Packers didn’t miss a beat in 2013-14 Going into this season, the Austin’s boys basketball team had high hopes and a lot of returning talent. Still, nothing was guaranteed. As it turned out, the Packers didn’t miss a beat from last season as they rattled off a 263 overall record and earned its third-straight trip to the Class AAA state tournament. They also turned in their smoothest run to state in the last three years as all three of Section 1AAA tournament games were decided by at least 15 points. Austin relied on the skill and leadership senior guards Bret Lukes, Ajuda Nywesh and Zach Wessels this season, and the rest of the team grew as the season went along. Gach Gach took his game to new levels on both ends of the floor, Nik Gasner became a shooting threat, Curtis Oberbroeckling and Noah Brehmer provided tough interior defense and Jacob Kempen gave the team veteran experience. Here is a rundown of Austin’s key games this season Nov. 30: Austin 66, Marshall 46 Austin had a few early tests, and one of them was in its second game of the season
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Austin came out flat in the first half as it went 3-for-22 from the field and trailed 2511 at the break. The Packers snapped out of their slump and stormed back in the second half, but the Warriors hit enough big shots down the stretch to get the upset. Nywesh had 19 points, three assists and four rebounds in the loss.
Rocky Hulne Sports Editor
with Marshall, a team that made it to state again this season and took the Packers to overtime in the state semis in 2013. The Tigers jumped out to a 12-5 early lead on the Packers in a game that was played in Anoka-Ramsey. The Packer defense eventually locked down and held the Tigers to one field goal in the last 15 minutes of the game. Wessels had 19 points, five rebounds, five assists and four steals. Jan. 11: Caledonia 62, Austin 59 Having won 31-straight games in Packer Gym, Austin may have been feeling invincible at home going into its showdown with Caledonia, which qualified for the Class AA state tournament. But, the Packers were given the reality check they needed in the season’s only home loss.
Jan. 17: Austin 58, Rochester John Marshall 55 The Packers knocked off their biggest threat in the Big Nine when they edged out the Rockets in Packer Gym. JM ended up missing three 3-pointers at the end of the game with a chance to tie, but the Packers led throughout most of the night, holding a 58-47 advantage with 3:44 left. Nywesh had 15 points and four rebounds for Austin.
Austin’s Bret Lukes heads to the hoop against the defense of Caledonia’s Josh Nord. The game was the Packers’ only loss at home this year and served as a reality check. Herald file photo
Jan. 28: Austin 73, Mankato West 70, OT Austin recovered from a late letdown against a quality team to get past the Scarlets and secure its place near the top of the Big Nine.
AUSTIN DAILY HERALD - THE ROAD TO STATE
The Packers saw an eight-point lead disappear in the second half, but Nywesh hit a corner 3-pointer to put Austin up 67-63 in overtime. Lukes had 22 points ROUNDING in the win for the OFF THE Packers.
2013-14 schedule
SEASON
Feb. 18: Austin 62, All of the Packers Rochester John losses came in the Marshall 60 first half of the The Packers season. After the wrapped up its third- loss to Caledonia on straight Big Nine title Jan. 11, Austin went on to win out the in dramatic fashion as remaining part of the boys finished the the schedule — 16 game on an 11-0 run games. to shock the Rockets in a hostile environment. With one game remaining on the schedule against last-place Faribault, the Packers could’ve let the Rockets have their moment, but the team showed its competitive nature as it stormed back in the game behind its full-court press. Nywesh hit the game-winning 3-pointer with 30 seconds left for Austin and Wessels added 22 points.
