The girls basketball team entered the new year refreshed and ready to take on the remaining half of the season. The 4-5 Lady Raiders opened 2023 with a decisive win over Apple Valley (06) and a controlling win over Tartan (2-4) to move to 6-5 on the season.

Apple Valley is a very young team with only one senior and three juniors and sophomores. The rest of the roster is even younger, including some seventh and eighth graders on the roster. The Eagles offense is averaging just over 22 points per game while they have allowed more than 62 points per game on average.

As was to be expected, Hastings dominated the game from the start. The size difference alone made a huge difference and when you add the skill of the Raiders top players, it was not much of a contest. Hastings did rotate through the bench really well and used the game as an opportunity to get everyone game time experience while being respectful of their opponents. Kudos to Apple Valley, they never quit and kept working on their game the entire time. In a few years, this could be a good team.

Hastings had the lead 34-7 at the half and won the game 6610, holding the Eagles to three second half points. Haley Strain led the way with 20, Katherine Ruder recorded 13 and Keagan McVicker finished with 11. McVicker spent the majority of her time on the floor leading the offense, directing her younger teammates and dishing the ball around for others to make the shots. When McVicker was off the floor, the other veteran starters did the same thing. This group is buying into the team mentality for wins.

Against Tartan, the Raiders played a bit of back and forth with the Titans for the first half and when the buzzer sounded for the intermission, Hastings had a 23-22 lead. Hastings took control of the game in the second half to win the game 56-45.

All 10 Raiders played at least 10 minutes with each player contributing via rebounds, assists or blocks. Eight of the 10 also contributed to the points column of the stat sheet. McVicker led with 15, Emma Bakker had 11 and Strain finished the night with 10. Strain’s a strong presence in the paint with her height and athleticism and she often leads the team in rebounds and against Tartan, she pulled down 10.

Hastings hosts South St. Paul on Friday, Jan. 13 at 7:00 p.m. then travels to Cretin-Derham Hall on Monday, Jan. 16 at 5:30.