The Raider Boys Basketball team finished the regular season with two straight losses. First a 60-59 loss against St. Thomas and then a 74-53 loss to Mahtomedi. The two losses changed nothing for section seeding where the Raiders earned the third seed but should serve as a reminder to the team that nothing is given. They have done a great job for the majority of the season working hard and earning their wins, so do not expect the last two games to be a setback heading into sections.
Versus St. Thomas
St. Thomas Academy came to town for the second meeting of the season. Hastings previously shut down the Cadets in Mendota Heights 71-59. This meeting was a much closer affair with the two duking it out the entire game. At the half, the game was tied at 30 and that close, back and forth action continued the entire game. With less than two seconds to go, Hastings had a chance to win the game, but fell short, losing 60-59.
Lukas Foss led the way with 17 points, Matthew Foss was right behind his big brother with 14. Weston Schult scored 11 and Marlowe Strain scored eight points.
At Mahtomedi
The Zephyr’s game was a tale of two halves. Hastings jumped out to an early lead and held onto it for the first half, taking a 39-29 lead to the locker room at the intermission. The second half was as if two completely different teams took to the floor. Mahtomedi dominated possession and could not miss a shot outscoring Hastings 45-14.
The Zephyrs frustrated the Raiders on both ends of the court and it felt as if, just for a half, Mahtomedi did everything they could to make it look like Hastings forgot how to play basketball. The defense was swarming, they created a ton of turnovers and Hastings struggled to score. Every team at the high school level is capable of both having a half like that, or creating a half like that, and the timing of Hastings having a half like that is better that game than in the playoffs. One bad half in the tournament sends teams home for the season.
Brady Hendrickson and Lukas Foss each had 12 points, Matthew Foss had 11, Schult had nine and Strain six.
Up Next - Eastview
In 2023, the Raiders faced Eastview in the first round of the section tournament, and it was not pretty. Eastview was up 57-22 at the half and won 103-40. This memory will surely be in the back of the Raiders’ minds for the Tuesday night sectional rematch.
The third seeded Raiders have not faced sixth seeded Eastview this season and the Lightning are definitely having a down year and have lost 16 of their last 17 games, but the Raiders cannot sleep on their opponent. They score an average of 56.5 points per game, but that can change in the playoffs. Eastview finished the regular season 5-21 overall and 2-18 in the South Suburban Conference.
With the game played on Tuesday evening, we will get you the stats and scores in next week’s edition. On paper, this game should go to Hastings, so the winner of this game will take on the winner of the second seed Eagan and the seventh seed Burnsville at the high seed on March 7 at 7:00 p.m. Keep an eye on our Facebook page for updated tournament information.


The Raider Boys Basketball team finished the regular season with two straight losses. First a 60-59 loss against St. Thomas and then a 74-53 loss to Mahtomedi. The two losses changed nothing for section seeding where the Raiders earned the third seed but should serve as a reminder to the team that nothing is given. They have done a great job for the majority of the season working hard and earning their wins, so do not expect the last two games to be a setback heading into sections.
Versus St. Thomas
St. Thomas Academy came to town for the second meeting of the season. Hastings previously shut down the Cadets in Mendota Heights 71-59. This meeting was a much closer affair with the two duking it out the entire game. At the half, the game was tied at 30 and that close, back and forth action continued the entire game. With less than two seconds to go, Hastings had a chance to win the game, but fell short, losing 60-59.
Lukas Foss led the way with 17 points, Matthew Foss was right behind his big brother with 14. Weston Schult scored 11 and Marlowe Strain scored eight points.
At Mahtomedi
The Zephyr’s game was a tale of two halves. Hastings jumped out to an early lead and held onto it for the first half, taking a 39-29 lead to the locker room at the intermission. The second half was as if two completely different teams took to the floor. Mahtomedi dominated possession and could not miss a shot outscoring Hastings 45-14.
The Zephyrs frustrated the Raiders on both ends of the court and it felt as if, just for a half, Mahtomedi did everything they could to make it look like Hastings forgot how to play basketball. The defense was swarming, they created a ton of turnovers and Hastings struggled to score. Every team at the high school level is capable of both having a half like that, or creating a half like that, and the timing of Hastings having a half like that is better that game than in the playoffs. One bad half in the tournament sends teams home for the season.
Brady Hendrickson and Lukas Foss each had 12 points, Matthew Foss had 11, Schult had nine and Strain six.
Up Next - Eastview
In 2023, the Raiders faced Eastview in the first round of the section tournament, and it was not pretty. Eastview was up 57-22 at the half and won 103-40. This memory will surely be in the back of the Raiders’ minds for the Tuesday night sectional rematch.
The third seeded Raiders have not faced sixth seeded Eastview this season and the Lightning are definitely having a down year and have lost 16 of their last 17 games, but the Raiders cannot sleep on their opponent. They score an average of 56.5 points per game, but that can change in the playoffs. Eastview finished the regular season 5-21 overall and 2-18 in the South Suburban Conference.
With the game played on Tuesday evening, we will get you the stats and scores in next week’s edition. On paper, this game should go to Hastings, so the winner of this game will take on the winner of the second seed Eagan and the seventh seed Burnsville at the high seed on March 7 at 7:00 p.m. Keep an eye on our Facebook page for updated tournament information.