The Hastings boys basketball team opened its new season with the kind of week that tells a group it is headed in the right direction. Dec. 4, they played host to New Prague, earning that victory 62-48 and they won a back-and-forth affair in Red Wing on Dec. 6 77-74. The Raiders mixed grit with timely shooting, picked up two wins, and showed a calm late game presence that often takes weeks to build. By the time the final horn sounded in Red Wing, Hastings had stacked a home win and a road win and did it with a balanced mix of star power and steady role play.
The week began at home against New Prague, where the Raiders spent one half feeling out their rhythm and the next half taking control. Hastings trailed 18 to 16 at the break, a slow start that came with cold perimeter shooting and a few early turnovers. The mood flipped quickly once the teams came out of the locker room. The Raiders scored 46 points in the second half, moved the ball with confidence, and turned defensive stops into flow on the other end. Matthew Foss set the tone with strong cuts, clean footwork, and a confident outside stroke. Brady Hendrickson ran the offense with poise, picked his scoring spots, and helped steady the group in transition. Around them, the supporting cast settled in. Carter Lundstrom battled on the glass, Zander McVicker and Drew Gillespie worked passing lanes, and the Raiders looked like a group figuring out their identity in real time.
Hastings beat New Prague 62 to 48. Matthew Foss led with 35, Brady Hendrickson added 18, Carter Lundstrom scored 6, Liam Bernatz scored 3, and the rest of the roster finished with 0.
Two nights later in Red Wing, Hastings found itself in a faster, more physical matchup. The Raiders fell behind early, tightened up on the defensive end, and spent the rest of the night trading baskets in a back-and-forth game that stayed within a handful of points for most of the second half. Foss and Hendrickson again carried the scoring load, but the story was how well the Raiders handled pressure. Liam Bernatz attacked downhill, lived at the free throw line, and helped Hastings close the door late. McVicker grabbed seven rebounds, a number that helped turn a tight game into a winnable one. The Raiders looked confident in tense moments, and that composure held up in the final minute.
Hastings edged Red Wing 77 to 74. Matthew Foss led with 30, Brady Hendrickson added 24, Liam Bernatz had 20, Carter Lundstrom scored 2, and Zander McVicker finished with 1.
Hastings has four games remaining before the Christmas break, the first three of which are on the road. Dec. 11, they travel to Owatonna for a 7:30 p.m. start. Dec. 15, they make a trip to Woodbury for a 7:00 p.m. start. Dec. 18, they head to Two Rivers for a 6:30 p.m. start before finally returning home on Dec. 22 to host Hill-Murray also at 6:30 p.m.
Dec 29, the annual Hastings Holiday tournament starts with the boys playing against Bloomington Kennedy at 5:15 p.m. Then they head to Rochester Mayo for the Southern MN Hoops Fest on Jan 3 at 7:45 p.m.