The Hastings Raiders boys basketball team had a lighter week on the schedule than planned, but they made sure the game that was played counted.
Hastings was scheduled for two contests during the week, though only one reached the opening tip. The Tuesday matchup with Simley never took place after the Spartans forfeited due to play suspensions stemming from their previous game against North St. Paul. That left the Raiders with a single road game on Friday night, and they took full advantage of the opportunity.
Entering the contest with a 7-4-0 record, Hastings traveled to North St. Paul to face a Polar squad still searching for its first win. Thankfully, as far as the Raiders second game of the week goes, the Polars behaved long enough to play the game. Once the ball went up, Hastings wasted little time establishing control.
The Raiders came out sharp on both ends of the floor and built a sizable halftime lead, going into the break up 43-28. Hastings shared the ball well and found clean looks early, mixing inside finishes with perimeter shots while applying steady defensive pressure. North St. Paul struggled to keep pace as Hastings turned stops into transition chances and second opportunities.
Matthew Foss set the tone offensively, attacking the lane and finishing efficiently, while also dishing out assists to teammates cutting to the basket. Landon Miska provided a strong presence inside, cleaning the glass and converting nearly every chance he had around the rim. Brady Hendrickson knocked down timely three pointers and contributed on defense with multiple steals and blocks.
The Raiders continued to extend the lead in the second half, outscoring North St. Paul 34-22 after intermission. Hastings went deep into the bench as the game wore on, with several players logging minutes and contributing in different ways. Zander McVicker made the most of his limited time, hitting both of his three-point attempts, while Caleb Gudissa provided a spark with his perimeter shooting and defensive activity.
Defensively, Hastings forced turnovers and limited North St. Paul’s scoring chances, keeping the Polars from mounting any sustained run. The balanced effort reflected a team comfortable playing together, moving the ball, and trusting the next pass.
By the final buzzer, the Raiders had turned a potentially quiet week into a productive one, improving their record and building momentum heading into a busy stretch of conference and nonconference games.
Hastings beat North St. Paul 77-50. Matthew Foss led with 17 points, Landon Miska added 15 points, Brady Hendrickson had 12 points, Caleb Gudissa scored 11 points, and Zander McVicker finished with seven points.
The conference win gave Hastings the top spot in the Metro East Conference just ahead of their next opponent. Hastings will travel to Tartan on Friday, Jan. 16 at 7:00 p.m. with the conference lead on the line. The Raiders then return home to face South St. Paul on Tuesday, Jan. 20 at 6:30 p.m., followed by St. Thomas Academy on Thursday, Jan. 22 at 6:30 p.m.