HHS tennis teams get lots of court time in Great Falls

For the Havre High tennis teams, the Great Falls Invitational duals was going to be a brand new experience. After all, the Ponies hadn't made the trip to Great Falls in four seasons due to bad weather. But wasn't new to the Ponies was the conditions, or tough opponents.

Friday and Saturday, Havre played four duals, three against Class AA squads, and with cold, warm and windy conditions, Havre head coach George Ferguson saw a little bit of everything from his teams.

"We played really well at times," Ferguson said. "We didn't play as well in other duals however. It was great that we played four matches against good opponents, and it was great that, other than the wind, the weather cooperated for a change. So there were a lot of things I liked about this weekend, but there were also some things I wasn't as happy about. From top to bottom, through four duals, I don't think collectively we played as well as we should have at this point in the season. I thought in a few instances, we took a step back, and that's what we didn't want to happen.

"Still, the matches, no matter how they are turned, were good experiences for us," he added. "And I'm happy we got them all in."

On Friday, the Ponies took on Butte High and Billings Senior. The Havre girls forged a 4-4 tie with both Class AA teams. The Blue Pony boys also tied the Bulldogs 4-4 but were shut out by the Broncs 8-0.

In the girls duals, the top duo of Lainey Chagnon and Jennifer Cichosz won two big matches at No. 1 doubles, while Tatiana Ralph also went 2-0. Brandy Lambourne went 1-1 at the tough No. 1 singles spot, but the Ponies lost key doubles matches against Butte. On the boys side, Jeff Miller toppled Butte's No. 1, then played a great match in a loss against Senior star Nick Staffalino. Nick Rhines and J.J. Hovet and Brian Smith and Noah Landgraf won close matches against the Bulldogs, while Zach Hellegaard also dominated his Butte opponent.

The Ponies returned to Great Falls Saturday morning to face Billings Skyview and Cut Bank. The Havre girls tied Skyview 4-4 and beat Cut Bank 5-3. The HHS boys lost both duals 6-2.

Lambourne went undefeated on Saturday, including scoring a close win over Cut Bank's Paige Larson. The tandems of Breck Don and Ellery Bresler and Morgan Jappe and Haley Graham also went 2-0 Saturday, while Chagnon and Cichosz beat Skyview at the No. 1 spot and Madison Huebsch and Rainey Stoner scored a No. 4 doubles win against Cut Bank.

"I liked a lot of what I saw from our girls team," Ferguson said. "Lainey and Jennifer played really well this weekend and so did Brandy. It isn't easy playing the No. 1 spot, especially against Class AA's and those three won six matches combined. But I thought all of our girls did a really good job. They all played well against tough opponents and they continue to improve. I was really pleased with how the girls did. They didn't lose a dual. That was awesome."

Jeff Miller dominated his two opponents on Saturday, while Ned Malone defeated his Skyview opponent. Malone also moved up to No. 1 against Cut Bank's Isaac Matt. Rhines and Hovet also scored a dramatic 22-20 third set tiebreaker win against the Wolves, but overall, Havre won just four matches Saturday.

"I think our boys team really took a step backwards Saturday," Ferguson said. "Our lineup was a little different but that's no excuse. Two weeks ago, we beat Cut Bank 7-0 and Saturday we only won two matches. That tells me we just didn't play up to the level we should or are capable of being at. And what's disappointing is, we played really well on Friday.

"It's late in the season and these guys can't afford to go backwards like that," he added. "So we'll move on from it, work really hard this week, and make sure we move forward and improve in Helena this coming weekend."

And though it wasn't all good and not all bad for the Ponies this weekend, Ferguson remained steadfast in the fact that he was happy his team got four more quality matches, especially with the toughest tournament of the year coming up this Friday.

"Win or lose, these matches in Great Falls were big for us," Ferguson said. "We will be better down the road for having played them. I'm proud of the kids for their effort and their determination, because once again, the weather, this time being high winds, didn't do us any favors. So, no matter the results, it was a good weekend, and it's always better to play than not to play."

