Pony tennis teams win in Great Falls

The weather continues to haunt the Havre High tennis teams. But the Blue Ponies keep finding ways to get their scheduled matches in.

Havre faced a cold, dark and windy day in Great Falls Tuesday, yet the courts were dry And the Ponies were able to dual the Butte

Havre High junior Ned Malone and the Blue Pony tennis teams found plenty of success Tuesday in Great Falls.

Central Maroons, CMR Rustlers and Great Falls High Bison.

And while Havre won four of its six duals Saturday, HHS head coach George Ferguson was more proud of the way his boys and girls teams competed.

"This is the third straight meet where conditions bordered on unplayable," Ferguson said. "When we started against Butte Central it was 25 degrees and there was still snow on the ground in Great Falls. From there, it never really warmed up, and the wind really kicked up in the afternoon. But our kids didn't complain once. They went out and competed in every single match. They played a lot of tennis against good teams and good players in really bad weather, and they were at their absolute best. So no matter the results, I'm just so proud of my teams for their attitude and determination. They are just great kids and they did a great job on Tuesday."

And even in spite of the weather, the results were good for HHS.

On the boys side, Havre lost a close decision to a very good Butte Central squad, 4-3, while the Ponies dominated the Class AA Rustlers and Bison, winning both duals 5-3.

Individually, HHS went unbeaten in No. 1-3 singles. Jeff Miller capped a big day at No. 1 singles, while Ned Malone and Zach Hellegaard were also a combined 6-0. Jacob Holden added a key win for the Ponies against the Bison. In doubles, Brian Smith and Noah Landgraf won against both the Bison and Rustlers. And even in losses, all of Havre's boys took their games to the next level.

"Our boys played extremely well," Ferguson said. "Jeff (Miller) continues to really make big strides and he is really starting to be a force right now. And I think with how Ned and Zach played Tuesday, we showed we have a lot of depth in singles.

"But I was really encouraged about what doesn't show up in the win column," he added. "We played in a lot of really tight matches against top competition, and even though we didn't win them all, I thought all of our guys showed a lot of improvement. I thought they all rose to the next level and that's what we want to see right now. Our boys really played well, and even though we have a ways to go to get to where we want to be, Tuesday showed me we're definitely heading in the right direction."

On the girls side of things, HHS defeated a short-handed Butte Central squad 6-1, then beat CMR 5-3. Havre lost 5-3 to GFH.

The doubles duos of Haley Graham and Morgan Jappe and Breck Don and Ellery Bresler carried big points for the Ponies, while the top team of Lainey Chagnon and Jennifer Cichosz battled tough teams from GFH and CMR. Brandy Lambourne beat Lewistown rival Jeanna Mane in an exhibition match, and she beat CMR's top singles player, and also gave GFH star Molly Crum a good match. Tatiana Ralph also won twice for the Ponies, while Jade McCormick added a win over Butte Central. The freshmen tandem of Madison Huebsch and Rainey Stoner went unbeaten in three matches.

"We had a lot of highs from our girls team," Ferguson said. "Again, in the wins and losses, I thought we went to the next level. Our top girls, in singles and doubles, played much tougher competition than they have seen for most of this season, and they all played really well, regardless of the final scores. I'm also really excited about what all of our freshmen girls did. Rainey, Madison and Sarah Holsinger all played great against Class AA competition, and that really bodes well for the future.

"I'm really proud of our girls team," he added. 'Because when you see them play this well against this type of competition, you know that all their hard work is starting to pay off, and that they are building momentum at the right time of year. So Tuesday was a really good day for our girls."

And the action will continue for the Ponies, who travel back to Great Falls Friday and Saturday for the Great Falls Invitational.

BOYS

Butte Central 4, Havre 3

Singles

Jeff Miller, HAV def. Northey Tretheway, BC, 6-0, 6-2; Ned Malone, HAV def. Kale Guldseth, BC, 6-2, 6-1; Zach Hellegaard, HAV def. Jack Gallagher, BC, 5-7, 6-2, 10-2; Jesse Reinke, BC def. Jacob Holden, HAV, 6-0, 6-1.

Doubles

Jim Joyce/Derek Ralph, BC def. Nick Rhines/J.J. Hovet, HAV, 7-5, 6-2; Colton Lamoiux/Kaden Peeples, BC def. Brian Smith/Noah Landgraf, HAV, 3-6, 6-4, 10-5; Pat Kenney/Tyler Trudnowski, BC def. Jerod Boles/Wyatt Lindbloom, HAV, 8-3; Preston Kynett/Alex Irish, LEW def. Jamie Lieberg/Patrick Leeds, HAV, 6-1, 6-1 in an exhibition.

