Wildcats outlast Viking girls
Published 7:05 am Sunday, March 3, 2019
- Hayfield’s Payton Slaathaug brings the ball up-court along the sidelines against Goodhue in the first half Saturday in the Section 1A semifinals at Rochester’s Mayo Civic Center. Eric Johnson/photodesk@austindailyherald.com
ROCHESTER – The No. 3 seeded Hayfield girls basketball team did most of what it had to do to keep up with No. 2 Goodhue, but it couldn’t put together the total package as it had its season end in a 38-29 loss in the Section 1A Semifinals in Mayo Civic Center Saturday.
Despite being undersized, the Vikings (19-9 overall) played solid defense and they out-rebounded the Wildcats, but Hayfield’s offense struggled as the it committed 24 turnovers.
Hayfield’s Rachel Pack reaches for a rebound against Goodhue Saturday in the Section 1A semifinals at Rochester’s Mayo Civic Center. Eric Johnson/photodesk@austindailyherald.com
“They did everything we asked of them,” Hayfield co-head coach Kasey Krekling said. “The one stat we couldn’t overcome was turnovers. We just didn’t get enough shots up.”
Goodhue held a 29-20 lead with three minutes left in the game, but Hayfield made a late comeback as Emma Holst hit a pair of three-pointers and Elecia Brown, who had 14 points and eight rebounds, hit a three to bring Hayfield within 33-29 with one minute left.
Hayfield’s Abby Stasko tries to wrestle the ball free during the first half against Goodue Saturday in the Section 1A semifinals at Rochester’s Mayo Civic Center. Eric Johnson/photodesk@austindailyherald.com
Hayfield had eight seniors this season and Krekling said he liked the fight that group gave the team with the season on the line.
“The seniors battled tonight, just like they’ve done ever since I started coaching them as ninth graders,” Krekling said. “They’ve always done that.”
Rachel Pack had two points and 11 rebounds for Hayfield.
Hayfield’s Emma Holst retrieves the ball before going out of bounds against Goodhue in the Section 1A semifinals at Rochester’s Mayo Civic Center. Eric Johnson/photodesk@austindailyherald.com
Hayfield 12 17 – 29
Goodhue 18 20 – 38
Hayfield scoring: Elecia Brown, 14; Emma Holst, 6; Abby Stasko, 4; Payton Slaathaug, 3; Rachel Pack, 2; free throws: 57 percent (4-for-7); rebounds: 32 (Pack, 11); turnovers: 24
