The Hastings Raiders traveled to Burnsville on the evening of Nov. 25 hoping to start their season strong, but in a game that came down to the final minutes they came up just short in a 53-50 loss to the Blaze.
Hastings hung tough early, overcoming an early game, double digit deficit, ultimately keeping the game close through a first half that ended 18–23. The Raiders struggled to find consistent offense after the break but showed flashes of resilience and fight. Senior guard Piper Brockman sparked the Hastings attack, hitting 7 of 15 from the field and 7 of 12 from the free-throw line, finishing with a team-high 21 points. Forward Mya Bauer added a solid 14 points on 5-for-12 shooting, giving the Raiders another inside-out look as she battled for position under the rim.
On the perimeter, guard Violet Schult offered steady leadership, connecting on 3 of 10 from three-point range on the night and finishing with 11 points. She also logged four rebounds and contributed defensively, helping keep Hastings within reach. Up front, post player Jillian McTague worked hard inside, pulling down seven rebounds and dishing out four assists while scoring four points. In addition, guard/forward Kayleigh Giesen battled through contact and logged 13 rebounds, giving Hastings second-chance opportunities even though she did not score.
Burnsville, meanwhile, managed to do just enough down the stretch to preserve the lead, converting free throws and tightening up defensively when it counted. The Blaze’s late-game composure overcame Hastings’ attempts to rally, but the Raiders never quit — they fought to the end and showed signs of building something.
For Hastings, the game offered plenty of promise despite the loss. Brockman’s 21-point night and Bauer’s inside presence gave the team a two-headed scoring punch, and Schult’s three-point shooting and McTague’s work on the glass and in distributing the ball demonstrated that there are multiple ways this team can contribute. The 13 rebounds by Giesen underline that, when determined, Hastings can battle inside with size and effort.
Hastings fell to Burnsville 53 to 50. Piper Brockman led with 21, Mya Bauer added 14, Violet Schult had 11 and Jillian McTague scored 4.
The Raiders will look to channel that grit into their next game, using this close loss as a learning moment to tighten up execution down the stretch. The next chance to do so is Dec. 3 when Bloomington Kennedy comes to town for a 6:30 p.m. tip. The girls then have eight days to sharpen their skills for the meat of the season before they have two lengthy trips, first, they will travel to Pine City on Dec 12 to play at 7:00 p.m., then they hop on the bus to travel to Cloquet on Dec. 13 to play at 1:00 p.m. They return to the metro for a trip to Mahtomedi on Dec 16 at 7:00 p.m. before returning home to host Two Rivers on Dec. 18 at 6:30 p.m.