,” Ngor said. “It’s been a good year and it’s been a great experience. Some of the older guys have set me right and they’ve taught me what to do.” Austin senior Moses Issa is glad to have the duo of dynamic Deng defenders coming along for the state tournament ride. “They’re really quick, smart guards and they always come into the game and make plays right away. That’s what we like to see,” Issa said. “They’re example setting players for our team.” While they both missed some time down the stretch of the season with injuries and illnesses, Dongrin and Ngor are both expected to be fully active at state. They wouldn’t have it any other way as they’ve always grown up playing for the same team. Except for the times they play a little oneon-one. “We play one one one, but I always beat him,” Dongrin said. “It’s always fun and we’re always trying to get better.” From left: Dongrin Deng and Ngor Deng, who are twin brothers, have given the Packers a boost off the bench this season. Rocky Hulne/sports@austindailyherald.com
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Minnesota Class 3A Boys State Basketball Tournament Consolation
Quarterfinals Wednesday, March 21
Hermantown (14-15)
Semifinals
2 p.m., March 22
Thursday, March 22
10 a.m., Williams Arena No. 1 De La Salle (24-4)
All games played at Concordia University
4 p.m., March 22
4 p.m., March 23
Noon, Target Center
No. 5 St. Thomas Academy (20-9) Noon, Williams Arena
Championship
No. 4 Columbia Heights (20-6) 5 p.m., Target Center
Saturday, March 24
Sauk Rapids-Rice (21-8) 2 p.m., Williams Arena No. 2 Austin (26-2) 2 p.m., Target Center Delano (28-11)
Third Place
Concordia Unviersity
4 p.m., Williams Arena No. 3 Mankato East (24-5)
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2 p.m., March 24
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Austin
Tournament Breakdown
Record: 26-2 Points per game: 78.0 Points allowed per game: 57.0 QRF Ranking: 1 How they get to state: Beat Northfield 74-72
Where the teams are from
Mankato East
Record: 24-5 Points per game: 73.1 Points allowed per game: 54.1 QRF Ranking: 4 How they get to state: Beat Waseca 78-70
Columbia Heights
Record: 20-6 Points per game: 74.4 Points allowed per game: 65.7 QRF Ranking: 8 How they get to state: Beat Mahtomedi 70-62
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Record: 18-11 Points per game: 72.9 Points allowed per game: 64.9 QRF Ranking: 10 How they get to state: Beat Willmar 75-54
DeLaSalle
Hermantown
St. Thomas Academy
Record: 20-9 Points per game: 74.3 Points allowed per game: 63.3 QRF Ranking: 11 How they get to state: Beat St. Croix Lutheran 63-59
Delano
Record: 24-4 Points per game: 79.6 Points allowed per game: 59.3 QRF Ranking: 2 How they get to state: Beat Orono 80-78
Hermantown Sauk Rapids Rice Columbia Heights
Minneapolis
DeLaSalle St. Thomas Academy Mankato East
Record: 14-15 Points per game: 69.1 Points allowed per game: 70.0 QRF Ranking: 35 How they get to state: Beat Cloquet 68-58
Sauk Rapids-Rice Austin
Record: 21-8 Points per game: 64.8 Points allowed per game: 62.4 QRF Ranking: 12 How they get to state: Beat Fergus Falls 64-59
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As Issa has had his game grow by leaps and bounds this season, his teammates have definitely taken notice. Austin senior Duoth Gach has encouraged Issa to come out and play hard every game this season. “Moses is more confident with his game and he keeps getting better and better,” Gach said. “He’s just been playing his game.” The Packers are feeling confident as they prepare for the state tournament and Issa is feeling much better about his game after the work he put in over the summer to prepare for this season. “I’ve always been comfortable with Fads’ system and I knew what I had to do to get better. I spent a lot of time in the gym to get ready for this year,” Issa said. “With us, the main thing is if we have energy I feel we can beat anybody in the state. We have to come out with energy and maintain it throughout the whole game.” Austin’s Moses Issa shoots in front of Kasson-Mantorville’s Wesley Asprey during the second half in the Section 1AAA semifinals in Rochester. Herald file photo
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Issa tapping into potential By Rocky Hulne sports@austindailyherald.com
Moses Issa going to work in the Section 1AAA title game against Northfield. Herald file photo
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If you ever went to an Austin practice over the past few years, you would’ve certainly noticed Moses Issa sprinting up and down the court and leaping for rebounds and blocked shots. But you wouldn’t necessarily see the same production on game nights. That all changed this season when Issa started to tap into his potential as he emerged as a play-making, scoring and defensive standout. “I’ve learned to know my role on the team,” Issa said. “I knew coming into this year that I’d have to be a leader and be vocal. I’ve had to score through the offense and not force anything, because that’s been a weakness of mine.” Issa has become a threat from the three-point line and he can still take it to the rack with the best of them. On the defensive end of the floor, he’s had as many highlight blocks and steals as any
“I’ve learned to know my role on the team. I knew coming into this year that I’d have to be a leader and be vocal.” Moses Issa other Packer. Austin head coach Kris Fadness said he’s seen Issa grow from a post player to a swing man, who can be dangerous with the jumper or the drive when he catches the ball from 15 to 17 feet out. “Moses is very confident in his abilities and he always has been,” Fadness said. “He was basically the same size as he is now when he was in sixth or seventh grade and he was basically a post player. He’s had to develop his perimeter skills and it’s been a learning process. I feel like he’s growing and growing and he’s become a very effective three-point shooter and he’s explosive going to the basket. He’s awfully tough to guard and he’s a physical specimen.”
