Austin Packers boys’ basketball team opens 2021-2022 season with 62-43 win over Mankato East

In Austin Packers boys’ basketball action you heard Tuesday evening on AM 1480 KAUS, the Packers, the No. 10 team in the state in the first Class AAA poll of the season played host to the Mankato East Cougars, ranked No. 7 in the first Class AAA poll in front of a raucous crowd at Packer Gym, and junior guard Jack Lang, making his first varsity start drilled five 3-point field goals, four of them in the first half on his way to 18 points, and the Packers never trailed on their way to an emphatic 62-43 win.

Besides his 18 points, Lang added three assists, two steals and two rebounds, senior forward Victor Idris totaled 17 points, four rebounds, two assists and one steal, junior guard Cham Okey, who was also seeing his first varsity start for Austin tallied 13 points, four assists and three rebounds, senior forward Jared Lillemon swished two of Austin’s 12 3-pointers for the game off the bench in the first half for six points, senior guard Gage Manahan added four points and Kaden Murley and Othow Gari both scored two points.  Austin’s defense was stifling all game long as B.J. Omot and Puolrah Gong, the two leading scorers for the Cougars who both have aspirations to play at the next level were held to six and two points, respectivley.

Austin opens up with a 1-0 record, and things get no easier for the Packers as they will travel to Hopkins for the Tip-Off Classic Saturday to take on Alexandria, ranked No. 4 in the first Class AAA poll at 1:45 p.m.