Hayfield Vikings claim 2nd straight Class A title

(ABC 6 News) – The Hayfield Vikings are now back-to-back Class A state champions.

The top-seeded Vikings (31-2) faced the No.2 seed Belgrade-Brooten-Elrosa Jaguars (28-4) on Championship Saturday at Williams Arena.

The defending Class A champions fell behind early in the 1st half, but a second-half comeback led by Isaac Matti’s 27 points helped the Vikings to secure their 2nd consecutive Class A state championship 51 to 49.

The Vikings scored their final seven points at the line, which started with the game tied at 44 with 2:16 to play.

It started when Zander Jacobson broke the tie with a free throw. After a scoreless stretch for about two minutes, Easton Fritcher, made two free throws to put Hayfield up 47-44.

Senior guard Kobe Foster followed with a huge steal seconds later and drained two free throws with 12.2 seconds left for a 49-44 lead.

After B-B-E hit a bucket with 8.2 seconds left, Ethan Pack was fouled. Pack sealed Hayfield’s win with two free throws with 3.7 seconds left to make the score 51-46. The Jaguars then hit a 3-pointer at the buzzer for the final two-point margin.