HAYFIELD — The Hayfield boys basketball team was still trying to adjust playing without their injured 1,000 point scorer Brady Kramer when they found themselves down 9-3 to No. 8 ranked Rochester Lourdes.

Then Hayfield’s newest 1,000 point scorer stepped up.

Kruger, who became Hayfield’s ninth career 1,000 point scorer with a first half post move, finished with 23 points, six rebounds and five assists as the No. 7 ranked Vikings prevailed 52-44 in Hayfield Friday.

“They’re a great team and you’re always worried when you’re coming in against Lourdes,” Hayfield guard Trevor Anderson said. “I was very worried without Brady (Kramer).”

Anderson, who had nine points and two blocked shots, and junior guard Drew Streightiff helped turn the tide in Hayfield’s favor early on when they each hit threes during a 9-2 Hayfield run.

“It was a bad start,” Hayfield head coach Chris Pack said. “I told the guys before the game that there was gonna be runs and the game would be determined by who answers runs quicker. I thought we did a great job of responding. Drew and Trevor both hit huge threes.”

Hayfield (13-2 overall, 6-0 HVL Gold) led by as many as nine in the first half as Kruger took over inside, but Lourdes (10-4 overall, 3-3 HVL gold) crept to within 32-28 at the break when Kyle Kapraun hit a three near the end of the half.

Kruger put the Vikings back in control on the first possession of the second half when he knocked down a three that made it 35-28 and Lourdes never got closer than five the rest of the way.

“Cole is a special player,” Pack said. “I’m just glad he’s on our team and he stepped it up for us tonight. I thought his three to start the second half was big.”

Kruger wasn’t expecting to score his 1,000th point on Friday, but he’s glad to be on the list of elite scorers at Hayfield.

“I was kind of expecting to get it next week and I didn’t think I’d get it this soon,” Kruger said. “After the game, Lourdes’ fans were the best opposing fans I’ve ever seen. I got hand shakes from almost every one of them.”

Just like it did in the first meeting with Lourdes, Hayfield’s defense did a solid job on Lourdes big man Jacob Schaefer in the second half. In the teams’ first meeting, Schaefer, who is 6-7, had 15 in the first half and five in the second half and on Friday, he had 10 in the first half and one in the second half.

“Merrick Ducharme and Brady Stevens played great defense on Shaefer,” Pack said. “To hold him to one in the second half is unheard of. The work that we’ve done him in the second half is outstanding. Everybody’s sinking on him and making him take tough shots.”

Ducharme stepped up when Stevens picked up his second foul early in the game. He is one of the Vikings, along with Jason Born and Streightiff, who are seeing more playing time in Kramer’s absence.

“We’d rather have Brady, but hopefully it develops some depth for us,” Pack said.

The Vikings won’t have much time to celebrate Friday’s win. On Tuesday, Hayfield will host a conference showdown with Byron (13-1 overall, 6-0 HVL Gold) at 7:15 p.m.

A win over the Bears would put Hayfield in prime position to take its second straight HVL Gold title after the Vikings tied for a share of the conference crown last season.

“We’re not done yet. We’ve got a lot of winning left to do,” Kruger said.

Hayfield 32 20 — 52

Lourdes 28 16 — 44

Hayfield scoring: Cole Kruger, 23; Jeremy Stuart, 11; Trevor Anderson, 9; Drew Streightiff, 5; Merrick Ducharme, 2; Brady Stevens, 1; Jason Born, 1; free throws: 60 percent (9-for-15); rebounds: 35 (Kruger, 6); turnovers: 12