Hastings opens season with win over SSP

The season got off to a great start for the Hastings boys basketball team on Tuesday night. Hastings beat South St. Paul, 78-58, in a non-conference game.

The Raiders jumped out to an early lead before the Packers came back and eventually tied the score up 29-29 late in the first half. Hastings closed out the half strong, though, going on a five-point run to take a 34-29 lead into halftime.

In the second half, Hastings got out to a great start and put the game away.

“We jumped on them right away to start the game, then we got a little rushed offensively and took some shots too quickly,” coach Chad Feikema said. “Defensively, in our excitement, we weren’t holding to some of our defensive rules. We were giving up some looks and scoring opportunities that maybe we shouldn’t have. When we came out in the second half, we really took it to them in the first couple minutes.”

Hastings ended up forcing 32 turnovers in the game.

“We made some things happen defensively,” Feikema said. “We were aggressive – I like that. At the same time, we didn’t rotate real well.”

Hastings was led in scoring by Josh Monjeau, who finished the game with 21 points.

“I thought he played really well,” Feikema said.

Darius Wilkerson had 15 points and Quintan Weaver had 10.

Also scoring were: Connor Raway, who had 8; Ellis Williams, who had 8; Mitch Hoffmann and Alex Wiese, who each had 4; Jesse Green, Ross Dylla, Drew Pottinger and Bryce Garvey, who each had 2.

“It was an encouraging start,” Feikema said. “We just need to maintain a level head and keep working hard and play even better Friday.”

Hastings plays host to Farmington at 7:15 p.m. Friday.

Tags: raider basketball, sports, hastings, spiral, minnesota, prep