Austin Packer Boys Basketball – The Road to State 2016-17

ROAD TO STATE • AUSTIN DAILY HERALD

WEDNESDAY, MARCH 22, 2017

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Uniting behind a team effort Back in 2012, the Austin boys basketball team made a giant splash when it advanced to its first Minnesota state boys basketball team in 30 years.

It seemed like that team had conquered a permanent road block and had done the unthinkable just by getting to state.

I think everyone who watched that game can still probably remember where they were when Zach Wessels lobbed a pass over the top to Tom Aase for a dunk that put the Packers over New Prague and sent them to state. That core of Austin players ended up going to three straight state tournaments — taking second place twice.

Now after a two year hiatus, the Packers are back in the Class AAA Minnesota State Boys Basketball Tournament with some new faces and some similar names.

Gach Gach’s younger brothers — Both and Duoth — are now standouts and Curt Oberbroeckling’s younger brother Kyle has emerged as hustling and rebounding machine.

It’s unfair to compare a group that went to three state tournaments to a group that will be playing in its first state tourna-

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Rocky Hulne Sports Editor

ment this week, but there is one glaring similarity between the two eras.

Both squads have a camaraderie and a chemistry that simply cannot be taught.

It’s pretty clear to see that these players like being around each other and they thrive on winning together — not chasing individual accomplishments.

I’ve often seen the Packer boys basketball team hanging out together away from the gym, and there seems to be a solid connection and bond within the team. In practice and on game days, there is a very supportive environment that encourages every player to push it to the limit.

You could see the team chemistry during the Section 1AAA Tournament when Pat Hagan and Oberbroeckling, who usually aren’t big scorers, were suddenly making

The Austin Packers after defeating Northfield to claim the Section 1AAA title in Rochester’s Mayo Civic Center. Herald file photo impact plays. As Oberbroeckling and Hagan stepped their play up, their teammates gladly fed them the ball and kept them involved.

This is a group, just like the group before them, that wants to win and wants it together. When a team achieves that combination, you have something special.

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ROAD TO STATE • AUSTIN DAILY HERALD

Austin’s road to the state tournament

By Rocky Hulne The Austin boys basketball team has been a model of consistency in compiling a record of 27-2 overall.

The Packers finished second in the Big Nine Conference with both of their losses coming at the hands of Rochester John Marshall.

Austin won 19 games by at least 10 points this season and it had winning streaks of nine and 15 games surrounding its two losses to the Rockets. Although they haven’t lost to any team besides JM, the Packers did face a few tests where they had to show they could grind out a close win.

Dec. 20: Austin 65, Red Wing 62

The Packers learned two important lessons in a tight road win over Red Wing: A big lead can disappear in a hurry if intensity slips, and a hot shooter can carry you through the night if you keep feeding him.

The Wingers came back from a 60-43 deficit to pull within 65-62 with 11 seconds left in the game, but Austin was able to get one final stop to get the win. Duoth Gach carried the Packer offense in the win as he scored 31 points and went 9-for-10 on three-pointers.

ROAD TO STATE • AUSTIN DAILY HERALD

Dec. 28: Austin 85, Caledonia 71

The annual battle between the Packers and Caledonia, where Austin head coach Kris Fadness used to coach, is always a highly contested game in Caledonia. This year, it brought out the best in the Packers.

Austin went 14-for-23 on three-pointers and Duoth Gach, who had 24 points and eight assists, and Both Gach, who had 19 points and seven rebounds, led the way in the commanding win.

Jan. 6: Austin 68, Northfield 60

A year after they had their season end at the hands of the Raiders, the Packers faced a major gut check against the Raiders in Packer Gym. Austin trailed 52-42 with eight minutes left in the game, but it was able to close things out with a 26-8 run.

Austin had led the game 30-20 early on, but it scored just four points over the next 11 minutes.

See SEASON, Page 4 Austin’s Patrick Hagen goes gets a big shot underneath in the first half against Northfield in Packer Gym on Jan. 6. Herald file photo

WEDNESDAY, MARCH 22, 2017

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Season: Making plays down the stretch From Page 3

Austin’s Tate Hebrink had a key four-point play against Northfield in January. Herald file photos Duoth Gach had 21 points and Tate Hebrink, who had 10 points, had a key four-point play in the comeback.