AUSTIN DAILY HERALD - THE ROAD TO STATE
Austin’s Nik Gasner shoots over a crowd during the first half against Rochester John Marshall in the first meeting of the teams. Austin would defeat Big Nine rivals twice on the year. Herald file photo
Nov. 26 Nov. 30 Dec. 10 Dec. 12 Dec. 14 Dec. 17 Dec. 19 Dec. 20 Dec. 27 Dec. 28 Jan 3 Jan. 10 Jan. 11 Jan. 17 Jan. 18 Jan. 23 Jan. 24 Jan. 28 Jan. 31 Feb. 7 Feb. 8 Feb. 11 Feb. 14 Feb. 15 Feb. 18 Feb. 21
New Prague 60 - 45 Marshall 66 - 46 Albert Lea 66 - 53 Mankato West 68 - 53 Bloom. Kennedy 57 - 60 Roch. Century 64 - 40 Mankato East 62 - 29 Red Wing 53 - 37 PEM 71 - 54 Kaukauna, Wi. 43 - 49 Winona 46 - 42 Owatonna 68 - 45 Caledonia 59 - 62 Rochester JM 58 - 55 Kasson-Mantor. 88 - 60 Rochester Mayo 73 - 42 Albert Lea 56 - 44 Man. West 73 - 70 (OT) Roch. Century 75 - 46 Winona 62 - 46 Faribault 62 - 44 Rochester Mayo 54 - 34 Owatonna 61 - 48 Mankato East 73 - 50 Rochester JM 62 - 60 Faribault 69 - 42
Feb. 27 March 1 March 7
Section 1AAA Tournament Faribault 73 - 42 New Prague 79 - 64 Red Wing 55 - 34
*Bolded games denote wins
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Packers found ways to succeed With a looser attitude, Austin discovered it could still win By Rocky Hulne
sports@austindailyherald.com
When the Austin boys basketball team saw its season end in the Class AAA state title game last year, there was no guarantee it would be getting back to state this season. But the Packers found a way to do just that, and it has been a group effort. Austin senior point guard Zach Wessels, a University of Sioux Falls commit, said the team has wanted to get to state and make a run all year long, but it never felt like it was something they had to do — which was how they felt last year. “We’re just playing more loose and having more fun. Last year there was a lot of pressure on us,” Wessels said. “We know what to expect and what’s going to be there [at state]. It makes it more comfortable.” Last season the Packers nearly let the pressure get to them as they escaped with a last second overtime win over Winona in the
Section 1AAA semifinals, and the boys needed overtime to beat Red Wing in the Section 1AAA finals. This season they aren’t even thinking about pressure. Austin head coach Kris Fadness said his team has handled its success very well this season. “We are looser than we ever have been and so far that’s been a good thing. It’s fun to see the kids excited about basketball and excited about playing. It’s pretty special,” he said. “We walk a fine line. You can’t be loose to the point of being care free and not focused. So far we’ve been able to maintain that balance and hopefully that will continue.” Last year the Packers relied on the scoring of Wessels; Joe Aase, who is now at Davidson College; and Tom Aase, who is now at Sioux Falls. With two scoring roles opening up this season, Austin senior guards Ajuda Nywesh and Bret Lukes were more than happy to step up on offense.
Austin’s Ajuda Nywesh takes to the air against New Prague’s Michael Soderlund during the first half of their Section 1AAA semifinal match-up. Herald file photo
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AUSTIN DAILY HERALD - THE ROAD TO STATE
Nywesh said the trio has gone into every game confident, and it’s payed dividends on the court. “We’ve been playing loose, and we just go out and have fun. If you have fun, it will come together,” Nywesh said. “The nervousness is not there. We’ve been to state and now the composure is there.” Some high school basketball players might be a little intimidated or overwhelmed at the prospects of playing in Williams Arena or Target Center, but the Packers have had plenty of big game experience. Last season, the Target Center was nearly at capacity when Austin and DeLaSalle were battling in the state title game. Fadness thinks the experience will help his squad, but they can’t just expect to show up and win when they take on Alexandria Wednesday at 2 p.m. in Williams Arena. “You would hope the experience factor would help us, but you can’t count on it,” Fadness said. “If you don’t come out into it, you’re going to get beat.”
