HAYFIELD – Hayfield knew it would be facing a potent offensive weapon in Winona Cotter’s Jeremy Scott.

Friday, January 26, 2001

HAYFIELD – Hayfield knew it would be facing a potent offensive weapon in Winona Cotter’s Jeremy Scott. Vikings’ coach Chris Pack figured to let Scott shoot and keep the rest of the Cotter team in check. Hayfield did just that and the strategy worked.

Despite 31 points from the Winona transfer, the Vikings earned a 55-50 home court victory Tuesday night.

Hayfield led by eight or nine points most of the second half after holding a four-point lead, 24-20, at half. Cotter made a charge in the closing minutes which nearly made the difference.

With :30 left, the Ramblers missed a three-point attempt that would have tied it. Instead, the Vikings grabbed the rebound and went to the free throw line to make both foul shots to cinch the victory.

"We were never behind in the second half," Pack said. "We contained everyone else. That was the key."

Cotter’s second-leading scorer Jeremy Wing, who was averaging 12 points per game, was held scoreless.

The win tied Hayfield for top honors in the Hiawatha Valley Conference with a 6-2 record. The Vikings are 12-2 overall.

Winona Cotter dropped to 7-7.

Willie Hansen led three Hayfield players in double figures with 14 points. Korey Holtan added 11 along with Jon Severson, who also had 12 rebounds. Matt Harvey had nine points and five assists.

"We have four guys every gave between 9 and 12 points," Pack said. "That’s pretty typical for us."

In one sense, the Vikings won the game from the free throw line. Hayfield made 13 of 26 from the line while the Ramblers did not shoot a single free throw but committed 22 fouls.

Another key for the Vikings was 15 offensive rebounds. Cotter appeared comfortable shooing from the perimeter, especially Scott on the wing.

"He’s tough," Pack said. "He had 20 in the second half."

Hayfield travels to Kasson-Mantorville on Friday for a conference game.