Trinity Lutheran falls to Austin, sets two school records

0

In a game filled with fast breaks and 3-point shots, Austin scored the first six points in the game and led all the way to defeat Trinity Lutheran 104-96 in the Bollinger Athletic Complex Tuesday night.

The Eagles started out like they were going to run away and hide as they built up a 12-3 lead at the 6:05 mark of the first quarter. Isaiah White had a hot hand for the Eagles with 7 field goals and 13 points in the first quarter.

The Cougars set two school records in the game.

The 96 points broke the old mark of 95 set again South Decatur in the opening game this season.

A.J. Goecker scored 34 points to break the individual game scoring record, previously held by Keegan Rebber (30 points), which were also against Austin at home.

“Both teams are offensively minded,” Cougars coach Brian Stuckwisch said. “Their coach (Randy Edwards) made the same comment that both teams need to work on their defense and we both agreed on that before the game started. They shot the ball really well. The only thing we did was we didn’t give a lot of points up in the paint. They did shoot from the 3-point line very well. We didn’t get out and guard the the 3-point line.”

Goecker tried to keep the Cougars close as he scored 13 points in the opening period.

“We got behind right away,” Stuckwisch said. “We got down 14 and we were fighting all night to get back. We would get back within 5 and then go back to 11.”

The teams traded points the first 3 minutes of the second quarter resulting in a 35-28 lead for the visitors.

Austin (3-1) went on a 10-2 run to increase its lead to 45-30 before the Cougars scored the final 8 points of the half.

Trent Shoemaker and Jacob Rowe made 3-pointers for the Cougars in the second quarter and Josh Rowe scored five points on two baskets and a free throw.

Three-point baskets by Jack Marksberry and Jacob Rowe brought the Cougars to within 47-44, and another 3-pointer by Marksberry left the Cougars trailing 49-47.

Trinity closed the gap to 58-56 on a 3 by Trent Shoemaker with 2:50 on the clock before Austin went ahead 63-56.

Austin held a 74-66 lead going into the fourth quarter. A basket by Goecker left Trinity 78-72 with six minutes remaining.

The Eagles increased their lead to 88-77 with 4:20 remaining and the closest the Cougars could get after that 93-87 on a rebound by Tyler Goecker with 1:23 remaining.

A.J. Goecker he had plenty of support as Shoemaker scored 13, brothers Jacob and Josh Rowe had 13 apiece, and Marksberry added 10.

Josh Hollin and Isaiah White were a strong 1-2 scoring punch for the Eagles with 24 and 23, and Drew Buhr added 21.

The Cougars (1-3) will host Southwestern on Friday night.

No posts to display