Jan. 23: Austin 72, Mankato East 68

Austin saw a 17-point lead shrink and it trailed 50-48 with nine minutes left in the game, but it had its usual answer to pull away and pick up a home win. The Packers responded with a quick 7-0 spurt to take the lead for good.

Both Gach had 17 points, five assists and seven rebounds in the win, and Duoth Gach added 22 points.

Feb. 3: Austin 58, Faribault 53

Austin closed the game on a 10-0 run to erase a five-point deficit and beat Faribault on the road. Duoth Gach and Both Gach hit back-to-back threes to give the Packers the lead and Duoth Gach put the game away

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2016-17 Season Schedule

Dec. 6............................Austin 82, Byron 69 Dec. 13.............Austin 81, Mankato West 66 Dec. 20....................Austin 65, Red Wing 62 Dec. 22......................Austin 101, Winona 64 Dec. 28....................Austin 85, Caledonia 71 Dec. 30.................Austin 79, Stewartville 52 Jan. 3 ........Austin 70, Rochester Century 32 Jan. 6......................Austin 68, Northfield 60 Jan. 12............Austin 68, Rocheter Mayo 46 Jan. 14 ..........Rochester John Marshall 75, Austin 64 Jan. 20...................Austin 71, Albert Lea 24 Jan. 23..............Austin 72, Mankato East 68 Jan. 24.....................Austin 63, Faribault 39 Jan. 27........................Austin 77, Winona 64 Jan. 30..............Austin 65, Mankato West 52 Feb. 2......................Austin 72, Owatonna 62 Feb. 3........................Austin 58, Faribault 53 Feb. 6.......Austin 91, Kasson-Mantorville 74 Feb. 7.......................Austin 75, Red Wing 53 Feb. 10.....Austin 77, Rochester Century 48 Feb. 14...................Austin 61, Northfield 47 Feb. 17...............Austin 85, Mankato East 67 Feb. 21..........Austin 51, Rochester Mayo 46 Feb. 23...................Austin 73, Owatonna 62 Feb. 25....................Austin 91, Albert Lea 32 March 3..........Rochester John Marshall 80, Austin 67 March 8..................Austin 88, Albert Lea 39 March 11........................Austin 66, Byron 47 March 17.................Austin 73, Northfield 61

Postseason

March 8..................Austin 88, Albert Lea 39 March 11.......................Austin 66, Byron 48 March 17................Austin 73, Northfield 61 with a breakaway dunk.

Duoth Gach had 17 points in the win.

Moses Issa drives to the hoop for the Austin boys basketball team agianst Mankato East in Packer Gym in February.

ROAD TO STATE • AUSTIN DAILY HERALD

Brothers of experience Current Austin players can look to older siblings who played in the state tourney

By Rocky Hulne The Packers don’t have a lot of state tournament experience on their roster as the bulk of the team that took second in the Minnesota Class AAA Boys State BasketAustin’s Gach ball Tournament Gach shoots in in 2014 has gradthe first half of uated, but there the Minnesota are some players State Boys that are directly Basketball Class connected to that AAA title game team by blood. against DeLaSalle Austin senior in 2014. Douth Kyle OberbroeckGach, left, and Both Gach, right, ling is the youngplay in this year’s er brother of forSection 1AAA title mer Packer and game against Austin grad Curtis Northfield.

Oberbroeckling, Herald file photos and Austin juniors Both Gach and Duoth Gach are the younger twin brothers of former Packer Gach Gach, who recently finished up his two-year career at NJCAA Division I North Dakota State College of Science.

See BROTHERS, Page 6

ROAD TO STATE • AUSTIN DAILY HERALD

WEDNESDAY, MARCH 22, 2017

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Brothers: Getting their own state experiences From Page 5 Gach has received scholarship offers from various Division II schools, but he’s still had time to give advice to Both and Duoth.

“He just tells us to play our game and don’t take any breaks,” Duoth said. “He doesn’t want us to get scared of the competition and he wants us to get as far as we can.”

In his freshman season, Both had a chance to play with Gach on the Packers and he said he’s picked up a lot of lessons from his big brother over the years. Mostly, Both has learned about work ethic.

“I learned that it takes a lot of hard work and dedication to get to state,” Both said. “They had their own era, now I feel like it’s our time.”

