March 24, 2013
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Volume 121, No. 71 Copyright 2013 • Austin Newspapers Inc.
One win short Austin's Joe Aase walks off the court following the Packers' 50-33 loss to De LaSalle in the Class ‘AAA’ state championship Saturday night at the Target Center. Eric Johnson/photodesk@austindailyherald.com
Packers fall in state title game, finish magical season at 30-1 By Rocky Hulne sports@austindailyherald.com
The Packers simply ran out of magic. Austin couldn’t find its shot as the De LaSalle Islanders took the Class ‘AAA’ boys basketball state title from them by a score of 50-33 at the Target Center Saturday. The Packers (30-1 overall) trailed by as many as 16 and pulled to within 40-30 when Zach Wessels hit a runner with 6:41 left in the game. The Islanders (301 overall) responded by playing stall ball as they ran out the clock and hit free throws the rest of the way. “You just think the run’s never going to end,” said Austin senior Tom Aase, who finished with 14 points on 6-of10 shooting to go along with six rebounds and three blocks. Austin head coach Kris Fadness said it will be
Austin captains Tom Aase, from left, Zach Wessels, Joe Aase and Collin Weisert accept the Packers runner-up trophy after the title game. tough to put together another group that can make a run like this team, which went to
Austin's Ajuda Nywesh goes in for a layup in the second half of the title game.
state for the first time in 30 years and took second place this season. “When you’re an outstate public school, it’s tough to compete with metro private schools,” Fadness said. “We had two years where we figured it was our best chance to win state. It’s going to be a lot to ask someone to repeat what these guys just did.” Aase, who will play at Division II Sioux Falls University next season,
started the game with a two-handed jam and blocked a dunk attempt by James Lawson as he ended his high school career with a bang. “I just wanted to sell out on it all,” Aase said. “It’s a great way to go out.” Joe Aase, who will play at Division I Davidson College next season, ended his career with a tough night as he went 1-for-10 from the field and scored just two
“You just think the run’s never going to end.” -Tom Aase
points. As a team, the Packers shot just 37 percent from the field, but they held the Islanders to 38 percent shooting. Each team finished with a season-low point total in what turned out to be a defensive battle. “Our shots just weren’t going in,” said Wessels, who finished with eight points and four rebounds. “But we played great defense. They’ve got three Division I guys, and they’re really good. Reid Travis is so great.” Austin held Travis to 17 points, and the Islanders made their biggest move when Luke Scott, who used to play AAU basketball with the Aases, hit a pair of 3pointers from the baseline to cap a 23-6 De LaSalle run that lasted nearly 16 minutes. Wessels, a junior who has already received an offer from Sioux Falls, said it’s going to be tough to move on with-
out a strong group of seniors. “I’ve played with those guys for three years,” Wessels said. “It’s going to be hard, but change always comes.” Tom, Joe and Wessels were all named to the Class AAA all-tournament team along with the best of St. Paul Johnson, Marshall and De LaSalle. Austin hung with De LaSalle for quite a while until the end of the first half when the Islanders had an 11-point lead, which tied Austin’s largest deficit of the season (Winona and The Blake School). With seven minutes to play, it still looked as if Austin had a shot after a Tom Aase 3 lifted the team and the crowd, and brought the Packers within 12. Tom scored on the next possession with a layup, as well, but De LaSalle sat on its 10point lead and played keep-away. The Islanders only shot 55.6 percent from the free throw line in the second half, but they still had 10 of their points come from the line, compared to Austin’s total of 16 points in the second half. Austin shot 63.6 percent from the free throw line, but it only had five attempts all night. De LaSalle Austin
28 22 — 50 17 16 — 33
Austin scoring: Tom Aase, 14; Zach Wessels, 8; Collin Weisert, 5; Joe Aase, 2; Bret Lukes, 2; Ajuda Nywesh, 2; field goals: 36 percent (14-of-38); three-pointers: 15 percent (2-of-13); free throws: 63.6 percent (3-of-5); rebounds: 22 (Tom Aase, 6; Joe Aase, 5); turnovers: 15
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Sunday, March 24, 2013
AUSTIN PACKERS
Austin Daily Herald
Live Packers blog has given fans interactivity Matt Peterson Herald reporter
Austin fans pack the Target Center as they wait for the Class AAA championship featuring Austin and De La Salle Saturday night at the Target Center. Gabby Wagner for the Austin Daily Herald
Community rallies around Packers By Kevin Coss kevin.coss@austindailyherald.com
