Class 3A roundup: Austin responds well

Things came pretty easily for Austin this season, but when things got tough Wednesday, the undefeated Packers (29-0) showed grit. They rallied from an 11-point second-half deficit to defeat Blake 59-56 in a Class 3A boys' basketball quarterfinal game at Williams Arena.

"For 25 games, I really didn't have to do anything," Austin coach Kris Fadness said, jokingly. "Now, I have to coach a little."

Blake (22-8), making its first state tournament appearance in team history, was not fazed by the big stage. The Bears handled the taller Packers' zone defense, using senior center Blaine Crawford down low and forward J.R. Bascom up high to get quality shots. Bascom had eight points and Crawford six as the Bears took a 31-24 halftime lead.

"They really handled our zone," Fadness said. "We may have panicked a little."

Austin's rally began early in the second half, about the time that senior forward and leading scorer Joe Aase got hot. The 6-7 Aase shot over the top of the Blake defense, making four three-pointers after halftime on the way to a team-high 20 points.

"He's just a great shooter," Blake coach Sean Krueger said. "You don't find too many kids that tall with unlimited range."

Despite the close call, Fadness said he was tickled that the Packers pulled out a tight game.

"I love the way we did it," he said. "It was players making plays. That says a lot."

JIM PAULSEN

DeLaSalle 70, Sartell-St. Stephen 55: Using a wealth of talent and athletic ability, the No. 1-ranked Islanders (28-1) shook off early shooting woes and wore down pesky, if overmatched Sartell-St. Stephen.

The Sabres, looking far better than expected for a team that came in with 12 losses, started strong, taking an 11-4 lead.

"Give all the credit to them," DeLaSalle coach Dave Thorson said. "They were well-drilled, well-prepared. They were ready to play."

But DeLaSalle has depth. Junior center Reid Travis scored his team's first eight points. Mercurial sophomore guard Jarvis Johnson stepped up. Sophomore forward Sacar Anim had his moments, as did senior guard Trey Shepherd. Needing a closer in the final minutes, junior forward James Lawson asserted himself.

"Everyone on this team can play,'' Thorson said. "We have seven guys that will be playing in college."

Travis, the Star Tribune Metro Player of the Year, faced double- and triple-teams on each possession. He made his presence known often, however, with three dunks among his game-high 23 points. He also grabbed 16 rebounds, eight on offense.

Lawson had 14 points, 12 after halftime, while Johnson and Anim scored 10 each.

"We knew they were deeper and more athletic than we are," Sartell-St. Stephen coach Dave Angell said. "We played about as well as we can play in our half-court defense."

Senior forward Parker Hagen led Sartell-St. Stephen (17-13) with 19 points, making all nine of his field-goal attempts.

JIM PAULSEN

St. Paul Johnson 64, Delano 54: The Governors' Quashingm Smith-Pugh went through coach Vern Simmons' system, biding his time, learning from players in front of him. When it was his turn, Smith-Pugh, like many Governors before him, stepped into his role with ease, leading St. Paul Johnson (22-7) to a victory over Delano (26-4).

"You wait your turn and you learn your role and then, when you get the chance, you fill that role,'' said Smith-Pugh, one of only three players on the roster who played significant minutes in 2012.

On Wednesday, Smith-Pugh's role was mainly on offense. He led his team with 20 points and 15 rebounds.

"Well, he's a senior," Simmons said. "He's been here three times."

Despite not having anyone taller than 6-3, the Governors outrebounded the Tigers 41-27 and routinely raced to layups.

Senior guard Travis Siedschlag, who rarely played last season, finished with 12 points, two rebounds and a half-dozen hustle plays.

"I just did what I'm supposed to do," Siedschlag said. "We always have people who can step up."

JIM PAULSEN

Marshall 69, Grand Rapids 52: In the most up-tempo game of the four quarterfinal matchups, Marshall used its quickness to put the Thunderhawks back on their heels.

The third-ranked Tigers (28-2) scored 36 first-half points in racing to a 10-point advantage on the way to victory.

"Getting out and running is something we have done all year," Marshall junior guard Riley Sharbono said.

Sharbono led the Tigers' offensive attack with 18 points. "We knew they wouldn't be able to keep up with us the whole game," he said.

Grand Rapids battled back in the second half, making it a one possession game (47-45) with 9 minutes, 32 seconds remaining. The Tigers then went on a 12-2 run to regain control. The spurt included two layups by Sharbono and a three-pointer from senior Aaron Mathiowetz, his personal-best fourth of the game.

"I'm glad they were backing off me," Mathiowetz said. He finished with 14 points, going 4-for-6 from three-point range. "I don't even shoot four in a game, much less make four."

Grand Rapids (20-10) relied on Division I recruit Alex Illikainen, who is recovering from an injury, to try and keep it close.

The 6-9 sophomore wore a brace on his left hand after suffering a broken metacarpal bone in the hand just over a month ago. He finished with a game-high 31 points.

"He was beating us down low," Mathiowetz said. "He kept them in it the whole game."

RON HAGGSTROM