HAYFIELD — Hayfield senior Jessie Foster may stand at just five-feet, four-inches tall, but the Vikings’ point guard has a lot bigger impact than that when she plays on the basketball court.

Foster always defends Hayfield’s opponent’s best offensive guard and now she’s expanding her role to give Hayfield some consistent scoring this season. She is averaging 14.5 points, 5.2 assists and 3.3 steals for the Vikings (5-1 overall), who are outscoring their opponents 66.3-48.0 points per game.

“She’s one of those kids who’s a leader on and off the court,” Hayfield head coach Fred Kindschy said. “We definitely go as Jessie Foster goes defensively. She sets the tone for us every night.”

Foster may be one of the smallest players on the floor when she’s competing, but she never lets it get to her. The only thing she focuses on when she’s playing is how to win the game.

“Sometimes [being smaller is] on my mind, but I’ve just kind of got to play big,” Foster said. “I can make up for it.”

Kindschy said that Foster has developed her offensive game this season and she’s becoming a better shooter. On defense, he always knows that she’ll be willing to take on any player, even if they are six inches taller than her.

Last winter, Foster held New Richland-HEG’s Carlie Wagner to 19 points in the Section 2AA semifinals and Foster scored 20 points herself. On paper, they may not sound like the biggest of accomplishments, but when you find out that Wagner has signed with the Gophers, she led NRHEG to the Class ‘AA’ state title last season and Wagner put up 48 points in the state title game, it seems a lot more impressive.

Oh, and Foster held Wagner in check even after she sprained her ankle in that game. That wasn’t even a surprise to Kindschy, who said the team had talked about taking Foster out because of her injury, but Foster wasn’t having any part of it.

“She would’ve played with a broken leg,” he said. “She’s one of those kids who’s tough as nails and this day and age you don’t find a lot of kids like that.”

Foster looks back on that game fondly and she’s looking forward to the Vikings’ rematch with the Wagner and the No. 1 ranked Panthers as the two teams will play in New Richland Jan. 4. The teams have faced each other multiple times in the past four years, but they won’t meet again this season unless it’s at the state tournament as Hayfield has been moved from Section 2AA to Section 1AA.

Foster said she held off Wagner last year by playing fundamental defense.

“I just had to face guard her and beat her to the spots,” Foster said. “I’m looking forward to January 4. It feels good to play well against her.”

Foster stepped up recently as the Vikings beat Goodhue, which is ranked No. 4 in Class ‘A.’ Hayfield was struggling to stop Mikayla Miller, so Kindschy put Foster on her and Hayfield walked away with a 72-68 win.

“She’s a fantastic little athlete,” Kindschy said of Foster. “Just because you’re small doesn’t mean anything. Give me five guards rather than five post players any day of the week. Jessie’s worked hard for everything she’s gotten and she loves a challenge.”

Foster realizes that she’s increased her scoring out-put this season, but she’s not about to take full credit for it. She’s more than willing to share the praise with her teammates.

“If it weren’t for my teammates boxing out, I wouldn’t be able to run and gun,” Foster said. “A lot of credit goes to the team.”

The Viking girls are coming off three straight wins and their only loss was against No. 2 ranked Kenyon-Wanamingo, where Hayfield led late in the game, but fell short 51-47. The Vikings, who won the HVL Gold Division last season and lead it this season, are hoping to wrap up another Division title and make a big run this season.

How far they go will have a lot to do with Foster, who began playing varsity basketball and volleyball as a sophomore. She’s hoping to play one of those two sports at that college level after she graduates this spring.

Foster also plays shortstop for the Hayfield softball team, where she began playing at the varsity level as an eighth grader.

Foster said her main focus is always on winning in sports and she’s been fortunate enough to play in the section tournament in all three of her sports. She’s still looking to play in her first state tournament and she hopes that is on the horizon.

To say sports are a big part of Foster’s life would probably be an understatement. She summed up the meaning of sports to her in two simple words.

“It’s everything,” Foster said.

The Vikings will host Cannon Falls (1-5 overall, 0-4 HVL) Friday at 7 p.m.