State Boys Basketball: Hayfield holds off Hancock 61-60 to win state title

Tom Elliott, West Central Tribune, Willmar, Minn.
·2 min read

Apr. 12—MINNEAPOLIS — The Hayfield Vikings made their first state championship a memorable one by holding off the Hancock Owls 61-60 in the Class A final Saturday at Target Center.

It was the first boys basketball title for Hayfield in five state appearances.

Hayfield led 58-50 with 2:57 to go after Ethan Pack made two free throws.

With 49.4 seconds to go, Easton Fritcher made a single free throw to put the Vikings up 60-52.

With 41 seconds remaining, the Owls had whittled the lead down to 60-57 on a 3-pointer from Sebastian Felix. Felix came off the bench to score 13 points, including going 3-for-6 from 3-point range. That was the past of a 5-0 mini run for Hancock.

The Owls had a chance to tie the score on a jump ball when the possession area pointed their way with 22.1 seconds to go.

Hancock then turned the ball over. Off the turnover, the Owls stole the in-bounds pass by Hayfield. After a missed shot, Fritcher was fouled on the rebound and made another free throw to make it 61-57 with 5.7 seconds left.

Kody Berget then hit a 3-pointer for Hancock as time expired.

Ethan Slaathaug scored 20 points and Fritcher added 13 for Hayfield.

Hancock got 18 points and 12 rebounds from Matt Thompson. Brandon Kellenberger added 10 points for the Owls, who also got eight assists from Preston Rohloff.

Hancock was attempting to win its first state championship since 1997, when it beat Wabasso 60-58 for the Class A title. The Owls also appeared in the state tournament in 1922, '23, '98 and 2003.

Hayfield 61,

Hancock 60

Hancock (19-6) 31 29 — 60

Hayfield (21-4) 39 22 — 61

HANCOCK — Scoring: Brandon Kellenberger 10, Matt Thompson 18, Kody Berget 6, Preston Rohloff 4, Adam Shaw 5, Luke Joos 4, Sebastian Felix 13 ... 3-point shots: Kellenberger 1-1, Thompson 3-4, Berget 2-3, Shaw 1-2, Felix 3-6 ... Rebound leader: Thompson 12, Rohloff 5 ... Assist leaders: Rohloff 8, Thompson 4 ... Steal leaders: Kellenberger 3, Thompson 3 ... Block leader: none.

HAYFIELD — Scoring: Easton Fritcher 13, Isaac Matti 7, Ethan Pack 9, Kobe Foster 12, Ethan Slaathaug 20, Lucas Hansen 0 ... 3-point shots:Fritcher 1-1, Matti 1-5r, Pack 1-3, Foster 4-5, Slaathaug 1-1 ... Rebound leader: Fritcher 7 ... Assist leaders: Fritcher 3, Matti 3, Pack 3, Slaathaug 3 ... Steal leader: Slaathaug 4 ... Block leader: Slaathaug 1

State finals

(at Target Center, Minneapolis)

Class A

Hayfield 61, Hancock 60

Class AA

Waseca 51, Caledonia 49

Class AAA

Minnehaha Academy 80, Alexandria 29

Class AAAA

Wayzata 75, Cretin-Derham Hall 61