Austin at Owatonna
7:30 p.m., Thursday, Feb. 2

The last losses for both Austin and Owatonna were to Big 9 Conference leader Rochester John Marshall. The Packers and Huskies have nine league victories this season, so winning Thursday’s meeting will be crucial in keeping pace with the Rockets, who have won all 10 of their conference games. 

Austin's twin dynamo of Duoth and Both Gach have led the No. 7-3A Packers (12-1, 9-1) most of the season, but recently the bench has begun to perk up. 

Senior Tyler Tupy scored a career-high 12 points and triggered a 13-0 run in Austin's 77-64 win over Winona last Friday.

Leading scorer Dalton Kubista (18.4 points per game) has helped the Huskies (10-3, 9-2) piece together a seven-game winning streak that could stretch to nine if Owatonna can knock off Northfield on Tuesday and Austin on Thursday.