Hi-Line Athlete Profile: Kade Rismon, Havre High Basketball

Standing at 6-3, junior Kade Rismon knows he isn't one of the biggest post players in the state. But that hasn't stopped the Havre High big man from steadily improving from his freshman season, and quickly becoming one of the top Blue Pony players this year.

Havre junior Kade Rismon, right, shoots over a Belgrade defender during a Central A boys basketball game last month in Havre. Rismon is in his third year of varsity basketball, and he will look to help the Blue Ponies have a successful Central A tournament this weekend in Great Falls.

Rismon is in his third season with the Havre High basketball team. But he was also a freshman and junior varsity quarterback as a sophomore for the Ponies before walking away from the gridiron to focus on his love of basketball. And his athleticism doesn't stop there, as Rismon is also a varsity track star. Rismon has thrown the discus, javelin, and shot put for the Ponies for the last two seasons and plans to do so again for the next two season. He is still trying to put his stamp on Havre High athletics, but is also getting the job done in the classroom. Rismon has a GPA of 3.8 and has earned Academic All State honors each year.

Since his freshman season, Rismon has put in the effort to turn into a varsity star for the Ponies.

This year Rismon is shooting nearly 51 percent from two point range. He has also knocked down two of his three 3-point attempts for 66 percent. Rismon is also shooting 70 percent from the charity stripe, while also leading the team in rebounds with nearly seven boards per game. He ahs also totaled 24 steals, 27 assists, and four blocks this season.

And now that the regular season is over, Rismon and the rest of the Ponies have a shot at solid run in to the postseason. Finishing as the No. 4 team in the Central A, the Ponies will face Livingston on Thursday night at the Central A divisional tournament in Great Falls.

HDN: How has it been playing with such a young team this season?

Rismon: "It has been good, there has been a lot of building. But it has been fun, and hopefully next season we can come out knowing how to play with each other. It took a couple of weeks before we really figured out how each other played this season."

HDN: Do you feel the team is entering the postseason playing their best basketball? What has improved the most?

Rismon: "Yeah we have definitely gotten a lot better, especially on defense. Our offense has also executed a lot better, so yeah I would say that this is the best we have been playing I think. But we can still improve this next week too."

HDN: What is the toughest thing about the post position?

Rismon: "I am not always the tallest guy. I am pretty tall, but we play a lot of kids where I have a height disadvantage. But I lifted a lot this fall trying to get stronger so I can push some of those taller guys around. You can't control your height so I wanted to get stronger."

HDN: How does the team have to play to get past Livingston in the first round this week?

Rismon: "We have to watch out for Marcus Payne. He is their main guy, their go-to guy, so if we can shut him down I think we can win. I need to stop him from scoring and not give him any easy buckets. Hopefully I can step up and do it, I have to play fundamentally sound."

HDN: Since deciding not to play football anymore, and focus on basketball, what have you really focused on improving?

Rismon: "My shooting. I was a really bad shooter last year, but I have improved a lot and have a pretty good percentage. I really focused on my shooting and I think I have one of the best percentages on the team now."