The Hastings Raiders girls basketball team kept rolling through a busy and productive week, stacking three wins and stretching their surge to seven straight victories. Coming into the week at 8-7, Hastings now finds itself playing its best basketball of the season, mixing depth, defensive pressure, and balanced scoring to overwhelm opponents on both ends of the floor.
The week opened Tuesday with a dominant road performance at South St. Paul. Hastings set the tone early, sprinting to a massive first-half lead behind active hands-on defense and quick ball movement on offense. The Raiders forced turnovers, ran the floor, and shared the scoring load as they built a 40-16 halftime advantage. The second half followed the same script, with Hastings continuing to defend and rotate players while keeping its energy high. The lopsided result allowed everyone to contribute, and the Raiders never let the tempo slip.
Hastings beat South St. Paul 63-23. Jillian McTague led with 11 points, Brooke Mace added 10, Shiloh Ashcraft had 8, Jessica McTague scored 6, and Kayleigh Giesen finished with 6.
Two nights later, Hastings faced its toughest test of the week at Minneapolis Camden. The game stayed tight from the opening tip, with neither team able to create much separation early. Hastings leaned on its defense and rebounding to stay steady, then pulled ahead late by attacking the paint and getting to the free throw line. The Raiders closed the game with composure, finishing defensive possessions and knocking down key shots to secure a hard-earned road win.
Hastings edged Minneapolis Camden 63-57. Mya Bauer led with 19 points, Jillian McTague added 13, Piper Brockman had 13, Shiloh Ashcraft scored 8, and Jessica McTague finished with 4.
The week wrapped up Saturday at home against Big Lake, and Hastings left little doubt. The Raiders exploded offensively, scoring 46 points in the first half while pushing the pace and dominating the glass. Big Lake struggled to slow the Raiders inside, and Hastings continued to pour it on after halftime, turning stops into easy baskets. The win capped a perfect week and showcased how dangerous the Raiders can be when their inside game and defensive pressure are both clicking.
Hastings beat Big Lake 77-48. Mya Bauer led with 31 points, Piper Brockman added 20, Jessica McTague had 7, Shiloh Ashcraft scored 4, and Violet Schult finished with 3.
Hastings continues its schedule on Fri. Jan. 30 with a road game at Two Rivers High School, tip set for 6:30 p.m. The Raiders return home on Wed. Feb. 4 to face Hill-Murray at Hastings High School at 6:30 p.m., then host Simley on Fri. Feb. 6, also at 6:30 p.m. Hastings is back on the road on Wed. Feb. 11 at North St. Paul High School, followed by a Fri. Feb. 13 trip to Minneapolis Washburn High School for a 7 p.m. start. The regular season wraps up on Tue. Feb. 17 at Tartan High School before closing at home on Fri. Feb. 20 against South St. Paul, with a 6:30 p.m. tip at Hastings High School.