Hayfield finishes a big week with a big win
Published 11:23 pm Saturday, January 28, 2017
- Hayfield’s Olivia Matti fends off a steal attempt from Wynter Bergner of Rochester Lourdes in Hayfield Saturday. Rocky Hulne/sports@austindailyherald.com
The Hayfield girls basketball team finished off its biggest week to date this season on a high note as it beat Rochester Lourdes 69-65 in Hayfield Saturday.
The Vikings took a 62-53 lead when Maggie Streightiff hit a three-pointer with 3:17 left in the game and Hayfield led 62-53 with less than two minutes left. However, the Eagles (11-7 overall, 7-2 HVL) made a late charge. Lourdes got as close as 68-65 with 11.2 seconds left, but Carrie Rutledge connected on a free throw to ice the game.
Hayfield’s Elecia Brown dishes the ball against the defense of Wynter Bergner of Rochester Lourdes in Hayfield Saturday. Rocky Hulne/sports@austindailyherald.com
“Lourdes is very good and right now we’re probably the two seed in the section with this win and they’re probably the three seed,” Hayfield co-head coach Kasey Krekling said. “If everything draws out then we’d play them again. This is a good win for us and hopefully it gives us an advantage going down the stretch.”
Streightiff finished with 21 points in the win for No. 9 ranked Hayfield (15-3 overall, 10-1 HVL), which beat Byron Friday and lost a close game to Kasson-Mantorville earlier in the week. She said the team benefited from playing against three tough teams in a row.
“We knew it was going to be a big week with Kristin Scott [of KM], Ayoka Lee [of Byron] and then Lourdes is always scrappy,” Streightiff said. “The end [of tonight’s game] is something we can learn from. We just have to relax and finish.”
Hayfield’s Kate Kruger, left, and Carrie Rutledge, right, force a jump ball against Rochester Lourdes in Hayfield Saturday. Rocky Hulne/sports@austindailyherald.com
Hayfield had to bring out a big offensive effort on Saturday and it was able to keep up with Lourdes, which was led by Megan Hobday’s 24 points and Wynter Bergner’s 21 points. Rutledge had 20 points and four assists for Hayfield and Olivia Matti added 14 points, eight rebounds and three assists.
“They have good shooters, so we knew we had to have an on night tonight,” Rutledge said. “We knew we had to come together as a team and work hard. The past three games have been really close and we’ve just got to learn how to finish and pull away at the end.”
Hayfield’s Maggie Streightiff lines up an oustside shot in Hayfield Saturday. Rocky Hulne/sports@austindailyherald.com
Lourdes 29 36 — 65
Hayfield 31 38 — 69
Hayfield scoring: Maggie Streightiff, 21; Carrie Rutledge, 20; Olivia Matti, 14; Sophia Waldner, 8; Kate Kruger, 4; Elecia Brown, 2; free throws: 75 percent (18-for-24); rebounds: 25 (Matti, 8); turnovers: 7
Hayfield’s Sophia Waldner battles for a loose ball against Lourdes in Hayfield Saturday. Rocky Hulne/sports@austindailyherald.com