Hastings turns in solid effort against state's No. 6 team

For most of Friday’s girls basketball game between Hastings and White Bear Lake, it was hard to determine which team was ranked No. 6 in the state and which team was winless in Suburban East Conference play.

For the record, it’s White Bear Lake that is highly ranked. The Bears have a 15-2 league record.

Hastings, meanwhile, has struggled to get wins on the year, and the team is 2-23 overall.

Still, the game was a close one, with the Bears and the Raiders playing to a 34-34 tie in the first half.

In the second half, it was more of the same.

In fact, Hastings trailed by four points with just more than two minutes remaining in the game. White Bear Lake then went on a run to close out the game, and they won, 57-47.

“We played very, very well,” coach Mike Harp said. “Our defense was very good. We were really physical. We didn’t back down from them. I have to give the girls credit – they could have folded. That was one of the best teams in the state, and they went out there and played with great intensity.

“We’ve seen that in bits and pieces this year. Now we’re starting to put it together for longer periods of time.”

Hasting was outscored in the second half by the Bears, 23-13. As that point total indicates, Hastings had trouble getting baskets to fall.

“We played equally as well in the second half – we just couldn’t get shots to drop,” Harp said. “Part of that was that we were tired – we expelled a lot of energy in the first half.”

Hastings is now starting two seniors (Lexie Harp and Jordan Marshall) and three freshmen (Jill Weinzettel, Hanna Norman and Sabrina Astar). With three freshmen in the starting lineup, Harp is excited about what the future holds.

“We’re doing things that are going to make us successful down the road, and we’re getting better,” Harp said. “Wins and losses don’t always show that. People who follow us see the kids are making huge strides. We’ll get it figured out.”

Hastings was led in scoring by Weinzettel, who had 12 points. Also scoring were: Morgan Tjomsland, three; Astar, five; Norman, eight; Kelsey Nelson, five; Harp, eight; Marshall, two; and Lauren Thomas, four.

Sections

Hastings plays host to Forest Lake at 7:15 p.m. Friday in the final regular season game of the year. Forest Lake has a 9-8 mark in SEC play. Hastings has an 0-17 record in the league.

The section tournament seeding meeting is Saturday, and the section tournament begins Wednesday, Feb. 29.

The top team in the section is expected to be either Lakeville North or Rochester Mayo.

Vs Woodbury

Hastings lost to Woodbury on Tuesday, 72-54.

The Raiders were led in scoring by Weinzettel and Norman, who each had 10 points.

Also scoring were: Tjomsland, nine; Hanah Martin, two; Astar, four; Harp, seven; Nicole Hollar, four; Marshall, three; and Thomas, five.

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