Kyle said he kept in contact with his older brother throughout the run in the Section 1AAA tournament, and it has been very helpful for him to have an sibling with experience at the state tournament.

“He’s told me his state experience, and I want to have my own state experience,” Kyle said. “It’s pretty cool having him to look up to.”

Younger siblings often follow in the footsteps of their older siblings, and for Kyle, Both and Duoth, it was clear that the state tournament is the family standard for basketball. Austin head coach Kris Fadness said the older brothers provided their younger brothers with a fuel to be great.

“I think it’s motivation. You could see the following their older brothers got, and it’s got to be motivating to see the

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WEDNESDAY, MARCH 22, 2017

attention they got,” Fadness said. “They’re on TV, they’re in the newspaper and they’re taking busloads of people up to the cities to see them play. That’s special. As a kid, you see that and you want it for yourself.”

Left, Austin’s Kyle Oberbroeckling against Northfield in the Section 1AAA championship Friday night. Above, Austin’s Curtis Oberbroeckling defends in the 2014 state tournament against Holy Family. Herald file photos

ROAD TO STATE • AUSTIN DAILY HERALD

A look at how the other classes are breaking down.

Red Lake

March 24 Noon Target Center

1 Minneapolis North

Lake Park-Audubon

2 p.m.

Class A

3 Central M. Christian

5 Jackson County

Class AA

NRHEG 2 St. Cloud Cath.

8 p.m.

Champion

8 p.m.

Breckenridge

10 a.m.

March 22 Target Center

North Woods

March 25 1 p.m.

Target Center

3. Crosby-Ironton

Champion

2 Goodhue 5 p.m.

6 p.m.

Target Center

4 Annandale

5 Springfield 4. Nevis

1 Minnehaha Acad.

8 p.m.

March 24

6 p.m.

March 25 11 a.m.

Target Center

1 p.m.

3 p.m.

Lake City

March 23 Williams Arena

March 23 11 a.m.

Williams Arena

6 p.m.

March 23 Target Center

Minnesota State Boys Basketball Tournament rundown

Chaska 1 Champlain Park Noon

5 Wayzata

March 23

6 p.m.

Target Center

4 Lakeville North

March 25 5 p.m.

Target Center

Class AAAA

2 p.m.

Andover

Champion

2 Maple Grove 4 p.m.

8 p.m.

Cretin-Derham Hall 3 Apple Valley

ROAD TO STATE • AUSTIN DAILY HERALD

WEDNESDAY, MARCH 22, 2017

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Selflessness at the core of seniors Oman Oman breaks for the hoop during the first half against Northfield in the Section 1AAA championship.

Herald file photo

Senior players contribute in different ways during season

By Rocky Hulne Usually when it comes to the postseason, most teams are only as strong as the seniors who carry the leadership role on a daily basis.

The Packer boys basketball team is a slight exception to that rule as juniors Both Gach and Tate Hebrink serve as captains, but that doesn’t mean the seniors don’t have a big impact.

Austin has seven total seniors and they all contribute in different ways. Oman Oman has given Austin a big boost on offense and on the boards all season long, Kyle Oberbro-

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WEDNESDAY, MARCH 22, 2017

eckling has set the tone with high energy, Pat Hagan has developed into a solid post defender and inside score, Jany Gash brings a ton of athleticism to the table, Tyler Tupy can serve as a sharp-shooter, Trent Brown can crash the boards and score inside, and Jesse Synoground is always a fan favorite when he comes off the bench in blowouts.

While the Packers rely a lot on their juniors and sophomores in the scoring column, Austin head coach Kris Fadness is pleased with what the seniors have provided “They’re selfless; they want to win,” Fadness

said. “When we pulled up Tate and Both as freshmen and we pulled up Duoth as a sophomore, I think they realized those are some good players. The seniors just bought into the fact that for us to be successful, everybody has to play to their strengths and it might be someone different scoring every night.”

Duoth Gach has provided a lot of points for the Packers this season, but he gives credit to the older players for providing a spark when it’s needed.

See SENIORS, Page 10

“The seniors just bought into the fact that for us to be successful, everybody has to play to their strengths and it might be someone different scoring every night.”

— Kris Fadness Head coach ROAD TO STATE • AUSTIN DAILY HERALD

Minnesota Class AAA Boys State Basketball Tournament Quarterfinals

March 22, Williams Arena

Semifinals

March 23, Target Center

Championship

March 25, Target Center

Big Lake (20-9)

10 a.m.

