The Raider Girls (12-9) have had a tough streak on the hardwood dating back to Jan. 23 when the four-game skid started. Feb. 4 at Hill-Murray (16-6) was a polar opposite of the contest held in Hastings back on Jan. 3 when the Pioneers had to fight for an almost miraculous comeback to win the game in the last minute of play 58-56. That loss for Hastings was a bit of a stunner so the Raiders knew they would have a fight on their hands this time around. The Pioneers thumped Hastings 81-50. Raider redemption came at Simley on Feb. 6 when the Raiders won 56-24.
The game at Hill-Murray was one Hastings wishes they could have back, especially to get a little revenge for the heartbreaker from Jan. 3. The Pioneers crept away from the Raiders to take a 38-21 lead into the intermission and things did not get much better in the second half. Hill outscored Hastings 42-29 to win 81-50.
Haley Strain scored 21 points with 16 rebounds, Keagan McVicker tallied 15 points and four rebounds, both stat lines were pretty close to their season average for the top two Raider point generators, the issue for Hastings was, the Pioneers shut down the rest of the Raider offense. Violet Schult scored eight, Kate Ruder four and Jillian McTague two. Five out of fourteen players that saw playing time scored in the loss.
The game at Simley was the confidence boost that Hastings needed to turn things around. The Raiders never really looked back once they took the lead and at the half, Hastings was up 30-6. It was a combination of Hastings shots dropping, the Raider defense smothering the Spartans and Simley missing on shots. The second half was more balanced with Hastings winning that half 26-18, but the damage was already done. Hastings doubled up Simley, 56-24.
Again, 14 players saw action in the game, but this time nine of them scored. Stain led the way with 21 points and 14 rebounds. McTague had eight points with three rebounds, Rachel Notch and Ruder each had seven points and Piper Brockman scored four.
The girls have four games left in the regular season. They host North St. Paul on Feb. 12 at 6:30 p.m. then travel to St. Anthony on Feb. 14 for a 6:00 p.m. tip before they return home to host Tartan on Feb. 18 at 6:30 p.m. The final game of the season is Feb. 20 at South St. Paul, that game is scheduled for 7:00 p.m.