Havre 5, CMR 3

Singles

Jeff Miller, HAV def. Will Runkel, CMR, 6-2, 6-3; Ned Malone, HAV def. Soren Ormseth, CMR, 6-2, 6-0; Zach Hellegaard, HAV def. Sean West, CMR, 6-0 6-0; Jacob Holden, HAV won by FFT.

Doubles

Will Smith/Brayden Murphy, CMR def. Nick Rhines/J.J. Hovet, HAV, 6-1, 6-2; Brian Smith/Noah Landgraf, HAV def. Griff Malloy/Nick Allsion, CMR, 6-3, 6-4; Chris Gold/Erik Tweat, CMR def. Jerod Boles/Wyatt Lindbloom, HAV, 6-3, 6-4; Jake Bernhardt/Ian Deboo, CMR def. Patrick Leeds/Jamie Lieberg, HAV, 6-0, 6-1.

Havre 5, GFH 3

Singles

Jeff Miller, HAV def. Tom Johnson, GFH, 6-0, 6-2; Ned Malone, HAV def. Eric Abarr, GFH, 6-0, 6-1; Zach Hellegaard, HAV def. Bostian Johnstone, GFH, 6-1, 6-0; Jacob Holden, HAV def. Matt Woods, GFH, 6-1, 6-0.

Doubles

Nate Scheffels/Taylor Lunn, GFH def. Nick Rhines/J.J. Hovet, HAV, 6-2, 6-2; Brian Smith/Noah Landgraf, HAV def. Jordan Jernigan/Tanner Lightbourne, GFH, 6-2, 6-3; Andrew Leo/Andrew Kromarek, GFH def. Jerod Boles/Wyatt Lindbloom, 6-4, 7-5; Noah Nelson/Dale Mooorehouse, GFH def. Jamie Lieberg/Patrick Leeds, 2-6, 7-6 (7-5), 10-7.

GIRLS

Havre 6, Butte Central 1

Singles

Brandy Lambourne, HAV won by FFT, def. Jeanna Mane, LEW, 7-5, 7-5 in an exhibition; Jade McCormick, HAV def. Yi Chin Lee, BC, 6-0, 6-0; Tatiana Ralph, HAV def. Kelsie Quinn, BC, 6-0, 6-0; Ally Guldseth, BC, 3-6, 6-4, 10-7.

Doubles

Lainey Chagnon/Jennifer Cichosz, HAV won by FFT, def. Thomas/Kinderszki, LEW, 6-2, 6-2 in an exhibition; Breck Don/Ellery Bresler, HAV won by FFT, lost to Monger/Nielsen, 6-4, 6-7 (3-7), 10-4; Haley Graham/Morgan Jappe, HAV def. Sarah Drew/Niki Rosencrans, BC, 6-4, 6-3; Madison Huebsch/Rainey Stoner, HAV def, LEW, 8-6.

Havre 5, CMR 3

Singles

Brandy Lambourne, HAV def. Kylie Mortenson, CMR, 6-3, 6-1; Karly Thompson, CMR def. Jade McCormick, HAV, 6-3, 6-4; Tatiana Ralph, HAV def. Elea Roberts, CMR, 6-2, 6-2; Kyla Campbell, CMR def. Sarah Holsinger, HAV, 6-3, 6-4.

Doubles

Lyndsey Martinez/Maddie Hazelip, CMR def. Lainey Chagnon/Jennifer Cichosz, HAV, 6-2, 6-4; Breck Don/Ellery Bresler. HAV def. Lyndsy Pyette/McKenzie Richards, CMR, 6-4, 6-2; Haley Graham/Morgan Jappe, HAV def. Justine Runkel/Maddie Russell, CMR, 6-0, 6-0; Madison Huebsch/Rainey Stoner, HAV def. Brooke Gowins/Ally Koltur, CMR, 6-3, 3-6, 10-8.

GFH 5, Havre 3

Singles

Molly Crum, GFH def. Brandy Lamborne, HAV, 6-0, 6-0; Abigail Davidson, GFH def. Jade McCormick, HAV, 1-6, 6-0, 10-5; Mary McDunn, GFH def. Tatiana Ralph, 7-6 (7-5), 6-3; Haley Johnson, GFH def. Sarah Holsinger, 8-7 (7-5).

Doubles

Jackie Santin/Libbey Fellows, GFH def. Lainey Chagnon/Jennifer Cichosz, HAV, 6-3, 7-5; Breck Don/Ellery Bresler, HAV def. Bailee Roady/Brooke Dart, GFH, 6-3, 6-0; Haley Graham/M organ Jappe, HAV def. Haley Hanson/Maddie Stucker, GFH, 6-2, 6-1; Madison Huebsch/Rainey Stoner, HAV def. Faith Hurley/Reina Chung, GFH, 6-1, 6-0.