Boys hoops splits pair

• Hudson senior Max Hawksford

Hudson senior Max Hawksford gets off a left-handed floater in the lane for two of his seven points in the Raiders’ 48-38 loss to Edina, Minn., last Tuesday at the high school gym. Photo by Bob Burrows

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Following a 48-38 nonconference loss at home to Edina, Minn. last Tuesday, Jan. 24, the Raider boys’ basketball team went on the road and posted a 46-43 Big Rivers Conference victory over Eau Claire Memorial Friday to improve to 4-3 in conference play.

Hudson, now 9-5 overall, will visit Menomonie (5-3, 8-7) Thursday, Feb. 2 before returning home to host River Falls (4-4, 6-9) Saturday, Feb. 4 at 7:30 p.m. They’ll hit the road for a nonconference game Monday, Feb. 6, at Woodbury.

Last Friday in Eau Claire, Alex Herink hit two free throws with 36 seconds remaining to give the Raiders a one-point lead, and Kellen Pearson sealed the win with a pair of free throws with four seconds left as the Raiders picked up a 46-43 victory over the Old Abes.

Hudson, who trailed 24-21 at halftime, went on a 15-5 third quarter run to take a 36-29 lead with one quarter remaining and led 42-37 with 2 minutes, 37 seconds to play. But the Old Abes went on a 6-0 run to take a one-point lead, 43-42, with 1:14 on the clock.

“We were not able to convert on free throws down the stretch and let Eau Claire Memorial back in the game,” Raider coach Jason Swavely said. “We were 12-of-28 from the free throw line until Herink and Pearson both went 2-for-2 with under a minute to solidify the victory. Our guys battled to the end and we were fortunate to leave Eau Claire Memorial with a victory.”

Herink finished with 24 points and 12 rebounds as the Raiders outrebounded the Old Abes, 33-26. Hudson also forced 19 Memorial turnovers, 11 in the second half.

“We take pride in playing tough, disciplined defense and we let that get away from us in the first half,” Swavely said. “We re-established that in the third quarter. Our challenge was our ability to have a perimeter-post scoring balance. Herink played well inside and was tough to stop. Our guys did a great job of finding him inside.”

Pearson contributed 10 points in the victory and Ethan Stanchik finished with six while Jordan Delao scored three, Luke Miller had two and Joe Kelly added one.

Last Tuesday at home against Edina, the Raiders fell behind by nine at halftime, 28-19, before playing the Hornets even in the second half of a 48-38 defeat. The win was Edina’s 12th straight as they improved to 14-4 overall.

“We never really got on track from the start of this game offensively,” Swavely said. “We got out to an early lead and then gave that back midway through quarter one. Edina did a nice job defensively in the half court and made it tough for our guys to get off uncontested shots. Our guys played hard but in the end we were not able to convert on the offensive end to get us over the hump.” 

Herink led Hudson with 14 points and Max Hawksford added seven while Delao scored six, Stef Smith had five, and Pearson, Stanchik and Miles Lewis finished with two apiece.

“Playing teams like Edina will help us become a better team and realize what we need to do night after night to become the best we can become,” Swavely said.

Tags: sports, basketball, raiders, prep