Austin Packers girls’ basketball team rallies in the second half to down Mankato West 57-52 Monday evening

It was a battle between two of the top teams in not only the Big 9 Conference, but in State Class AAA girls’ basketball as well at Ove Berven Gym at Austin High School Monday evening as the Packers, the No. 1 team in the last Class AAA poll and the front-runners in the conference entertained the No. 8 ranked Scarlets of Mankato West, who came in standing in third in the conference, and Emma Dudycha swished three 3-pointers on her way to 21 points to help lead the Packers back from a 31-19 halftime deficit to claim victory 57-52.

Reana Schmitt was also in double figures in scoring for Austin Monday evening with 10 points, Hope Dudycha tallied nine points, Olivia Walsh and Cassidy Schute each scored six points, guard Ruby Kvam drilled a crucial 3-pointer off the bench for the Packers in the second half for her three points in the game, and Mya Walters added two points for Austin, who remain perfect in conference play at 12-0 with the win, and they are now 14-1 overall on the season.

The road gets no easier for the Packers as Mankato East,  the No. 7 team in the state in Class AAA and in second place in the Big 9 Conference come to town Friday evening, with the varsity tip-off at 7:30 p.m.