High powered Rustlers trample Blue Pony boys

Facing the Class AA CMR Rustlers isn't easy for anybody. But on Thursday night the Central A Havre High boys basketball team found out just how daunting of a task that really is. Hosting the Rustlers at the Havre High gymnasium, the Blue Ponies suffered a 71-17 non-onference loss. "CMR is just a good team," Havre High head coach Andy Smith said. "I don't know what we could have done to make it any closer." The game belonged to the Rustlers from the opening tip. And after the first quarter they held a prominent 23-4 lead. The Ponies' Anfernee Standing Rock accounted for the first quarter scoring on two field goals for HHS. And it didn't get any easier for the Ponies in the second quarter. HHS was outscored 21-5, and trailed 44-9 at the half. Ryan Myers and Logan Connor combined for the five points while the offensive struggles continued for the Ponies. In the first half the Ponies were 4-of-24 from the field and 1-of-6 from behind the 3-point arc for a combined 16.7 percent. CMR was 19-of-27 from the field for 70.4 percent shooting, and 3-of-6 from behind the 3-point line. The Rustlers were also 3-of-4 from the freethrow- line. "We didn't shoot very well," Smith said. "But their defense had a lot to do with that. We only get one shot each possession, they limit you to one shot every time." In the second half the offensive production improved for the Ponies, but not by much. They were 3-of-14 from the field for 21 percent and 1-of-3 from three for 33.3 percent. For the game the Ponies were 7-of- 38 from the field for 18 percent, while the Rustlers shot 30-of-45 for and astounding 66.7 percent. "Every one of their (CMR) guys was stroking it," Smith said. "Every guy that shot it looked good." In the third quarter the Ponies scored three points on a Connor trey, and in the fourth Gray put up Havre's only five points on one field goal and 3-of-4 shooting from the foul line. The Rustlers put up 27 points in the second half as they rolled to a dominating non-conference victory. Overall the Pony offense was led by Connor who put six points on two three's. Gray added five, while Standing Rock added four and Myers two. Josh Huestis led the Rustlers with 15 points and Payton Skawinski followed with 13. Overall the Rustlers had 11 scorers in the books. With the loss Thursday night, the Ponies remained 3-4 in conference play, but dropped to 6-7 overall. And on Saturday the Ponies will travel to Great Falls where they will face the GFH Bison at 4:30 p.m.