The Raider Girls Basketball team (11-8) had two games last week against Metro East Conference teams, Mahtomedi (15-4) and Two Rivers (13-8). Mahtomedi won 76-40 and Two Rivers won 55-44 to keep the Raiders in third place in the conference.
At Mahtomedi
The Raiders did all they could to keep the game close in the first half against the Zephyrs and Mahtomedi took a seven-point lead into the intermission, 30-23. Hastings came out swinging in the second half but Mahtomedi quickly shut down the Raider offense. Mahtomedi had a plan, shut down Keagan McVicker and Haley Strain and dare the rest of the Raiders to beat them. The plan worked and Mahtomedi won easily 76-40.
Hastings struggled to score. Jillian McTague led the Raiders scoring with 10, Strain had nine, McVicker six and Violet Schult five. They also had a hard time rebounding. Strain led with 11, McTague had six, McVicker and Rachel Notch each had five and Brooke Mace had four.
Versus Two Rivers
Two Rivers tried to replicate the shutdown defense that Mahtomedi played against Hastings, but they were only able to focus on one Raider leader and they chose McVicker. Two Rivers did a great job holding the Hastings offense back in the first half, taking a 33-16 lead to the intermission. Hastings found a way to fight back, winning the second half, but it was not enough, and they fell 55-44.
Strain was able to play more of her normal game, scoring 19 and grabbing 19 rebounds. Schult had nine points and two rebounds. McVicker was held to eight points and eight rebounds, Notch logged four points and seven rebounds.
Up Next
Hastings is in the midst of a three-game road trip with game two at Simley on Feb. 6 at 6:30 p.m. They travel to Mounds View on Feb. 10 for a 7:00 p.m. tip before returning home to host North St. Paul on Feb. 12 at 6:30 p.m.