Update: Raider boys streak to sixth straight basketball win
Kellen Pearson accounted for half of Hudson’s point total as the Raider boys’ basketball team won its sixth straight game, 64-53, Friday night in River Falls.By: Bob Burrows, Hudson Star-Observer
- Raider fans
- Kellen Pearson fakes out a River Falls defender
- Alex Herink makes a strong move on his way to scoring 17 points
The Raider boys’ basketball team won two more games last week to extend its winning streak to six straight and improve to 7-2 overall.
Hudson defeated Red Wing, 66-59, at home last Tuesday before posting a 64-53 Big Rivers Conference win Friday in River Falls.
Senior Kellen Pearson led the Raiders in scoring in both wins, pouring in 23 points against Red Wing and erupting for 32 against the Wildcats.
“When you have a guy like Kellen, who can shoot from the perimeter, drive to the basket and play strong in the post, it’s tough to defend him,” Raider coach Jason Swavely said. “He’s a quiet leader; he’s not real vocal but the guys feed off him.”
Pearson accounted for all nine Raider points during a 9-2 run at the end of the first half, including a three-pointer at the buzzer, to send Hudson into the locker room with a 34-25 lead. It was one of five three-pointers on the night for the senior forward.
The closest River Falls could get in the second half was within five, 47-42, with 1:30 remaining in the third quarter. Pearson hit a baseline jumper and a put-back to extend the Raider lead back to nine, 51-42, at the end of three.
River Falls got as close as seven, 56-49, with 2:10 remaining, but a free throw by Pearson, a put-back by Max Hawksford and three more Pearson free throws gave the Raiders their biggest lead of the game, 61-49, with 1:07 to play.
Alex Herink contributed 17 points in the victory while Jordan Delao hit a pair of three-pointers and finished with six points. Luke Miller chipped in four points and Hawksford had three while Ethan Stanchik finished with two.
Last Tuesday at home against Red Wing, Pearson scored 23 points and Herink added 16 in a 66-59 Raider win.
Hudson controlled the game from the start, opening up leads of 20-13 at the end of one and 37-28 at halftime.
“I felt like we got off to a good start,” Swavely said. “We struggled at the free throw line a little bit in the fourth quarter, but in both games last week, Red Wing and River Falls would go on a little run and we would match it.”
Stanchik contributed nine points in Tuesday’s win while Miller, Hawksford and Miles Lewis finished with six points each. Hudson hit 17-of-31 free throw attempts compared to 7-of-10 for the Wingers.
Swavely said the team’s defense has improved as the season has progressed.
“I think our defense has gotten a lot better in the last month,” he said. “That’s a testament to the work they do every day in practice.”
After hosting Rice Lake (3-0, 9-1) this past Tuesday, Jan. 10, the Raiders will visit Eau Claire North (0-3, 0-10) Friday night, Jan. 13.
Tags: sports, raiders, basketball, prep
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