Austin’s Zach Wessels leaps toward the game’s first two points against Red Wing in the Section 1AAA championship Friday night in Rochester. Herald file photo
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For the Packers, it was 6 on 5
Austin rode the Sea of Red throughout the season By Rocky Hulne
sports@austindailyherald.com
When the Austin Packers play in the Class AAA state boys basketball quarterfinals against Alexandria in Williams Arena Wednesday at 2 p.m., the basketball team won’t be the only one having an impact on the game. The Austin High School pep band will be pumping out music to get everyone going, and the fans — often referred to as the Sixth Man or the Sea of Red — will be doing every thing they can to lift the Packers to a victory. “We have a sixth man and when you play us, you play our crowd, too,” Austin senior guard Zach Wessels said. “It’s cool to know they’re behind us and they’re part of our team no matter what.” The crowd took things a step further this season when they organized a “parting of the Red Sea” before the Section 1AAA semifinals. Right before the game tipped off, Austin senior Mark Mizrachi approached the
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AHS student section while dressed as Moses. As he arrived, the student section parted in opposite directions to clear a path that led to AHS senior Ryan Synoground holding two tablets proclaiming Austin would return to state. Synoground handed the tablets to Mizrachi, who walked around Packer Gym raising the tablets. The routine got the attention of the players for a moment, but it didn’t distract them from the task at hand. “We were focused on the game, but we heard a couple of rumors that they were going to do that,” Austin senior guard Ajuda Nywesh said of the parting to the Red Sea. “We looked over when they did it, and it was really exciting.” Synoground, who was on the Packer basketball team last season but not this year, helped organize the red sea parting, and he also helped produce a video promoting the team’s third trip to state. Wessels said the team appreciates the
work Synoground has put in. “He’s got a lot more free time on his hands, and he’s getting a lot of work done,” Wessels said. “He’s been a big part of the sixth man’s success.” When the Packers played Red Wing in the Section 1AAA finals, the Austin crowd was much bigger than Red Wing’s. That advantage gave the team a little more energy. “The student body here has been phenomenal. It’s just neat to see their enthusiasm for the game,” Austin head coach Kris Fadness said. “If it wasn’t so cold outside, I’m sure they’d be out there tail gating before the game.” Anyone who has been to a Packer basketball game has probably noticed the AHS Pep Band. They play with a high level of energy and always get the crowd psyched up. AHS band director Brad Mariska, who graduated from Waterville-Elysian-Morristown High School, said he still recalls when
he was able to play for his high school band at the state football tournament in the Metrodome. He said it’s great for the AHS band to have a similar experience by playing in the Civic Center and Williams Arena. “Kids love to perform. If you tell them they’ll be performing in front of a thousand people and you play your face off, they’re going to cheer for you, too,” Mariska said. “The memories I had of going to the dome and watching those games are memories that stay with me to this day. I remind the kids that it’s really fun and they should appreciate every aspect of it. They’ll remember it for the rest of their life.” Mariska makes the pep band a priority because he knows that’s when the most people in the community will see the band play. The band plays at basketball games, hockey games, volleyball games, soccer games and it even played at a cross country meet this past fall. Mariska is hoping to play at a softball or baseball game this spring.
AUSTIN DAILY HERALD - THE ROAD TO STATE
“We take a lot of pride in playing really well and having a lot of fun so people can see there are a lot of positive things happening,” Mariska said. Fadness has a great appreciation for what the band brings on game day for the Packers.
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“Brad Mariska is a high energy guy and a very dynamic person,” Fadness said. “I think the kids really like his leadership and they get in to it. Our fans really like having the band at the game, and they’re great for the program.”
