Pony tennis teams get to play in Cut Bank

Saturday was a winter-like day across the Hi-Line and around most of Montana with temperatures never reaching 30 degrees. But that didn't stop the Havre High boys and girls tennis teams from make their season debut.

The Blue Ponies traveled to Cut Bank and got in several matches in Cut Bank's two indoor tennis courts. Cut Bank was scheduled to host the Cut Bank Invite, but the cold forced the event moved indoors. Overall, Havre was able to dual a few players from Conrad and got in a full dual against Cut Bank. Lewistown decided not to make the trip.

"We got to play tennis, and this early in the year, that's all that matters," Havre head coach George Ferguson said. "We were very excited for the opportunity to play and are grateful to Cut Bank head coach Jim Gregg for putting the matches together indoors. It takes a lot of work for those guys to set those courts up in the gym and we are very thankful that they did that and that our kids got some tennis in.

"As for how we played, collectively, I thought things went very well," he added. "We've only been on the tennis courts eight days this season, so the matches themselves went pretty well. I thought all the kids did a great job and I was very pleased."

Conrad had few players in attendance, so just a handful of Blue Ponies got matches against the Cowboys and Cowgirls. In boys singles, Jeff Miller and Ned Malone won, as did Tatiana Ralph for the Pony girls.

The Ponies did get a full dual in against the host Wolves.

On the boys side, Miller and Malone won singles matches, while the teams of J.J. Hovet and Nick Rhines and Brian Smith and Noah Landgraf were also victorious. Overall, Havre won the dual 4-3.

"Our boys team played well," Ferguson said. "Cut Bank is a team that is pretty close to us skill-wise so it was very competitive and it was a really good way for our kids to start the season. I really liked all I saw from our boys on Saturday."

The HHS girls also beat the Wolves 4-3. Ralph and Ellery Bresler won singles matches for Havre, while Bresler and Breck Don and Morgan Jappe and Haley Graham were winners in doubles.

"Our girls team was ready to play and I thought we were as sharp as we could be for this early in the season," Ferguson said. "Cut Bank has a very strong girls team, especially at the top of their lineup, so even in the matches we didn't win, we got some very good practice and some very competitive matches. All of our girls will be better for having played that dual and that's what is most important at this time of the season. So I was really happy with all of our girls too."

And like Ferguson noted, the biggest reason to be happy was, the Ponies were on a tennis court, playing unfamiliar opponents. And this early in the season, that's a rarity these days.

"I'm just so pumped we got some matches in," Ferguson said. "It's been a couple of years since we were able to play this early, so it was big for us to get Saturday in. I thought all the kids did a great job, and they all got the season off to a strong start. And now we have something to build on."

The Ponies will hopefully be back in action this Saturday when they travel to Conrad for the Conrad Invitational Duals.

Cut Bank Invitational

Indoors Only

Havre vs Conrad

GIRLS

Shannon Herring, HAV lost to Amy, CON, 6-8; Tatina Ralph def. Cashley, CON, 8-1; Lainey Chagnon/Jennifer Cichosz, HAV lost to Kristina/Megan, CON, 8-4; Breck Don/Ellery Bresler, HAV lost to Jenna/Trinity, CON, 8-6.

BOYS

Jeff Miller, HAV def. Konnor, CON, 8-6; Ned Malone, HAV def. Dan, CON, 8-1.

Havre vs Cut Bank

GIRLS

Jade McCormick, HAV lost to Paige, CB, 2-8; Shannon Herring, HAV lost to Kodi, CB, 7-8 (7-9); Tatiana Ralph, HAV def. Allie, CB, 8-7 (7-3); Ellery Bresler, HAV def. Donelle, CB, 8-0; Lainey Chagnon/Jennifer Cichosz, HAV lost to Jillian/Alex, CB, 8-2; Ellery Bresler/Breck Don, HAV def. Illeia/Patricia, CB, 8-0; Morgan Jappey/Haley Graham, HAV def. Kodi/Allie, CB, 8-0.

BOYS

Jeff Miller, HAV def. Isaac, CB, 8-6; Ned Malone, HAV def. Jerry, CB, 8-5; Jamie Lieberg, HAV lost to Spencer, CB, 8-1; Patrick Leeds, HAV lost to Trenton, CB, 8-2; Nick Rhines/J.J. Hovet, HAV def. Che'/Michael, CB, 8-6; Brian Smith/Noah Landgraf, HAV def. Adam/Daniel, CB, 8-2; Jacob Holden/Wyatt Lindbloom, HAV lost to Josh/Zach, CB, 8-6.