Vikings show off their strengths in overpowering home win
Published 10:16 pm Friday, December 1, 2023
Hayfield’s Jenna Klocke tosses a pass against FBA. Rocky Hulne/sports@austindailyherald.com
Hayfield’s Carly Nelson dives for a loose ball. Rocky Hulne/sports@austindailyherald.com
Jenna Christopherson comes up with a steal for Hayfield. Rocky Hulne/sports@austindailyherald.com
Hayfield’s Emily Hansen posts up against FBA. Rocky Hulne/sports@austindailyherald.com
Kenna Selk handles the ball for Hayfield. Rocky Hulne/sports@austindailyherald.com
Hayfield’s Natalie Beaver controls the ball. Herald file photo
Hayfield’s Chelsea Christopherson tries to escape pressure from Faribault Bethlehem Academy’s Jocelyn Simones in Hayfield Friday. Rocky Hulne/sports@austindailyherald.com
Hayfield’s Betsy Gillette attacks the hoop against Faribault Bethlehem Academy in Hayfield Friday night. Rocky Hulne/sports@austindailyherald.com
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HAYFIELD – The Hayfield girls basketball team showed off its two biggest strengths – depth and experience – as it came in waves and washed out Faribault Bethlehem Academy (0-2 overall) 69-27 in Hayfield Friday night.
The Vikings (2-0 overall) brought constant full court pressure in the first half as they scored the first 12 points of the game en route to a 40-8 halftime lead.
“We ran this press a couple of years ago and last year we did more of a zone press,” Hayfield head coach Kasey Krekling said. “With us going ten deep this year, we’re going, going, going. It really doesn’t matter who’s out there. We just want to play as fast as we can and get the other team tired.”
Hayfield had five players score at least nine points and eight different players scored at least once. Senior Kristen Watson, who is Hayfield’s all-time leading scorer, was the floor general as she posted 12 points, four steals, five rebounds and five assists.
Watson said it’s all about effort for the Vikings, who have taken fourth place in the past two Class A state girls basketball tournaments.
“It’s just repetition. We all rotate and we all work together as a well oiled machine,” Watson said. “We’re all really close and we do a lot of things outside of practice and school. We have a lot of fun together.”
Hayfield has eight seniors in total this season which gives the team a lot of depth. But that doesn’t mean the Vikings are taking it easy. In fact, they are going full speed for every second they are on the court.
“It’s a lot of commitment,” said senior Chelsea Christopherson, who had 11 points and five rebounds. “We have to be on our toes and be ready to go at all times. Conditioning plays a big part of it as well.”
Krekling has coached a lot of talented players in his tenure at Hayfield and this group may provide the most options he’s had.
“When our top ten are going against each other in practice, it is great basketball and sometimes us coaches just sit back and watch,” Krekling said. “We have seniors that have been here forever and we have the next seniors that have been waiting their turn and they want to show it.”
FBA 8 19 – 27
Hayfield 40 29 – 69
Hayfield scoring: Natalie Beaver, 13; Kristen Watson, 12; Betsy Gillette, 12; Chelsea Christopherson, 11; Emily Hansen, 9; Kenna Selk, 7; Lilly Beyer, 4; Jenna Christopherson, 3