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LEFT: Austin’s Curtis Oberbroeckling controls the ball while pressured by Rochester’s Isaac Toivonen, left, and Nick Powers (5) during the second half of the Section 1AAA title game in Rochester Friday. TOP: Austin’s Zach Coffey pressures Red Wing’s Nick Powers. MIDDLE: Austin head coach Kris Fadness talks to his team after the Section 1AAA title game. ABOVE: Austin captains Bret Lukes, from left, Zach Wessels and Ajuda Nywesh hold up the Section 1AAA championship plaque. Herald file photos
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Class AAA Field Austin
Record: 26-3 QRF Ranking: 1 How they got to state: Austin 73, Faribault 42 Austin 79, New Prague 64 Austin 55, Red Wing 34 Points per game: 64.0 Points allowed per game: 48.1
Marshall
Record: 24-4 QRF Ranking: 19 How they got to state: Marshall 68, Dassel-Cokato 31 Marshall 60, Mankato East 41
Marshall 68, Mankato West 64 Points per game: 67.3 Points allowed per game: 50.1
DeLaSalle
Record: 23-3 QRF Ranking: 3 How they got to state: DeLaSalle 84, St. Anthony Village 35 DeLaSalle 81, Spring Lake Park 58 DeLaSalle 69, Totino-Grace 57 Points per game: 75.2 Points allowed per game: 48.5
St. Paul Central Record: 22-3 QRF Ranking: 13
How they got to state: St. Paul Central 60, St. Paul Highland Park 43 St. Paul Central 58, St. Thomas Academy 55 St. Paul Central 60, St. Paul Johnson 56 Points per game: 64.6 Points allowed per game: 53.6
Orono
Record: 21-8 QRF Ranking: 9 How they got to state: Orono 67, Becker 42 Orono 62, St. Cloud Apollo 42 Orono 56, Delano 41
Points per game: 62.4 Points allowed per game: 53.0
Holy Family
Record: 27-2 QRF Ranking: 2 How they got to state: Holy Family 53, Richfield 18 Holy Family 50, Holy Angels 40 Holy Family 69, Waconia 57 Points per game: 68.1 Points allowed per game: 48.8
Cloquet
Record: 24-4 QRF Ranking: 23
St. Paul Central (22-3)
Alexandria
Record: 15-11 QRF Ranking: 26 How they got to state: Alexandria 65, Little Falls 55 Alexandria 66, Albany 58 Alexandria 69, Fergus Falls 50 Points per game: 61.4 Points allowed per game: 52.1
2014 State Class AAA Boys Basketball Tournament
3/12/2014 @ 10 a.m. • Williams Arena, U of MN
#1 DeLaSalle (23-3)(H) #5 Marshall (24-4)
How they got to state: Cloquet 52, Hibbing 33 Cloquet 66, North Branch 40 Cloquet 71, Hermantown 60 Points per game: 66.4 Points allowed per game: 52.1
3/13/2014 @ noon Target Center, Minneapolis
3/12/2014 @ noon • Williams Arena, U of MN
#4 Orono (21-8)(H) 3/15/2014 @ 6 p.m. Target Center, Minneapolis
CHAMPION
Alexandria (15-11) 3/12/2014 @ 2 p.m. • Williams Arena, U of MN
#2 Austin (26-3)(H) Cloquet (24-4)
3/13/2014 @ 2 p.m. Target Center, Minneapolis
Austin Packer Roster
3/12/2014 @ 4 p.m. • Williams Arena, U of MN
2 3 4 5 10 11 12 15 20
#3 Holy Family Catholic (27-2)(H)
Loser Semifinal 1
Elijah Anderson Levi Vierkandt Seth Hebrink Dylan Gasner Bret Lukes Ajuda Nywesh Zach Wessels Adam Bergstrom Zach Coffey
G G G G G C G G G
10 11 11 10 12 12 12 11 10
21 22 23 24 25 30 32
Jon Knorr Jacob Kempen Nik Gasner Gach Gach Connor Sheehan Noah Brehmer Connor Bollum
C F G F F C F 33 Curtis Oberbroeckling C 35 Taylor Peck C
11 12 11 11 11 11 11 12 10
3/15/2014 @ 2 p.m. • Condordia University, St. Paul
Loser Semifinal 2 (H) AUSTIN DAILY HERALD - THE ROAD TO STATE
THIRD PLACE WINNER TUESDAY, MARCH 11, 2014
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Austin offering community fan buses Austin High School is offering community fan buses to the state boys basketball tournament. The cost is $20 per person for the bus. Tickets for the game are $14 for adults and $9 for Students. The adult bus will be a coach bus. If a student is riding this bus, he or she must be accompanied by a parent or guardian. Presale tickets will be available
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at the Austin High School cashiers office through from 7:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. Tuesday. Tickets to the game are non refundable. AHS is also offering student fan buses for students in grades 9-12. Cost is $10 for the bus, plus a $9 ticket for entry to the game. Forms to sign up for the fan bus are also available at the AHS cashiers window.
AUSTIN DAILY HERALD - THE ROAD TO STATE
The Austin Packers hold up the Section 1AAA championship plaque after defeating Red Wing to earn their third-straight trip to the Class AAA state tournament. LEFT: Austin’s Gach Gach yells as he heads back down court after hitting a three-pointer against Red Wing. Herald file photo
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