1 DeLaSalle (24-3)

Noon 5 Columbia Heights (21-8)

Noon 4 Fergus Falls (25-4)

5 p.m.

Class AAA Champion

St. Thomas Academy (23-6)

2 p.m.

2 Austin (27-2)

2 p.m.

Grand Rapids (24-5)

4 p.m.

3 Marshall (26-3)

Third Place

March 25, Concordia University

2 p.m.

Consolation

Concordia University March 23 March 24 2 p.m.

4 p.m.

4 p.m.

ROAD TO STATE • AUSTIN DAILY HERALD

Austin

Fergus Falls

DeLaSalle

St. Thomas Academy

Big Lake

Grand Rapids

Columbia Heights

Marshall

Record: 27-2 How they got to state: Beat Northfield 73-61 QRF ranking: 4 Points per game: 73.8 Points allowed per game: 55.7 Record: 24-3 How they got to state: Beat Orono 71-68 QRF ranking: 1 Points per game: 77.3 Points allowed per game: 56.7 Record: 20-9 How they got to state: Beat Rocori 67-61 QRF ranking: 12 Points per game: 66.0 Points allowed per game: 58.8 Record: 21-8 How they got to state: Beat Mahotomedi 73-63 QRF ranking: 9 Points per game: 72.9 Points allowed per game: 65.4

Record: 25-4 How they got to state: Beat Alexandria 64-46 QRF ranking: 5 Points per game: 73.6 Points allowed per game: 56.7 Record: 23-6 How they got to state: Beat Richfield 62-59 QRF ranking: 10 Points per game: 71.1 Points allowed per game: 61.0 Record: 24-5 How they got to state: Beat Chisago Lakes Area 73-52 QRF ranking: 7 Points per game: 73.1 Points allowed per game: 59.3 Record: 26-3 How they got to state: Beat Waseca 57-43 QRF ranking: 6 Points per game: 70.8 Points allowed per game: 46.3

WEDNESDAY, MARCH 22, 2017

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Seniors: Want to show people who the Packers are From Page 8 “The seniors help us a lot, because they can score too,” Duoth said. “Everybody can score on our team and it gives us extra help.”

The Austin seniors are especially relishing their first and only chance to play in a state tournament. Oman Oman said the Packers have high hopes as they prepare to take on the best Class AAA teams in Minnesota.

“Our goal is to make it to the state championship game and hopefully win it, but we’ve got to take it game by game,” Oman said.

Oberbroeckling said coming up short of the state tournament last season left a bad taste in his mouth and he’s ready to go out and make this year count.

“Last year us losing really affected me and it made me feel really good that we made it to state this year,” Oberbroeckling said. “We want to show people who we are and play Packer basketball.”

When the game is on the line, it’s likely the Packer seniors will be asked to step up in one way or another. Fadness is confident that they’ll be ready when the time comes.

“They’re a smart group, they’re a committed group and they want to win and be a part of something special,” Fadness said.

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WEDNESDAY, MARCH 22, 2017

Austin’s Tyler Tupy steps up on Red Wing’s Seth Yeatman in Packer Gym. Herald file photos “They’ve been around our program long enough and they know what they’re sup-

posed to do. They’re always on task and they communicate well.”

Austin’s Jany Gash tries working out of a jam during the second half against Northfield in the Section 1AAA championship.

ROAD TO STATE • AUSTIN DAILY HERALD

Fans like no other

The Austin Packer fan base is one of the best traveling fan sections in the state, showing up in force at the Section 1AAA championship game against Northfield, filling Mayo Civic Center with a sea of red. Herald file photos

ROAD TO STATE • AUSTIN DAILY HERALD

WEDNESDAY, MARCH 22, 2017

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A season of winning Left, Austin’s Duoth Gach throws down in the first half against Albert Lea. Above, Austin’s Jesse Synoground drives on Albert Lea’s Tanner Wichmann. Right, Austin’s Moses Issa goes up in traffic during the second half against Rochester Mayo. Far right, Austin’s Trent Brown shoots over Byron’s Michael Coble.

Herald file photos

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WEDNESDAY, MARCH 22, 2017

ROAD TO STATE • AUSTIN DAILY HERALD