Hayfield Boys Basketball Defends it’s Way to Final Four

The Hayfield Vikings played quality man to man defense and had four players score in double figures today in a 62-43 win over Legacy Christian Academy at Rochester Mayo High School.  It was a quarterfinal round MSHSL Class A State Tournament game.

Legacy Christian was the #1 South seed.  Before the game Vikings Head Coach Chris Pack told KDHL he liked their chances if they held the Lions to 8 or fewer three point baskets.  They had 6 while Hayfield drained 8.

The game started with Legacy Christian jumping out to a 7-0 lead.  Hayfield looked nervous.  Coach Pack took a time out to settle them down.  The Vikings quickly took the lead thanks in large part to hot three point shooting by their leading scorer senior 6'3 Ethan Slaathaug.  Slaathaug hit the next three 3 point shot attempts.

Hayfield's largest lead of the first half was 11 which Legacy Christian whittled to a tie before the Vikings scored on a three point play to take a 27-24 halftime lead.

The difference in the game was clearly free throw shooting where the Vikings outscored the Lions 20-2.  Legacy Christian was 2 of 10 from the so-called charity stripe while Hayfield was 20 of 24.

Five different Vikings sank their free throws.  Four different Lions stood at the free throw line and only one was able to make any free throws.

Hayfield wratcheted up their defense in the second half while attacking the Legacy Christian zone with quick ball movement.  Junior 6'0 Easton Fritcher collected rebound after rebound recording his 12th double-double of the season.  He had 12 points.  I can't keep individual rebounds, or at least I don't but he had to have at least 15 of them in the game.

Slaathaug finished the game with 17 points, 13 in the first half.  Sophomore 6'2 Isaac Matti had 11 of his 18 points in the second half.

Sophomore 5'10 Ethan Pack added 10 second half points, 13 total.

The Lions came into the game averaging 75 points per game.  Two of their players scored double digits.  Senior 6'2 Trenton Harrison and senior 6'1 Harley Kendall with 10 points each.

Legacy Christian point guard senior 6'0 Jake Wald scored all 8 of his points in the first half.

Legacy Christian Academy is in Andover and was founded in 1976.  Head Coach Nathan Bellefeuille said he was proud of his team but Hayfield was the better team.  He tweeted after the game, "Hats off to Coach Pack and his Hayfield squad on a great win today.  First class Coach and first class program."

The Lions finished their season 20-2.

Hayfield is now 19-4.  The Vikings advance to the Class A Final Four where they will play the Badger/Greenbush-Middle River Gators Wednesday, April 7, 2021 at Noon in the Target Center downtown Minneapolis.

The #3 North seed Gators defeated #2 seed Deer River 58-52 in Pequot Lakes.  Badger/Greenbush-Middle River has a 20-3 record.

On the other side of the Class A bracket #4 North seed Hancock downed #1 North Nevis 57-50 in Perham.  #3 South seed Sleepy Eye St. Mary's outscored Central Minnesota Christian 86-73.

The Owls and Saints collide 10:00 a.m. at Target Center on April 7th.

In Class AA Quarterfinals action top South seed Waseca cruised by Morris Area/Chokio-Alberta 83-58 in Chanhassen while #3 North seed Fergus Falls advanced Tuesday night 47-44 in Alexandria.

The Bluejays play Wednesday, April 7, 2021 at 5:00 p.m. against Fergus Falls in Target Center.

#1 North seed Minneapolis North defeated Moose Lake/Willow River 71-40 in Osseo and Caledonia had their way with St. Croix Prep Academy 81-52.

That sets up a matchup between the Polars and Warriors at 2:00 p.m. Wednesday in Target Center in Minneapolis.

Class AAA Quarterfinals results included #4 South Byron hanging in there but losing to  Minnehaha Academy 75-63 in Hastings while #2 North DeLaSalle rolled up a 92-72 win over Hibbing.

#1 North Alexandria Area defeated Monticello 75-53 and #3 South Richfield ended Mankato West's season 67-63.

Alexandria, Richfield hook up 1:00 p.m. Thursday, April 8, 2021.  Minnehaha Academy and DeLaSalle to follow at 3:00 p.m.

In the biggest schools Class AAAA, #1 South seed Shakopee defeated Owatonna 62-49 in Hastings while Wayzata got by Duluth East 78-69 in Osseo.  The winners play Thursday, April 8, 2021 8:00 p.m. at Target Center.

#4 North Maple Grove upset #1 Champlin Park70-61 in overtime at Osseo High School.  Maple Grove has 9 losses and Champlin Park was undefeated.  Cretin-Derham Hall won a thriller over Rosemount 41-40 at East Ridge High School in Woodbury.

Maple Grove and Cretin-Derham Hall collide Thursday, April 8, 2021 6:00 p.m. at Target Center in Minneapolis.

Check these out.