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Eye on the action
Austin senior Gari Gari using a camera to be part of the Packers’ success By Rocky Hulne
sports@austindailyherald.com
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Gari Gari films the second half of Austin’s game against Kasson-Mantorville in the Section 1AAA semifinals in Rochester. Eric Johnson/photodesk@austindailyherald.com
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hen Austin senior Gari Gari took a look at the projected roster for this year’s Austin Packer basketball team, the writing was on the wall that he wasn’t going to play a lot of minutes. But Gari didn’t whine or complain, he grabbed a camera and started filming. Gari, who had played with the Austin basketball program up until this year, started showing up to games with a camera and he’s been posting highlight videos of Austin basketball games on YouTube, Twitter and Channel 4 News at Austin High School this whole season. “I knew that the team was stacked so I wasn’t going to be playing,” Gari said. “Both [Gach] had a video up on YouTube and I’ve known how to do video since I was a sophomore. I thought it would be cool if someone went to the basketball games and put it up. I didn’t think anybody would really know about it. I thought it would just be between me and my friends on the team.” Eventually the Packers decided that Gari needed a name for his videos so they could give him shoutouts on camera and after the game. Austin senior center Nyagoa Obany, a friend of Gari’s, came up with the name Gari Visions and the name stuck. This season, Austin players and fans alike have gone out of their way to find Gari under the basket and give him a nod. The AHS student section was even chanting Gari’s name in the Section 1AAA title game against Northfield in Rochester. Gari has been surprised by the attention and he’s really just looking to give attention to the team, where his cousin Medi Obang is a starting guard. “I look at it as a different way of supporting them,” Gari said. “You don’t have anyone coming to our games and recording them as you do in the cities. Maybe a middle schooler will watch my videos and say they want to be like that player. That would be something great.” Austin senior Moses Issa said he’s enjoyed seeing Gari put up videos throughout the season. “It’s cool,” Issa said. “We see him on the baseline during games and sometimes I’ll wave to him or wink at him to get him going. We like what he’s doing for us.” The Packers have even let Gari ride on the bus for a couple of rode games, including the Minnehaha Academy game. Austin head coach Kris Fadness was pleased to see Gari find a way to be close to the team this season.
“I look at it as a different way of supporting them ... Maybe a middle schooler will watch my videos and say they want to be like that player. That would be something great.” Gari Gari “Gari’s a great kid and he’s done a great job with this. He’s working hard and he loves basketball,” Fadness said. “The kids have really rallied around Gari and they like what he’s doing for them. I’m glad that he’s able to find a niche with basketball when he wasn’t able to play. He loves it and he knows what he’s doing. I’m proud of Gari.” Gari has learned a lot about film editing this season as he’s learned to adjust color and audio on his videos. He’s hoping to make an individual highlight video for each player on the team after the season. Gari’s biggest challenge behind the camera has been resisting the urge to celebrate when the Packers make a highlight play. “The hard part is being quiet. I’m recording, but I’m still a fan. If I see something spectacular I might go crazy or something. But I’m supposed to be quiet,” Gari said. “I work on it pretty hard. It’s something that I’m having fun with and I take serious, but it’s not quite like a job.” Gari thanked Fadness and the team for giving him big-time access this season and he said he’s even tempted to find a way to continue to stay in the video production arena when he finishes high school. “Everyone’s been telling me I should get into production,” Gari said. “We’ll see.” AUSTIN DAILY HERALD AUSTIN PACKERS BOYS BASKETBALL
Gari Gari has been a fixture underneath baskets all season long, filming the Austin boys basketball team. Eric Johnson/ photodesk@ austindailyherald.com
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