ROCHESTER — The Austin Packers boys basketball team bounced back from a loss earlier in the week with a 31-point pounding of Rochester John Marshall on Thursday night.
The season-long scoring woes continued for the John Marshall Rockets in a 77-46 loss to the visiting Packers. John Marshall lost its ninth straight game and was held under 50 points for the third straight time.
JM coach Richard Cain said Austin moved the ball well on offense and created good shots for themselves. They made nine 3-pointers in the Big Nine Conference win.
Connor Gunderson led the Packers with 19 points, and Tim Erickson scored 13. With the road win, the Packers swept the season series from the Rockets
"Gunderson is arguably one of the best players in the conference, and he showed that tonight," Cain said of the home loss.
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Defense was also a key for the Packers in the conference win as no players scored in double figures for John Marshall. The Packers dominated on the boards with a 38-21 edge in rebounds. The Austin defense also forced 32 turnovers.
"JM is playing a lot of young kids and having a tough year," Austin coach Kris Fadness said. "We did what we needed to do on the road, and this was a nice win for our team."
Austin (8-9, 6-8 Big Nine) returns home for a conference game tonight against Mankato West at the Packer Gym.
Austin 77, John Marshall 46
AUSTIN (77)
Tim Erickson 13, Connor Gunderson 19, Quinn Yocom 3, Zach Fadness 3, TJ Fritz 8, Jay Ettinger 3, Matt Duren 7, Joey Swatfager 5, Andrew Kaiser 6, Tom Aase 2, Caleb Knorr 2, Jake Brehmer 6.
JOHN MARSHALL (46)
Christian Hermansen 4, Mikail Gonyea 7, Nate Ekhoff 8, John Mattison 3, Jacob Guthmiller 5, Travis Krukow 4, Abdiweli Ali 6, Louis Hermansen 7, Kadri Plott 2.
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Halftime:AUST 36, JM 21.
Free throws:AUST 4-7, JM 5-10.
Three-pointers:AUS 9-25 (Gunderson 2, Fadness 1, Fritz 2, Ettinger 1, Duren 1, Yocum 1), JM 5-10 (Ekhoff 2, Mattison 1, Ali 2).
