Vikings show growth as Hayfield tops Kenyon-Wanamingo in boys basketball tourney
Published 12:18 am Tuesday, December 30, 2014
HAYFIELD —The Hayfield boys basketball team started this season with very little experience, but its taking steps towards improving as the year goes along.
Hayfield’s Cam Rutledge attacks the hoop against Kenyon-Wanamingo in Hayfield Monday. — Rocky Hulne/sports@austindailyherald.com
When the Vikings played at Kenyon-Wanamingo Dec. 12, they had to sweat out a 42-38 win. When they hosted KW in the Hayfield Holiday tournament Monday, the Vikings cruised to a 56-41 win.
“It was the same script as the first one,” Hayfield head coach Chris Pack said. “We made a nice run in the middle of the first half to build a lead and we built it into double digits in the second half. The difference is last time they came back and this time we did a better job of protecting our lead.”
Hayfield senior Cam Rutledge helped the Vikings (5-5 overall, 4-3 HVL) pull away in the second half. He converted a four-point play to put his team up 40-29 with 10:05 left and he finished a lay-up and free throw to put Hayfield up 49-36 with 5:04 left in the game. Rutledge finished with 23 points and four assists.
“At the end of the first half I started hitting shots and going into the second half I felt like it was lights out,” Rutledge said. “Nobody could guard me and I just tried to get to the rim and help out the team.”
The Knights (3-7 overall, 1-5 HVL) took a 7-4 lead to open the game, but Hayfield scored the next nine points and it led for the rest of the game. Aaron Anderson had 14 points in the win for Hayfield and Taylor Ausrud had 10 rebounds.
Hayfield head coach Chris Pack said his team is starting to sort out everybody’s roles.
“Cam’s going to get the bulk of our shots and Aaron’s certainly stepped up as our second scorer,” Pack said. “Taylor’s always there as a scorer and Adam Younge and Trace Tebay are really coming into their own as far as knowing when to attack and when not to.”
Anderson said that the games have become a little less scary as the team gains more experience.
“We were kind of nervous for the first couple of games, but then we got over it,” he said. “We’re trying to get better now.”
Hayfield’s Aaron Anderson goes up for a shot against KW’s Eric Hokanson in Hayfield Monday. — Rocky Hulne/sports@austindailyherald.com
Hayfield will host Tri City United in the tournament title game in Hayfield Tuesday at 7:30 p.m.
KW 19 22 — 41
Hayfield 25 31 — 56
Hayfield scoring: Cam Rutledge, 23; Aaron Anderson, 14; Adam Younge, 9; Trace Tebay, 5; August Ducharme, 2; Taylor Ausrud, 2; free throws: 69 percent (9-for-13); rebounds: 25 (Ausrud, 10); turnovers: 6