Austin Packer boys basketball team gets back on the winning track in Winona Thursday night 65-50

The Austin Packers boys’ basketball team was looking to snap a two-game losing streak Thursday night in Winona versus the Winhawks, and Agwa Nywesh led the way with 15 points, three boards and seven steals as the Packers returned to the win column by the score of 65-50.

Three-pointers from Pierre Lilly, Teyghan Hovland and Okey Okey staked Austin to an early 9-3 lead, and two more threes from Hovland and Okey increased the Packer lead to 15-5.  The Winhawks countered with a 15-5 run to tie the game at 22, but Moses Idris scored on a short jumper to help the Packers to a 29-24 lead at the half.

The second half started offensively for Austin with two more short jumpers from Idiris for a 33-27 lead, and Nywesh started to step to the fore by hitting a pair of threes to increase the Packer lead to 42-29.  Nywesh then put up an alley-oop pass for Idris, who threw down a two-handed dunk to extend the Packer run to 12-2 and a 45-29 lead, and Nywesh then hit yet another three soon afterward to boost Austin’s lead to 17 at 51-34.  A hoop by Hovland with the left hand on a drive to the basket gave the Packers a 53-37 lead, and Austin was able to hold Winona at bay the rest of the way, capped off by a steal and a two-handed dunk by Nywesh to give the Packers a 59-47 lead on their way to the win.

Besides Nywesh’s 15 points, Moses Idris scored 14 for the Packers, while Teyghan Hovland added 12 points,  Okey Okey chipped in with 11, Victor Idris scored four points and Pierre Lilly, Lero Oman and Jacob Venenga all added three points apiece for Austin, who moves to 9-3 in the Big 9 Conference and 12-3 overall on the season.  The Packers are back into action at home Saturday afternoon against Faribault, with the varsity tip-off scheduled for 1:00 p.m.