After a couple games on the road, the Hastings Raiders were able to return to their home court Friday to end a two-game losing streak. Hastings fans were also able to recognize senior guard Owen Bernatz reaching the 1,000 point milestone. Bernatz was presented a plaque at the onset of the contest after hitting his 1000th against South St. Paul Jan. 12.
The Raiders took care of business in the game, moving into a four-way tie for second place in the Metro East Conference with a 79-55 win over Two Rivers. The Raiders led by just two points at half but blew the Warriors off the floor in the second half, outscoring them by 22 points.
The balanced Raider attack featured four scorers in double figures. Matthew Foss led the way with 22 points and hit 4-6 from behind the three-point line. Kellen Nuyten had 19 points and 12 rebounds, and Bernatz had 18 points and 10 rebounds. Kyan Esterby finished with 13 points.
Lukas Foss added five points, and Payton Dean tallied one. As a team the Raiders had 17 assists, with Weston Schult leading the way with seven. Bernatz also had four steals on the defensive end.
Hastings got the momentum to swing its way at the close of the first half. With Two Rivers leading 32-20 with less than a minute to go, Marlowe Strain grabbed a key defensive rebound and passed it to Matthew Foss, who went all the way to the basket for a layup to tie the game.
Hastings got a turnover. Lukas Foss picked up a huge offensive rebound that allowed Esterby to drive for a basket in the closing seconds of the half to put Hastings up by two.
Shortly into the second half, Esterby’s three pointer put the Raiders up by seven points, 41-34, after a 7-2 Hastings run. After Two Rivers scored, Esterby kept the margin at seven as he drove baseline and curled in a layup from the right side.
The teams traded baskets, with Lukas Foss driving for a basket.
Two Rivers got to within three points at about the 11-minute mark of the second half, but then Hastings went to work. A couple minutes later, they’d built an 11-point lead after a steal and a Bernatz layup.
Nuyten’s three-pointer off a nice pass from Bernatz put the Raiders up 61-45 with 8:21 left.
The Hastings defense kept the Warriors in check the rest of the game.The Raiders play Hill-Murray at home Thursday and travel to Tartan Tuesday. Games tip at 7 p.m.

Metro East Conference Standings
Team Conf. Overall
Tartan 5-0 11-2
Hastings 3-2 8-6
Mahtomedi 3-2 5-9
North St. Paul 3-2 5-7
South St. Paul 3-2 5-9
St. Thomas Ac. 3-3 7-7
Two Rivers 2-3 6-9
Hill-Murray 2-4 6-6
Simley 0-6 2-12