Friday and Saturday the Blue Ponies will be in Helena for prestigious Helena Invite. Havre has just two weeks left in the regular season.

GREAT FALLS INVITE

FRIDAY

BOYS

Havre 4, Butte High 4

Singles

Jeff Miller, HAV def. Lane, BUT, 6-3, 6-3; Reilly, BUT def. Ned Malone, HAV, 6-4, 2-6, 10-7; Zach Hellegaard, HAV def. Wild, BUT, 6-2, 6-2; Kelly, BUT def. Jacob Holden, HAV, 6-3, 6-1.

Doubles

Nick Rhines/J.J. Hovet, HAV def. Reilly/Tregida, BUT, 1-6, 6-3, 11-9; Noah Landgraf/Brian Smith, HAV def. Warner/Starcvich, BUT, 6-2, 6-2; Casagranda/Mullaney, BUT def. Jerod Boles/Wyatt Lindbloom, HAV, 7-6 (11-9), 5-7 (10-4); Jaksha/Madrazo, BUT def. Patrick Leeds/Jamie Lieberg, HAV, 8-2.

Billings Senior 8, Havre 0

Singles

Nick Steffalino, BS def. Jeff Miller, HAV, 6-3, 6-4; Josh Moller, BS def. Ned Malone, HAV, 6-4, 6-4; Cameron Moller, BS def. Jacob Holden, HAV, 6-2, 6-1; Skeff Thomas, BS def. Jamie Lieberg, HAV, 6-1, 6-3.

Doubles

Colton Coffee/Wally Schumann-Klein, BS def. Nick Rhines/J.J. Hovet, HAV, 6-2, 6-2; Kobi Hudson/Wyatt Iverson, BS def. Noah Landgraf/Brian Smith, HAV, 6-4, 6-3; Collin Sitton/Jack Wilgus, BS def. Wyatt Lindbloom/Jerod Boles, HAV, 6-2, 6-2; Jade Miller/Skeff Thomas, BS won by FFT, def. Patrick Leeds/Jamie Lieberg, 8-0 in an exhibition.

SATURDAY

Billings Skyview 6, Havre 2

Singles

Jeff Miller, HAV def. Ryan Benge, BSV, 6-4, 6-4; Ned Malone, HAV def. Dillon Boleman, BSV, 2-6, 6-4, 10-8; BSV won by FFT; Mac Molerly, BSV def. Jacon Holden, HAV, 8-3.

Doubles

Bryden Dutton/Josh Adamson, BSV, def. Nick Rhines/J.J. Hovet, HAV, 6-3, 6-2; Michael Lynch/Hemon Lyon, BSV def. Noah Landgraf/Brian Smith, HAV, 2-6, 7-5, 10-5; Jon Besel/Dan Nitz, BSV def. Jerod Boles/Wyatt Lindbloom, HAV, 6-1, 6-3; Scott Wolfe/Lance Rieland, BSV def. Patrick Leeds/Jamie Lieberg, HAV, 8-6.

Cut Bank 6, Havre 2

Singles

Isaac Matt, CB def. Ned Malone, HAV, 6-3, 6-0; Jeff Miller, HAV def. Che' Little Dog, CB, 6-1, 6-1; Spencer Czech, CB def. Jacob Holden, HAV, 3-6, 6-3, 14-12; Daniel Fugle, CB def. Jamie Lieberg, HAV, 6-3, 6-7 (4-7), 10-6.

Doubles

Nick Rhines/J.J. Hovet, HAV def. Jerry Pittman/Josh Kloos, CB, 4-6, 7-5, 22-20; Michael Kraft/Robert Jennings, CB def. Noah Landgraf/Brian Smith, HAV, 6-4, 7-6 (7-5); Falko Rammier/Zach Burns, CB def. Jerod Boles/Wyatt Lindbloom, CB, 6-4, 6-3; Chris Smock/Trenton Francom, CB def. Patrick Leeds/Jamie Lieberg, HAV, 6-3, 6-1 in an exhibition.

