Chris Peterson
Havre Daily News
cpeterson@havredailynews.com
This weekend marked the end to the regular season for the Havre High boys and girls tennis teams.
If Saturday were any indication of how the Blue Ponies will do in the postseason, then both HHS team appear headed for some divisional tournament success.
On Saturday at the Lewistown Invitational, the Havre High girls tennis team went 4-1 in dual action and the HHS boys went 3-1. Despite coming home with a pair of defeats in dual action, HHS head coach George Ferguson was pleased with how his team performed.
“I think the most important thing is how we played this weekend, not wins and losses,” Ferguson said. “And the girls played really well from start to finish. We lost very few matches all day and the ones we did lose were very, very close. So the girls team is right where I hoped they would be at this point.
“I also think the boys team played well, and even though we were 5-0 last week and 3-1 this week, I think we played better tennis this week,” he added.
The Havre High girls team was especially sharp on Saturday, losing just six times in 32 matches. Four of those losses came at the hands of Central A rival Livingston.
Havre lost all four singles matches, and the 4-3 defeat to Livingston was the Havre High girl's first dual loss to a Class A opponent in almost three years. Ferguson said things aren't quite as they seem.
“We were very close to things being as good as 5-2 in our favor,” Ferguson said. “Katie Mariani and Haley McLain both lost in tiebreakers and we dominated the doubles portion of the dual. So I think we are right there with Livingston.”
Before the loss to Livingston, Havre cruised to a 6-1 win over Hardin, a 7-0 defeat of Butte Central and a 6-1 thumping of 2005 Class A state champion Dillon. Havre also followed the loss to Livingston with a 7-0 win over Anaconda. The win over Dillon was the second in as many weeks for the Ponies.
In singles, Mariani went 3-2 at the very difficult No. 1 spot and McLain went 4-1. Freshman Hope Hedges went 4-1, as did senior Jocelyn Chagnon. Havre's doubles teams are becoming more dominant every week as evidenced by the Ponies' 14-1 record in doubles on Saturday. The only blemish on the HHS girls' doubles record this weekend came against Dillon. The Beavers No. 1 team of Eve Xanthopolous and Theresa Bennett defeated Keelie Solomon and Steph Flatau for the second straight week. Havre's No. 2 team of Karissa Olson and Alexa Lipp were rarely tested this weekend, and the No. 3 tandem of Kari Gorder and Kristi Hollingshead completely dominated all five of its opponents.
“I was more than pleased with how the girls played,” Ferguson said. “And the few losses we did have this weekend, we still played extremely well in those matches. And we're going to get a chance to avenge all of those losses over the next two weeks, too.”
The only downside to the HHS boys' day in Lewistown was its 4-3 loss to Hardin to start the tournament. The Bulldogs' defeat of Havre was the Ponies' first dual loss to a Class A opponent Ferguson could remember.
“We knew coming in that Hardin had a strong team, and we only beat them 4-3 last week in Billings,” Ferguson said. “It was disappointing, because we lost a few matches that we won in last week's dual. We just weren't ready to play, in my opinion, and that is something we have to get corrected, because we are going to have plenty of 8 a.m. matches at divisionals.
“But I also thought our kids bounced back really well,” he added. “I think we only lost one match the rest of the day, so the kids definitely pulled it together and played very well.”
After the loss to Hardin, Havre defeated Butte Central 6-1 and Livingston and Lewistown by scores of 7-0.
Havre got an outstanding day from senior Scott Miller and freshman Mason Sheppard, with both players going undefeated in singles. Senior Chase Castloo and freshman Shane Kemmer both lost just once each.
In doubles, the Ponies' No. 1 team of John Christian and Billy Wagner bounced back from a disappointing loss to Hardin by defeating Lewistown's Matt and Stephen Gruener for the second straight week. Havre's No. 2 team of Ryan Kinholt and Todd Roe and its No. 3 team of Jordan Croft and David Zentmire both lost just one match apiece on the day.
“John and Billy's win over the Gruener brothers was very close again,” Ferguson said. “Those four have battled it out two straight matches now, and I am happy for our guys that they were able to come back and win another close match.
“I am happy that our boys team played well this weekend, because we had been pretty inconsistent ,” Ferguson added. “On Saturday, I saw a little more consistency from match to match, and I think that with a good three days of practice, our boys team will be right in the hunt at the divisional tournament.”
Both Havre High tennis teams will head back to Lewistown on Thursday for the 2006 Central A Divisional tournament. The tournament begins Friday morning and runs through Saturday afternoon.
Lewistown Invitational
Girls
Havre 6, Hardin 1
Singles
Kassie Hodges, HAR def. Katie Mariani, HAV, 8-5; Haley McLain, HAV def. Maggie Joyce, HAR, 8-3; Hope Hedges, HAV def. Sarah Pretty Weasel, HAR, 8-1; Jocelyn Chagnon, HAV def. Marcy Whitmenan, HAR, 8-1.
Doubles
Keelie Solomon/Steph Flatau, HAV def. Courtney Linsey, HAR, 8-1; Alexa Lipp/Karissa Olson, HAV def. Jessica Hores/Darcy Lorske, HAR, 8-2; Kari Gorder/Kristi Hollingshead, HAV def. Arlee Schnider/NA, 8-1.
Havre 7, Butte Central 0
Singles
Katie Mariani, HAV def. Kimi Burt, BC, 8-0; Haley McLain, HAV def. Haley Cofe, BC, 8-1; Hope Hedges won by forfeit, def. Abby Knabb, LEW, 8-3 (Exibition); Jocelyn Chagnon won by forfeit, def. Ali Spika, LEW, 8-2 (Exhibition).
