Words by Skylar Lara | Images by Justin Hunter
On Friday night, the Jasper Vikings and the Hayden Wildcats went head-to-head for a region matchup at Carl Cannon Coliseum. It was a game characterized by intense defensive play, but in the end, the Jasper Vikings emerged victorious, improving their record to 16-4 for the year.
After the opening tip-off, Jasper’s Miller Moody made a quick move and scored the game’s first points. The Hayden Wildcats responded with a strong start, hitting a three-point shot and making a deflection. The game got off to a great start, with both teams playing hard defense and trying to gain an edge. Jasper got into a full-court press, which helped them create some momentum. They made significant cuts toward the goal, and the crowd erupted with excitement as they scored multiple times. Hayden was a scrappy team with some size, which presented a challenge for Jasper. The Vikings continued to amplify the defensive pressure, and as the first quarter ended, Jasper took the lead with a score of 20-14.
As the second quarter started, the Vikings showcased their athleticism when Caden Steiner snatched the ball out of a Hayden player’s fingertips and drove it down the court, slamming it with a resounding dunk. The crowd erupted into cheers as Jasper continued to amplify their defensive pressure, resulting in a flurry of steals and fast break layups. With just four minutes remaining until halftime, Jasper had pulled ahead by ten points, maintaining their control of the game. Jasper held a commanding lead of 35-27 as the halftime buzzer sounded.
As the second half began, Jasper was like a swarm of bees on defense, making it difficult for Hayden to establish any offensive presence. With each missed shot and lost possession, Hayden’s energy slowly began to drain away, while Jasper’s confidence and momentum only grew stronger. The Vikings’ dominance was especially evident in how they grabbed second-chance shots and offensive rebounds. Meanwhile, Hayden had their chances to make shots and get back in the game, but they couldn’t seem to find their footing. As the game headed into the fourth quarter, Jasper had built up an impressive 21-point lead, leaving Hayden struggling to keep up. With each passing minute, it seemed more and more likely that Jasper would emerge victorious.
During the fourth quarter, Hayden was falling behind, so they began to concentrate on making three-pointers to catch up. Meanwhile, as they did throughout the game, Jasper constantly attacked the rim and passed the ball inside to Miller Moody. As the game drew to a close, Jasper opted to take the starters off the court, and the Vikings emerged victorious with a 68-52 win.
During the intense game between Hayden and Jasper, the Vikings put up a good fight, with Clayton Thorne leading the team in scoring with 15 points, Caden Steiner adding 11 points, and Miller Moody delivering 14 points. Ethan Thorne and Braylen Johnson also played a vital role in the game by making smart passes, getting steals, and playing hard. The court was alive with energy as both teams battled it out. In the end, despite their best efforts, Hayden received their 8th loss of the season. On the other hand, Jasper emerges victorious with a 16-4 record on the year and 1-1 in the region play.
The Vikings are set to confront Hayden again in a road game scheduled for Friday, January 19. Following that, they will go head-to-head with Ramsay in an area game hosted at Ramsay on Saturday, January 20. WL