The Wagner family decided they weren’tgoingtomisstheboysstatebasketballchampionshiponSaturday,even if it meant pushing everything else aside. “My family and I have delayed our vacationbytwodays,”saidPatWagner, a senior at Austin High School. As the Packers basketball team fought its opponents on the court at the statetournamentinMinneapolis,Wagner was one of a handful of students that led the charge from the stands. Their goal was simple: to keep their felAustin band member William Bjorndal plays the cymbal during the game. low students rooting for the team. Eric Johnson/photodesk@austindailyherald.com “The guys in the front row, we really keepthecheers,”saidGabeKasak,who field coach Tony Einertson said the also encourages his fellow students to their predecessors’ place. The crowd — students and parents sheer number of students going to the stay high-energy. “It’s our job to keep themgoingandkeepthempumpedup.” both—getascaughtupinthegameand games — which reached about 600 The turnout at the state games this focused on a win as the players them- Thursday — showed students were serious about supporting their team. But year remind him of last year’s first- selves. “There’s this kind of feeling the they weren’t the only ones. roundstategame,whereKasaksaidthe “You also see it from the standswereaseaof redgoing teachers,”Einertsonsaid.“It back as far as he could see. “There’s this kind of feeling shows the respect the teach“You look back and the ers have for the students.” whole crowd’s got their the crowd gets. You feel like Afterthebellrangandthe hands up,” Kasak said. you’re affecting the game.” school day ended Thursday, Wagner said Austin’s stuabout 30 teachers remained dent section has always been enthusiastic, but it’s easier -Gabe Kasak watching the game, along for one or two people to rally Austin High School student with a number of younger people. the spirits of the smaller “It’s been a good thing for crowds at a regular season game than to keep hundreds of fans crowdgets,”Kasaksaid,callingtomind the school,” Einertson said. Whilekeepingahighenergylevelin lively. Accordingly, the school has had the suspense that lingers during tense six or seven unofficial student section momentslikefreethrows.“Youfeellike thestudentsectioniseasywhenthebasketball team is doing well, Wagner said leaderspumpingupthecrowd.Somein- you’re affecting the game.” There’s no system for determining students shouldn’t give up if the Packtentionally stay toward the back rows tomakesurestudentsinthenosebleeds which students will take the lead on ers fall behind. “That’s when it’s even more imporcheersandchants,thoughWagnersaid are not left out. The games are a way for older stu- it helps if those students aren’t shy tant,” he said. As for Wagner and his family, they dents to carry on the tradition of pass- about raising their voices in front of harbor no regrets pushing back their ing down cheers and chants to younger school administrators. “It’s just whoever’s the loudest and vacation. Wagner summarized his fastudents, who ultimately go on to take most obnoxious,” ther’swords:20yearsfromnow,thefamWagner said with ily won’t remember an extra day of skiing in Colorado. But they will remema laugh. Math teacher bercheeringonthePackersastheyvied and track and for the state basketball championship.
Zach Wessels drives against De LaSalle in the first half of the title game. Eric Johnson/photodesk@austindailyherald.com
A rolling list of text may not be the most exciting way to follow a sports game by a longshot. But people had fun with it, including me, and it added a layer of immediate interaction not available for Austin Packers fans anywhere else. People from Florida, Texas, Arizona, Wyoming and even Kuwait tuned in — and participated in — the live blog at austindailyherald.com to follow and comment on the Packers boys basketball team through sections and the state tournament. Packer support has been huge at every game, with fans turning out in bigger numbers than opposing teams’ fans. But for the thousands of those who have been stuck at work, out of the radio coverage area, unable to find the games on television — or for those who wanted to interact with other fans while simultaneously following the games through other media — intermittent updates on a little, rectangular screen have been more than enough. One follower was stuck in school but was able to find out what was happening roughly four seconds after me. The updates may not be instantaneous like on television, but the pauses in between create more drama, and the blog has actually been slightly ahead of video and audio broadcasts at times. Everybody following was itching to know what happened. People constantly asked for time updates, especially at the end of games. One blogger even went as far as to tell me to “type faster.” Through five games, the live basketball blog has been a learning experience. Having sports editor Rocky Hulne at my side has allowed for interesting stats and commentary that in other formats may not have been available. Thanks, fans, for following us through all the drama in the playoffs. But that may not be the end of it. The whole live blog concept can improve, and it begs the question, “How else can it be used?” Email Matt Peterson at matt.peterson@austindailyherald.com.
