HAYFIELD — The Hayfield girls basketball team took down No. 5 seeded United South Central (19-8 overall) 52-44 in the first round of the Section 2AA South Division tournament Thursday.

The No. 4 Vikings (14-12 overall) led by one at the break and broke the game open early in the second half.

Dani Wagner scored 16 points for Hayfield and Abby Blanchard added 13.

“We built up a lead and then we ran a little stall game and put it away the way we like to,” Hayfield head coach Fred Kindschy said.

The Vikings will play at No. 1 seeded New Richland-H-E-G (27-0 overall) Friday at 7 p.m.

“We think they’re one of the best teams in the state and we’d like to play them again,” Kindschy said. “If we put together a good game, we’ll be right with them.”

USC 21 23 — 44

Hayfield 22 30 — 52

Hayfield scoring: Dani Wagner, 16; Abby Blanchard, 13; Alyssa Selk, 11; Jessie Foster, 6; Abby Pollock, 6; free throws: 68 percent (15-for-22)