GIRLS

FRIDAY

Havre 4, Butte High 4

Singles

Brandy Lambourne, HAV def. Molly Nelson, BUT, 6-0, 6-0; Jesslyn Valle, BUT won by FFT; Tatiana Ralph, HAV def. Baili Connors, BUT, 6-2, 6-0; Ralph def. Valle 6-1 in an exhibition; Shannon Herring, HAV def. Lakyn Ludwick, 8-4.

Doubles

Jennifer Cichosz/Lainey Chagnon, HAV def. Kaitlyn Vettet/Aiden Amtmann, BUT, 7-5, 7-5; Sierra McGinnis/MacKaul Dre, BUT def. Breck Don/Ellery Bresler, HAV, 6-1, 6-4; Lexi Brandon/Molly Springer, BUT def. Morgan Jappe/Haley Graham, HAV, 6-1, 6-1; Sophie Luetkens/Carlee Johnson, BUT def. Madison Huebsch/Rainey Stoner, 8-5.

Havre 4, Billings Senior 4

Singles

Danie Nichols, BS def. Brandy Lambourne, HAV, 7-5, 6-3; Havre FFT at No. 2; Sadie Michaels, BS def. Shannon Herring, HAV, 6-2, 6-2; Herring def. in an exhibition 6-5; Tatiana Ralph, HAV def. Marilee Beal, BS, 8-7 (7-2).

Doubles

Jennifer Cichosz/Lainey Chagnon, HAV def. Jordan Allie/Emmy Reinschmidt, BS, 6-2, 1-6, 10-7; Katie Paulil/Abby Coffee, BS def. Breck Don/Ellery Bresler, HAV, 0-6, 6-3, 12-10; Morgan Jappe/Haley Graham, HAV def. Paige Driscoll/Laura Trent, BS, 6-4; Madison Huebsch/Rainey Stoner, HAV def. Isabella Whitworth/Rachel Eaton, BS, 8-6.

SATURDAY

Havre 4, Billings Skyview 4

Singles

Brandy Lambourne, HAV def. Alison Bhel, BSV, 6-1, 6-1; Witni Wilson, BSV def. Tatiana Ralph, HAV, 4-6, 6-4, 10-7; Marissa Bartholy, BSV def. Shannon Herring, HAV, 6-2, 2-6, 10-3; Isabah Khan, BSV def. Alara Vogel, HAV, 8-0.

Doubles

Lainey Chagnon/Jennifer Cichosz, HAV def. Megan Carroll/Sierra Reid, BSV, 6-3, 6-3; Breck Don/Ellery Bresler, HAV def. Alli Stoltz/Rachel Light, BSV, 6-4, 6-2; Morgan Jappe/Haley Graham, HAV def. Haley Jorgenson/Ashlee Frank, BSV, 7-6 (7-5), 6-0; Leah Hickman/Bryn Eckart, BSV def. Madison Huebsch/Rainey Stoner, BSV, 6-3.

Havre 5, Cut Bank 3

Singles

Brandy Lambourne, HAV def. Paige Larson, CB, 6-4, 3-6, 10-8; Kodi Hoffman, CB def. Shannon Herring, HAV, 7-5, 6-3; Tatiana Ralph, HAV def. Donelle Novak, CB, 6-1, 6-2; Dakota Dosch, CB def. Alara Vogel, HAV, 6-2, 6-3.

Doubles

Jillian Altenberg/Alex Kraft, CB def. Lainey Chagnon/Jennifer Cichosz, HAV, 6-1, 7-5; Breck Don/Ellery Bresler, HAV def. Duana Gobert/Allie Anderson, CB, 6-1, 6-2; Haley Graham/Morgan Jappe, HAV def. Chante Fitzgerald/Breanne Barsness, CB, 6-0, 6-1; Madison Huebsch/Rainey Stoner, HAV def. Paige Johnston/Paige Johnson, CB, 8-4.