Austin Packers boys’ basketball downs Rochester John Marshall Saturday 61-42

The Austin Packers boys’ basketball team was in Rochester Saturday for a matchup with the John Marshall Rockets,  the second time the two teams met in a span of four days, and it was the Packers pulling away in the second half to down the Rockets 61-42 for their eighth win in a row.

Austin led 25-18 at the half and with JM leading 30-29 early in the second half, a layup and a 3-pointer from Teyghan Hovland, who wound up with 14 points, four rebounds, two assists, two steals and a blocked shot gave the Packers a 34-32 lead.  After the Rockets tied the game at 34, Austin then took the lead for good, as it turned out, at 36-34 on a layup from Hovland.  That basket was the start of a 20-0 Packer run that broke the game wide open, keyed by a layup and two 3-pointers from guard Gage Manahan, two 3-point plays from guard Emmanuel Manyoun, a 3-pointer from Dieth Duop and a layup off of one of ten Austin steals from Jordan Ransom.

Manyoun led the Packers in scoring with 24 points, two rebounds and two assists, Manahan added eight points, nine assists, five rebounds and two steals, Duop also tallied eight points, plus he supplied three assists and two steals, Ransom wound up with four points and Okey Okey added three points for Austin, who moved to 13-2 on the season with the win.

The Packers will play three home games this week in preparation for the Section 1AAA tournament, starting with Albert Lea this evening.  Varsity tip-off at Packer Gym will be at 7:30 p.m.