The Raiders boys basketball team came into the week 2-10 for the season and 0-3 in the conference looking for their first conference win against Mahtomedi (8-2) or Two Rivers (4-8).

Mahtomedi came to the Raider fieldhouse and took control of the game instantly. The Zephyrs kept Hastings off balance the entire first half, forcing 21 Raider turnovers. By the time the intermission started, Hastings was down 56-27.

Hastings came out strong in the second half, playing solid transition ball with a balanced approach to attacking on offense and defensive disruption. The Raider defense stepped up in a big way against the onslaught from Mahtomedi. It was clear the Zephyrs were gunning to run up the score and the Raider defense did a great job stepping things up for the second half.

Hastings played with much better ball control on offense, moving the ball to the open shooter and with a forty-point deficit at one point, the Raiders fought back hard, taking clean open shots. Defensively, they frustrated the Zephyr shooters, contesting many more shots.

Mahtomedi still outscored Hastings in the second half 37-33 for a final score of 93-60, but the Raiders proved to themselves that they have the talent to keep a game like that much closer than they did in the first half. Hopefully, that confidence carries with them the remainder of the season.

Owen Bernatz led the Raiders in scoring with 15 and Kellen Nuytten had 11. Eight other Raiders contributed from the floor with points. Freshman Matthew Foss and his older brother sophomore Lukas Foss were tied for the lead in assists with three. Lukas also had the second most rebounds of the game at six behind Nuytten’s nine.

Against Two Rivers, Hastings had a better showing but the Warriors size and speed were too much for Hastings to handle. Two Rivers had the lead 25-18 at the half and won 66-45.

Bernatz and Payton Lee-Dean led the team with 12 points each. Nuytten led rebounding for Hastings at seven and the Foss boys were again just behind him with five a piece.

With the two losses, Hastings dropped to be tied for last place in the conference, tied with Hill-Murray at 0-5 in the conference. The Raiders overall record is one win ahead of the Pioneers at 2-12.

Hastings did travel to Hill-Murray Tuesday and we will have that recap next week. The next chance to catch Hastings is at home, Jan. 26th against Simley at 7:00 p.m. Then a matinee game, 1:00 p.m. at Chaska on Jan. 28. They return home for St. Thomas Academy on Jan. 30 at 7:00 p.m.