Doubles
Keelie Solomon/Steph Flatau, HAV def. Birttani Weed/Kayla Cox, BC, 8-1; Alexa Lipp/Karissa Olson, HAV def. Megan Sidoway/Alli Kling, BC, 8-1; Kari Gorder/Kristi Hollingshead, HAV def. Chrissy Panfoja/Ashlea Ardwald, BC, 8-1.
Havre 6, Dillon 1
Singles
Katie Mariani, HAV def. Katherine Bonnin, DIL, 8-1; Haley McLain, HAV def. Stacey Velasces, DIL, 8-1; Hope Hedges, HAV def. Rosie Guiterriz, DIL, 8-3; Jocelyn Chagnon, HAV def. Anna Brammer, DIL, 8-5.
Doubles
Eve Xanthopolous/Theresa Bennett, DIL def. Steph Flatau/Keelie Solomon, HAV, 8-3; Alexa Lipp/Karissa Olson, HAV def. Samantha Cypher/Shannon Judge, DIL, 8-3; Kari Gorder/Kristi Hollingshead, HAV def. Lydia Decker/Sammi Mitchell, DIL, 8-2.
Livingston 4, Havre 3
Singles
Anna Arrasmith, LIV def. Katie Mariani, HAV, 8-7 (7-2); Serena Morrow, LIV def. Haley McLain, HAV, 8-7 (10-8); Hanna Barney, LIV def. Hope Hedges, HAV, 8-2; Megan Chappen, LIV def. Jocelyn Chagnon, HAV, 8-5.
Doubles
Steph Flatau/Keelie Solomon, HAV def. Eliz Hancock/Hanna Gertiser, LIV, 8-1; Alexa Lipp/Karissa Olson, HAV def. Jennifer Wesen/Amanda Hoover, 8-5; Kari Gorder/Kristi Hollingshead def. Sara Meyer/NA, 8-5.
Havre 7, Anaconda 0
Singles
Katie Mariani, HAV def. Jordan Cook, ANA, 8-0; Haley McLain, HAV def. April Copp, ANA, 8-3; Hope Hedges, HAV def. Jamie Janshes, ANA, 8-1, Jocelyn Chagnon, HAV def. Samor Pemackis, ANA, 8-5.
Doubles
Keelie Solomon/Steph Flatau, HAV def. Kalyn Johnston/Jackie Smith, ANA, 8-0; Alexa Lipp/Karissa Olson, HAV def. Amerlyn Dial/Jamie Stuart, ANA, 8-0; Kari Gorder/Kristi Hollingshead, HAV def. Chrstie River/Jessica Merly, ANA, 8-1.
Boys
Hardin 4, Havre 3
Singles
Robbie Sekoyra, HAR def. Chase Castloo, HAV, 8-3; Florrian Roos, HAR def. Shane Kemmer, HAV, 8-6; Scott Miller, HAV def. Jacob Wane-Wilson, HAR, 8-6; Mason Sheppard, HAV def. Sean Pretty Weasel, HAR, 8-1.
Doubles
Josh Hyde/Kole Passey, HAR def. John Christian/Billy Wagner, HAV, 8-4; Jacob Couch/Josiah Mortesk, HAR def. Ryan Kinholt/Todd Roe, HAV, 8-2; Jordan Croft/David Zentmire, HAV def. Chance Johnson/Alex Will, HAR, 8-7 (7-5).
Havre 7, Butte Central 0
Singles
Chase Castloo, HAV def. Dan Markovich, BC, 8-2; Shane Kemmer, HAV def. Velvie, BC, 8-0; Scott Miller, HAV def. JD Hollard, BC, 8-1; Mason Sheppard, HAV def. Alex Murphy, 8-1.
Doubles
John Christian/Billy Wagner, HAV def. Adam Fine/Zach Bair, BC, 8-4, Ryan Kinholt/Todd Roe, HAV def. Nathan Decker/Steve Kanbrek, Jordan Croft/David Zentmire won by default.
Havre 7, Livingston 0
Singles
Chase Castloo, HAV def. Peter DeBoer, LIV, 8-2; Shane Kemmer, HAV def. Gabe Prtichett, LIV, 8-2; Scott Miller, HAV def. Chazz Goodwine, LIV, 8-1; Mason Sheppard, HAV def. Joshua Chavez, LIV, 8-0.
Doubles
John Christian/Billy Wagner, HAV won by forfeit; Ryan Kinholt/Todd Roe, HAV def. Adam Goetz/Michael Jacobsen, LIV, 8-2; Jordan Croft/David Zentmire, HAV def. Trevor Femah/Jake Brueh, LIV, 8-0.
Havre 7, Lewistown 0
Singles
Chase Castloo def. Branden Hemseth, LEW, 8-3; Shane Kemmer, HAV def, Shane Parker, LEW, 8-3; Scott Miller def. Cameron McCleery, LEW, 8-0; Mason Sheppard def. Justin Hartford, LEW, 8-4.
Doubles
John Christian/Billy Wagner, HAV def. Stephen Gruener/Matt Gruener, LEW, 8-7 (7-4); Ryan Kinholt/Todd Roe, HAV def. Levi Driskell/Shane Emerson, LEW, 8-2; Jordan Croft/David Zentmire, HAV def. Dale Walker/Drew Levin, LEW, 8-1.
