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Hayfield too much for Badger/Greenbush-Middle River

By Joel Rippel, Star Tribune, 04/07/21, 1:30PM CDT

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Led by senior Ethan Slaathaug's 34 points, the Vikings advanced to the Class 1A championshp game with a 79-53 victory.


Hayfield's Easton Fritcher, right, and Isaac Matti, left, hustled for a rebound in the first half against Badger-Greenbush-Middle River on Wednesday at Target Center. Photo: ELIZABETH FLORES • liz.flores@startribune.com

Hayfield shot 53% from the field — 62 % in the second half — in the Class 1A semifinals on Wednesday at Target Center, but it was the Vikings’ defense that determined the outcome of the game.

The Vikings had 16 steals and forced 20 turnovers to earn a 79-53 victory over Badger/Greenbush-Middle River to advance to a state championship game for the first time since 2001.

“We really stressed that we had to pressure their guards,” Hayfield coach Chris Pack said, “to take away their post feeds. I thought we did a great job.”

In the first half, the Vikings scored 19 points off of turnovers and built a 38-26 lead at halftime. 

Leading by nine early in the second half, the Vikings used a 13-0 run to open a 22-point lead with 11 minutes left.

Ethan Slaathaug, the only senior in the Vikings’ starting lineup, scored 34 points — 20 in the first half — to lead the Vikings. Slaathaug, a 6-3 guard, is averaging 25.7 points per game.

Isaac Matti scored 22 points — 15 in the second half — and Ethan Pack contributed 11 points and five steals for the Vikings.

Kobey Dallager scored 14 points and Adam Benke scored 13 to lead the Gators (20-4).

“Slaathaug really opened things up for them,” Gators coach Kent Christian said, “and they really did a good job of pressuring us. We had some good looks inside, but hats off to Hayfield. I’m real proud of our team.”

First report

Senior Ethan Slaathaug scored 34 points -- 20 in the first half -- to spark Hayfield to a 79-53 victory over Badger/Greenbush-Middle River in a Class 1A semifinal on Wednesday at Target Center.

The Vikings (20-4), making their first tournament appearance since 2013, advanced to a state championship game for the first time since 2001.

Leading by nine early in the second half, the Vikings used a 13-0 run to open a 22-point lead with 11 minutes left.

Kobey Dallager scored 14 to lead the Gators (20-4).

Fueled by 12 consecutive points from Slaathaug, the Vikings opened an 18-7 lead midway through the first half.

But the Gators responded with a 16-8 run to pull within 26-23 with 3:20 left in the half.

Hayfield closed out the first half with a 12-3 run to build a 38-26 lead at the intermission.

Check back later for more on the game.

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