It was cold outside. And for the visiting Hastings Raiders it was mighty cold inside. For the host Park Wolfpack, however things are starting to heat up.

Park held the Raiders to just seven points in the first half en route to a convincing 39-28 victory Tuesday, Dec. 20. It was Park’s second straight win after a disappointing 0-4 start.

“I think our defense in the first half was definitely over the top,” said junior guard Tori Henderson. “Holding them to seven points which is crazy in a high school game. I think we talked a lot. I think we were together as a team, and I think that helped a lot.”

That cold start to the season now seems a thing in the rear-view mirror.

“I wish we could redo it,” said Henderson. “We’re definitely closer as a team, on and off the court now and we’re just family on the court now.

Hastings came into the game 3-3, including a twopoint win over a Burnsville team that earlier had topped Park 53-41. But that Park team was nowhere to be seen Tuesday.

Instead, the Wolfpack put on a defensive clinic against the visitors, forcing them into bad shots, creating turnovers and romping to a 22-7 halftime lead.

“I think we started off very strong,” said senior guard Edie Walton. “We’re putting two halves together finally and that’s like a big thing for us. So, I think just putting two halves together every day is going to benefit us and keep us going. We worked hard the whole night.”

Henderson scored 16 points to lead the Wolfpack offensively. No other Park player had more than five points, but seven players scored.

Park (1-3, 2-4) plays in the South St. Paul High School Holiday Tournament this week.