The Raiders shook off their narrow season opening loss at Burnsville and spent the next two nights playing like a group with something to prove. A long road trip to Breck opened the week, and Hastings wasted no time setting the tone. The Raiders pressed, ran, and shared the ball with a sharpness that never let the Mustangs breathe. With a 44 point burst in the first half, Hastings built a lead that grew even as the bench checked in early and often. Twelve Raiders saw the floor, and the scoring spread reflected that balance. The defensive effort might have been even better, since Hastings held Breck to single digits for the entire game and forced rushed shots all night.
The quick turnaround into a home matchup with Bloomington Kennedy carried the same energy, although this time the Raiders needed to settle in before they pulled away. Kennedy hung around early, but Hastings leaned on rebounding, smart ball movement, and a steady inside presence to stretch the margin. Once the Raiders handled the early pressure, the game shifted in their favor for good. The frontcourt of Mya Bauer and Piper Brockman provided power inside, while the McTague sisters added scoring and ball control. The Raiders again used their depth, mixing starters with reserves to keep the pace high and the lead growing. By the final minutes, the crowd could enjoy the rhythm of a team that looked comfortable, confident, and committed to using its full roster.
Hastings beat Breck 64 to 9. Mya Bauer led with 14 points, Jessica McTague added 12, Jillian McTague had 10, Piper Brockman scored 8, and Amelia Quinn finished with 6.
Hastings beat Bloomington Kennedy 53 to 27. Mya Bauer led with 19 points, Piper Brockman added 9, Jillian McTague and Kayleigh Giesen each had 6, and Jessica McTague finished with 5.
Hastings has six games on the slate before the calendar flips, the first three coming on the road. On Dec. 12, the Raiders head to Pine City for a 7:00 p.m. start, followed by a quick turnaround on Dec. 13 with a 1:00 p.m. afternoon game at Cloquet. They stay on the road Dec. 16 with a 7:00 p.m. matchup at Mahtomedi. Hastings returns home Dec. 18 to face Two Rivers at 6:30 p.m., then goes back on the road Dec. 22 for a 6:30 p.m. meeting with Hill Murray. The stretch wraps up Dec. 29 when the Raiders host Mankato East at 7:00 p.m. to open their Holiday Tournament.