The Hastings Raiders boys basketball season came to an end Tuesday night in the Class 4A Section 3 quarterfinals as the Raiders traveled to Apple Valley to face the No. 3 seeded Eagles. Despite a determined effort and a brief mid-game rally, Hastings could not overcome an early deficit and fell 89-63.
Apple Valley set the tone early, jumping out to a quick 15-2 lead in the opening minutes. The Eagles came out with strong energy on both ends of the floor, forcing Hastings to play from behind almost immediately. While the early run looked like it might turn the game into a rout, the Raiders responded with a stretch of determined basketball that brought them right back into contention.
Hastings began chipping away at the lead midway through the first half. The Raiders tightened up defensively and made life difficult for Apple Valley’s shooters. On offense, Hastings found rhythm through its guards and inside scoring, steadily trimming the margin. At one point the Raiders pulled within four points, creating some tension in the gym and forcing Apple Valley to regroup.
Matthew Foss and Brady Hendrickson helped lead the charge during the rally, providing scoring and ball movement that kept Hastings within striking distance. Foss showed his ability to score both inside and outside while Hendrickson handled much of the playmaking responsibilities, finding teammates and attacking the defense when openings appeared.
However, just as Hastings appeared ready to fully close the gap, Apple Valley regained control late in the half. The Eagles flipped the momentum back in their favor with a strong finishing run, stretching the lead back out before halftime. Apple Valley carried a 44-27 advantage into the break, turning what had briefly become a competitive game back into a difficult climb for the Raiders.
The second half followed a similar pattern as Apple Valley continued to apply pressure offensively while maintaining its lead. Hastings continued to compete and generated quality looks, but the Eagles answered consistently and prevented the Raiders from making another serious push. Apple Valley outscored Hastings 45-36 in the second half to secure the quarterfinal victory.
While the season ended earlier than the Raiders had hoped, the effort remained consistent throughout the night. Hastings continued to play hard and battle for possessions, finishing with balanced scoring and strong contributions from several players.
Apple Valley beat Hastings 89-63. Matthew Foss led with 25 points, Brady Hendrickson added 18, Carter Lundstrom had 6, Liam Bernatz scored 5, and Caleb Gudissa finished with 4.
With the loss in the Class 4A Section 3 quarterfinals, the Raiders’ 2025-26 season comes to a close.