Browning runs by Pony boys

It would have been a great accomplishment for the Havre High boys basketball team to end the regular season with win.

But instead, the Central A Ponies will have to continue to improve, and get ready for the Central A Divisional tournament later this week.

Havre High's Ramsey Drew, right, lays up a score during the Blue Ponies' regular season finale against Browning Saturday night at the Havre Central Gym.

Saturday night the Ponies hosted the league leading Browning Indians at the Havre Central Gym. But trying to grab a third win in the conference, the Ponies couldn't get past the Indians. Browning defeated the Ponies 75-46, giving the Ponies the No. 4 seed and a 2-6 league record.

But the Ponies played well to start the game, and were on their way to challenge the No. 1 Indians.

HHS senior Thurman Holdsclaw, right, scores two of his 17 points in Saturday night's loss to Browning at the Havre Central Gym.

Both teams posted 16 points in the first eight minutes, a great showing by the Ponies. And to start the second half, the Ponies found themselves tied up at 22-22. But from there, the game belonged to the Indians as they outscored the Ponies 24-8 in the frame and took a 40-24 lead into the third quarter. The Indians continued to run past the Ponies, outscoring HHS 19-6 in the third. Both teams scored 16 in the fourth quarter.

"We slowed it down and got a lot of shots inside the paint to start," Havre High head coach Curt Leeds said. "We passed the ball around very well and we found the open guys beneath the hoop. We took a good step towards that (a complete game) against Browning. But we got away from our shots in the paint and settled for jump shots later in the game. Those jump shots turned into long rebounds and into layups for Browning."

Havre's Kade Rismon, left, looks to make a move during Saturday night's Central A game at Havre Central.

George Hall did the most damage for the Indians, scoring 14 points on the Ponies, but 11 kids got in on the scoring action for Browning. For Havre, they got their best scoring from Thurman Holdsclaw with 17 points. Kade Rismon added 14 and Dane Warp added 10.

Headed to the Central A in Great Falls, the Ponies will play the No. 5 seeded Livingston Rangers on Thursday night at 8 p.m.

Browning 75, Havre 46

Browning 16 24 19 16 – 75

Havre 16 8 6 16 – 46

Browning – Dan Hall 6, Isaac McKay 10, Wyatt Mad Plume 2, George Hall 14, Clarence McNabb 8, Jare Bell 6, Trevor Gray 4, Emmette Dusty Bull 4, DeeJay Lazyboy 13, Jalen Croff 2, Sam Croff 6. Totals: 30 6-12.

Havre – Nate Rismon 3, Dane Warp 10, Brian Smith 2, Thurman Holdsclaw 17, Kade Rismon 14. Totals: 20 5-10.

Total fouls: Browning 15, Havre 14. Fouled out: None. Three pointers: McKay 1, G. Hall 1, McNabb 2, Lazyboy 3, S. Croff 2, N. Rismon 1.