Austin Daily Herald
Sunday, March 24, 2013
AUSTIN PACKERS
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Packers produced playoff drama Austin’s 2012-13 season at a glance The Austin Packers regular season was not nearly as dramatic as its
postseason this year. The only game Austin was really in
danger of losing was a double overtime contest against Albert Lea where Zach Wessels hit a buzzer beater to
give his team a 72-71 win. From that point on, Austin rolled through the Big Nine and won
its second straight conference title. Austin also picked up quality non-conference wins by beating
Eastview, Edina and Westby, Wis. In the postseason, the Packers kept things a bit more dramatic.
Austin 59, The Blake School 56 March 20
Austin's Tom Aase battles inside to a get a shot up during the first half of their opening-round Section 1AAA playoff game against Kasson-Mantorville on March 6 in Packer Gym.
Austin 71, Kasson-Mantorville 35 March 6 The Packers surged to a 44-17 halftime lead and they cruised to the first round win. Tom Aase had nine
points, eight rebounds, three blocks and three steals, and Zach Wessels had 14 points, five rebounds, seven assists and three steals.
Austin 51, Winona 49 March 9 Austin looked to be in danger of losing its first home game in two years when it trailed by 11 in the first half, but the Packers bounced back with a 14-2 run and Joe Aase, who had 22 points, drilled a
contested 3-pointer to tie the game at 49. Austin won the game when Zach Wessels tipped a loose ball to Ajuda Nywesh for a gamewinning layup with four seconds left.
The Packers trailed by 11 with 14 minutes left in the game, but their full court press vaulted them past the Bears. Austin took the lead for good when Ajuda Nywesh — who had 15 points on 4-of-6 shooting with six rebounds and five steals — hit two free throws with 2:38 left. Austin’s comeback was fueled by Joe Aase, who hit four 3-pointers in a seven-minute stretch. He finished the game with 20 points and eight rebounds.
Austin's Ajuda Nywesh lets out a yell after scoring and being fouled early in the first half against The Blake School in the Class AAA quarterfinals of the Minnesota State Boys Basketball Tournament in Williams Arena Wednesday.
Austin 68, Marshall 65 (OT) March 21 The Packers were as resilient as ever as they held off Marshall in a game with seven ties, 18 lead changes and where neither team led by more than six. The Packers drilled 10-of11 from the free throw line to pull away in overtime. The game’s biggest play came when Joe Aase found Zach Wessels near the basket, who was fouled as he drilled a layup. Wessels hit the free throw for the three-point play. Wessels, who finished
with 20 points on 7-for-11 shooting, with six assists and four steals, also hit a circus shot that led to a three-point play in regulation. Tom Aase finished with 16 points, five rebounds and four blocks and he made a huge play when he stole a rebound from Marshall and dribbled out to the wing for a big 3-pointer. Collin Weisert had his best postseason performance for the Packers as he hit a pair of 3s and scored eight points.
Austin’s Zach Wessels holds up a fist after the Packers defeated Marshall in the Class AAA semifinals of the Minnesota State
Boys Basketball Tournament Thursday at the Target Center.
Austin 52, Red Wing 43 (OT) March 15 Austin led for most of the game but it left the door open when it missed two of three free throws in the last minute. The Wingers scored to force overtime, but the Packers took control after regulation when Joe Aase drilled an early 3-pointer and Ajuda Nywesh scored on an up-andunder move.
Austin's Collin Weisert deals with pressure from Red Wing's Ty Buck during the second half on March 15 in the Section 1AAA championship at the Mayo Civic Center in Rochester.
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Sunday, March 24, 2013
AUSTIN PACKERS
Austin Daily Herald
Packers fall 50-33 in state title game
Austin's Joe Aase goes underneath against De LaSalle's Reid Travis during the second half.
ABOVE: Austin's Bret Lukes gets tangled up with De LaSalle's Luke Scott going for a rebound during the second half of the Class AAA championship Saturday night at the Target Center. MIDDLE: Ajuda Nywesh reaches for a loose ball. MIDDLE RIGHT: Austin fans cheer during the second half. BOTTOM: Austin mascot Cole Peterson plays with the band.
Austin's Collin Weisert brings the ball up court in the first half