Austin Packers boys basketball wins on the road at Mankato West 76-51

The Austin Packers boys’ basketball team faced a stern test on the road in Mankato Tuesday evening against the West Scarlets, the No. 9 team in the state in the latest Class AAA poll and in second place in the Big 9 Conference race, trailing only Owatonna.  The Packers were more than ready for the challenge, though, and passed the test with flying colors as guard Cham Okey led three players in double figures with 26 points as Austin led 40-19 at the half on their way to a convincing 76-51 win.

The Packers were a blistering 28-49 shooting from the field in the game for 57%, and they were also 8-18 from behind the 3-point arc for an equally impressive 44%.  Austin was also 12-14 from the free throw line for 86%, they outrebounded the Scarlets 21-14 and had 10 steals in the contest to West’s two.  Besides Okey’s 26 points, Buai Duop added 12 points off the Packer bench, Kaden Murley tallied 11 points and two assists, Victor Idris added eight points and team-highs in rebounds with four and assists with four, plus he tallied the only blocked shot of the game for either side, Manny Guy contributed eight points and two steals, Jack Lang chipped in three points, two assists and two steals and Gage Manahan, Ater Manyuon, A’Triel Terry and Jared Lillemon all scored two points apiece for the Packers, who moved back to .500 at 7-7 overall, and they are now 6-4 in the Big 9 Conference.

Austin will be back in Mankato again for their next game Friday night versus the East Cougars, with the varsity tip-off scheduled for 7:30, before returning home to Packer Gym the following night for a matchup with Rochester Mayo, also at 7:30 p.m.