The Hayfield Vikings turned a two point lead into a 65-41 victory tonight in the Section 1A Championship game against the Grand Meadow Super Larks.

Both sides of the Rochester Mayo Civic Center Arena were full in the lower section with many in the upper section also.

The Vikings never trailed in the game taking a 31-23 lead at the half.  They pushed the lead up to double digits.  The Super Larks would whittle it down to 6 or 8 points.

Hayfield would push their lead back to double digits on at least three occasions before Grand Meadow made a serious push to make the score 41-39 with 12:09 to go in the game.  They would score just 2 more points the rest of the game.

That's when sophomore 5'4 Kristen Watson took over with back to back steals leading to layup baskets for her and two more steals kept Grand Meadow from scoring.

The Super Larks finished the game with 23 turnovers according to my statistics.  Hayfield scored 25 points off those turnovers.

Meanwhile the Vikings committed just 4 turnovers in the second half, 11 total with Grand Meadow scoring 4 points off their miscues.

Watson finished the game with 17 points, 5 steals, 3 assists, 3 rebounds. That approximately 4 minute stretch of her master thievery pushed the score up for good allowing Hayfield fans to breath a sigh of relief.

Grand Meadow did not score from the 12:09 to the 8:04 mark when it was 50-41.

The Vikings defense kept the Super Larks at the number 41 on the scoreboard the rest of the game.

Head Coach Kasey Krekling told KDHL before the game his team's offense is produced by playing good defense.

Watson was the catalyst in the second half.  Senior 5'11 Aine Stasko drained four 3 point baskets in the first half, finishing the half with 14 to help get Hayfield the lead.

Stasko finished with 5 triples, 21 points.  Sophomore 5'10 Natalie Beaver scored 15 points while pulling down 9 reboounds.  The Super Larks were a plus 7 in the rebound department.

Sophomore 5'7 Chelsea Christopherson chipped in 9 points for Hayfield.

The Vikings were 11 of 12 from the free throw line.  Grand Meadow finished the game 5 of 5 from the charity stripe.

Hayfield had 14 assists on 23 field goals.  Grand Meadow 7 asists on 17 field goals.

The Vikings had 8 three point baskets, Grand Meadow 2.

The Super Larks finished their season 23-7.  They could be at the same position next year with a young team.

Grand Meadow had one player in double figures, junior 5'10 Kendyl Queensland finished with 10 points.  Senior 6'0 River Landers added 9 points.  They started one senior with two seniors on the roster.

Hayfield is now 31-0.  They will open Thursday at Maturi Pavilion on the University of Minnesota campus.  That's where the volleyball team plays their matches next to Williams Arena.

Hayfield & Grand Meadow End of Game Sportsmanship Line. Photo by Gordy Kosfeld
Hayfield & Grand Meadow End of Game Sportsmanship Line. Photo by Gordy Kosfeld
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The State Tournament will be seeded this weekend.  Class A has their quarterfinal round games on Thursday at 11:00 a.m. 1:00 p.m. 3:00 p.m. and 5:00 p.m.

Win the first game semifinals will be Noon or 2:00 p.m. Friday at Williams Arena.  Lose the first game consolation contests are 10:00 a.m. and Noon Friday at Concordia University in St. Paul.

The Consolation Championship is 9:00 a.m. Saturday at Concordia.  Third place game 11:00 a.m. Saturday at Concordia.

Class A State Championship is scheduled for Noon Saturday, March 19, 2022 at Williams Arena on the University of Minnesota Campus.

KDHL, 920 AM, 97.9 Fm, FREE KDHL app will be there to broadcast whatever games the Vikings play.

Hayfield Vikings Present Championship Trophy to Hayfield Crowd. Photo by Gordy Kosfeld
Hayfield Vikings Present Championship Trophy to Hayfield Crowd. Photo by Gordy Kosfeld
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Hayfield was ranked #2 in the latest Class  A Minnesota Basketball News poll with Mountain Iron Buhl rated #1 despite 3 losses.

The 3 losses are to the #1 rated Class AA Providence Academy (7 points), #2 rated Class AA St. Croix Lutheran (5 points) and #2 ranked Class AAA St. Paul Como Park (20 points).

All other Section Finals are scheduled for Friday around the state.  The listing with the latest MBBN rankings is below.

  • Section 2A #4 Mayer Lutheran (22-4) vs. #5 Sleepy Eye-St. Mary's (27-2)  6:00 p.m. Minnesota State Mankato
  • Section 3A #8 Minneota (25-4) vs. #7 Tracy-Milroy-Balaton (27-2) 5:00 p.m. at SMSU
  • Section 4A #UR United Christian Academy (22-4) vs. UR Legacy Christian (18-8) at SW Christian High School 5:45 p.m.
  • Section 5A Braham (17-12) vs Nevis (18-8) 7:00 p.m. at Little Falls
  • Section 6A  #13 Underwood (23-3) vs #3 Hancock (26-1) 7:00 p.m. in Fergus Falls
  • Section 7A #1 Mt. Iron-Buhl (26-3) vs. #10 Cromwell-Wright (22-5) 7:00 p.m. UMD
  • Section 8A #6 Cass Lake-Bena (27-2) vs. #UR Warren-Alvarado-Oslo (17-8) 7:00 p.m. at REA

The Rochester Lourdes Eagles captured the Section 1AA Championship coming from behind to defeat Lake City 62-57.  The Tigers were the defending Section Champions.

Please take note.

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