The Hastings Raiders girls basketball team put together a strong and steady week, picking up two convincing Metro East Conference wins and moving back toward the middle of the league standings. Hastings entered the week at 4-7, with Simley and North St. Paul also looking to find footing, and by the end of it the Raiders had pushed their record to 6-7, exactly halfway through their 26-game regular season.
Tuesday night’s road trip to Simley set the tone. Hastings wasted little time establishing control, jumping out to a 34-8 halftime lead with active defense and balanced scoring. The Raiders pressured the ball, forced turnovers, and turned those chances into quick points, keeping Simley from finding any rhythm. Mya Bauer was efficient around the basket and on the glass, while several others chipped in as Hastings rotated freely and kept the pace high. The second half followed a similar script, with Hastings maintaining composure and continuing to share the ball, closing out a decisive conference victory.
Hastings beat Simley 55-19. Mya Bauer led with 17 points, Violet Schult added 9 points, Jillian McTague had 9 points, Shiloh Ashcraft scored 4 points, and Sibley Moseman finished with 4 points.
Friday night at Hastings High School brought more of the same, this time against North St. Paul. The Raiders exploded early, building a 46-14 halftime advantage behind strong defensive effort and another productive night from Bauer. Hastings pushed the tempo, attacked in transition, and limited North St. Paul’s looks, allowing the game to stay firmly in hand. The second half slowed slightly, but the Raiders remained organized, finishing possessions and keeping the defensive pressure consistent to
secure their second lopsided win of the week.
With the pair of victories, Hastings has steadied its season and shown growth on both ends of the floor. The Raiders have leaned on defense, depth, and unselfish play, traits that have helped them separate early in games. As the schedule continues, Hastings will look to carry that momentum into the next stretch of conference and non-conference contests.
Hastings beat North St. Paul 60-21. Mya Bauer led with 18 points, Piper Brockman added 10 points, Violet Schult had 8 points, Jordan Leos scored 8 points, and Jillian McTague finished with 5 points.
Hastings will look to keep building momentum as the schedule stays busy in the coming weeks. The Raiders return home Friday, Jan. 16, to face Tartan at 6:30 p.m., then head on the road Tuesday, Jan. 20, for a conference matchup at South St. Paul at 7 p.m. A Thursday, Jan. 22, trip to Minneapolis Camden follows with a 6 p.m. tip, before Hastings comes back home Saturday, Jan. 24, to host Big Lake at 6:30 p.m. The stretch continues with a home game against Mahtomedi on Tuesday, Jan. 27, at 6:30 p.m., then wraps up with a road contest at Two Rivers on Friday, Jan. 30, at 6:30 p.m.