Hayfield girls lose state consolation round
ST. PAUL — It was another great season for the Hayfield basketball girls.They finished state tournament play on Saturday, March 18, when they fell to Belgrade-Brooten-Elrosa, 65-54, in the Class A Third Place game at Gangelhoff Center, Concordia University-St. Paul.
The Lady Vikings have every reason in the world to celebrate their super season, having finished the tour with a most impressive 29-5 overall record.
BBE Game: Hayfield Scoring: Kristen Watson, 21 points, (2) 3-pointers; Chelsea Christopherson, 2 points; Jojo Tempel, 8 points, (2) 3-pointers; Natalie Beaver, 13 points, (1) 3-pointer; Reese O’Malley, 2 points; Kenna Selk, 4 points, (1) 3-pointer; Alexys Swygman, 2 points; Betsy Gillette, 2 points. (Halftime: BBE 35, HAY 27; Free throws: BBE 12-24, HAY 8-11; Three-pointers: BBE 3, HAY 6).
In the early stages of the game, two teams playing very similar styles, were trading jabs and applying pressure to every pass and every shot. It was quite clear that the Jaguars came to play and had no interest in being intimidated by their powerful opponent.
Hayfield senior guard Josie Tempel hit a three with 10:28 left in the opening stanza, but BBE countered with their own trey, to put the Jaguars in front 13-12 with 10:03 left. Hayfield tied it at 15-15 with another three-pointer at the 8:20 mark, but the Jags surged ahead with an 8-2 run, capped by a 12-footer from the left wing with 6:45 left, for a 23-17 lead.
The second half was back-and-forth scoring, until with under nine minutes left, the Jaguars went up, 53-43. The Vikings had one final push in them and cut the lead down to 5 points with 7:29 left, but it was too little, too late, and the Jaguars prevailed.
The Vikings return the bulk of their team next year, including All-State players Beaver and Watson. Hayfield has gone 61-7 over the last two seasons.
Earlier in the tournament, the girls earned a 63-58 overtime victory over Badger/Greenbush-Middle River, on Thursday, March 16, at Maturi Pavilion, in Class A Quarterfinal action. That set-up a battle with No. 3-seed BOLD, on Friday, March 17, in the Class A Semifinals at Williams Arena.
It was a well-played game by both teams, but the Warriors emerged victorious, 58-46, bumping the Vikings to the third place game on Saturday, March 18, versus Belgrade-Brooten-Elrosa, at Gangelhoff Center.
BGMR Game: Hayfield Scoring: Ava Carney, 3 rebounds, 2 assists, 3 steals; Kristen Watson, 10 points, 2 rebounds, 4 assists, 5 steals; Chelsea Christopherson, 7 points, 9 rebounds, 5 assists, 1 steal; Josie Tempel, 2 points, 2 rebounds, 2 assists, 2 steals; Jenna Christopherson, 9 points, 2 rebounds; Emily Hansen, 4 points, 2 rebounds, 2 assists; Natalie Beaver, 31 points, 15 rebounds, 3 assists, 3 steals. (Halftime: HAY 29, BGMR 25; Free throws: BGMR 17-23, HAY 8—14; Three-pointers: BGMR 1, HAY 7).
BGMR Scoring: Tessany Blazek, 10 points; Kinsley Hanson, 16 points; Jade Reese, 9 points; Kenzie Dahl, 9 points; Hannah Bergsnev, 9 points; Cassidy Dahl, 5 points.
BOLD Game: Hayfield Scoring: Ava Carney, 2 rebounds, 2 assists, 2 steals; Jenna Christopherson, 1 rebound; Kristen Watson, 3 points, 3 rebounds, 2 assists, 5 steals; Chelsea Christopherson, 18 points, 7 rebounds, 2 assists, 1 steal; Josie Tempel, 12 points, 1 rebound, 2 assists; Lilly Beyer, 4 points, 3 rebounds; Emily Hansen, 7 points, 7 rebounds, 2 assists; Natalie Beaver, 2 points, 4 rebounds. (Halftime: HAY 28, BOLD 33; Free throws: BOLD 10-16, HAY 4-7; Three-pointers: BOLD 4, HAY 6).
BOLD Scoring: Lainey Braulick, 19 points; Rylee Boen, 3 points; Mari Ryberg, 15 points; Anna Moorse, 3 points; Mackenzie Visser, 18 points;
Photo: Hayfield’s Chelsea Christopherson and Emily Hansen (15) double team BOLD’s ball handler as she approaches the basket.