Havre High hoopsters play short but win big

The good thing about having six players is you don't have to worry about fighting over playing time.

Six basketball players from Havre High School played a little iron-man basketball, capturing the Boys 15-17 basketball title at the Big Sky State games in Billings.

Juniors Jeremy Giardina, Logan Grant and Jared Weigel along with seniors Coda Tchida, Tyson Parman and Tyler Hedalen shook off fatigue, lack of depth and lack of a coach to win the title, defeating a team from Billings Skyview 41-32 to win the championship.

It was a stark contrast in the championship game with Havre sporting six players and Skyview suiting up 12 players and a pair of coaches for the game.

Still, Havre scrapped its way to the win even after losing Hedalen for a portion of the game with an injury. After Skyview jumped out to an early lead, Havre rallied after Hedalen went down with a knee injury. After regaining the lead and getting Hedalen back, Havre withstood some suffocating full-court pressure and waves of fresh bodies to hold on to the title.

Havre opened Big Sky state play with a first-round bye before facing Billings West in the quarterfinals. After losing to the same squad last year, Havre rolled to a 46-37 win.

In the semifinals, Havre outlasted a very physical Billings Senior team with a 60-47 win. Thanks to some solid defense and a patient but effective offense, Havre advanced to the title game where it completed the sweep of the Billings schools for the win.

Several of the same members of the Big Sky State squad along with several other Pony players attended a team camp with new head coach John Barnhorst at Washington State University earlier this month and finished with some excellent results.

The team of Hedalen, Parman, Weigel, Giardina, Grant, Marc Mariani, Scott Miller, Michael Barton, Tanner Veis and Josh Lowe finished 9-1 in pool play with their only loss coming to Class B Fairfield. The Ponies later avenged the loss in pool play with a 50-38 win.

In the single elimination tournament held at the end of the camp, Havre defeated Walla Walla High School, 35-23, in the first round before falling to Fairfield again 45-43

Pool Play Results

Fairfield def. Havre 35-23

Havre def. Willipe Valley School 75-50

Havre def. Yelm High School 70-48

Havre def. Pullman High School 43-34

Havre def. Kamiak High School 45-41

Havre def. Walla Walla 48-33

Havre def. Peninsula High School 59-46

Havre def. Enumclaw High School 34-30

Havre def. Fairfield High School 50-38

Havre def. Snohomish High School 72-55

Tournament:

Havre def. Walla Walla High School 35-23

Fairfield def. Havre 45-43