2014 was a year that won't be forgotten in sports

As 2015 draws closer with each and every day, it’s the perfect time to look on the 2014 year in sports. And on both the local, national and international levels of athletic competition, 2014 was a year to remember.

When it comes to Havre and the Hi-Line, there were a number of teams that had tremendous success in 2014. The home town Havre High girls basketball team won its first state championship since the 1997 season when Loree Payne was playing and Dennis Murphy was on the sidelines coaching.

It was a defining moment for the Blue Ponies program and one that has been a long time coming for head coach Dustin Kraske.

Kraske a member of the 1994 Havre boys team that won its own state title, has built a dominant program, which has made playing at the state tournament a regular occurrence. In fact, the Pony girls have been in seven of Kraske’s eight seasons as head coach.

Helped by Brandy Lambourne and Payton Filius, Kraske and the Ponies finally got over the hump in 2014. They went on a memorable run through the Class A state tournament that was capped with a win over Hamilton in the championship game.

It was a signature moment for girls basketball in Havre and one that we won’t soon forget.

The Box Elder Bears also had a season for the ages, winning the Class C state boys basketball championship and going an incredible 26-0. The Bears have something special going under the direction if Jeremy Macdonald and they look to be a threat to win back-to-back championships in Class C after knocking off Rocky Boy to start the season in the Native American Classic. The game has become one of the great rivalry games in Montana High school basketball and the excitement leading up to it was justified.

The game lived up to the hype, with Box Elder narrowly edging out the Stars 66-61. I can’t think of a better way to open the season. It was a reminder of the great things about high school sports in Montana and set the stage for what should be another exciting run for the Bears.

Class C sports are unique and one my favorite stories from 2014 was the run of the Chinook football team to the Class C 8-man football state championship. The Sugarbeeters didn’t win the title, they were defeated by Wibaux in the championship but it was still one of the great seasons in Chinook football history.

Head coach Scott Friede, who coached the Beeters from 1994-99 before returning to the helm in 2014, told his players to dream in the preseason that they could be state champions and in the end, the Beeters were one win away from fulfilling it.

That team captivated a town and it was one of those things that remind you why people play, watch and love sports.

But beyond just the local level, 2014 was an exhilarating year for sports. One of the year’s defining moments was without question the World Cup. Rarely is the entire world captivated by one sporting event but every four years, when the World Cup is played, the eye of the sports’ world is transfixed by it.

It was a particularly exciting World Cup for American soccer fans as Team USA knocked off traditional foe Ghana and advanced into the knockout round before being defeated by Belgium. The Germans walked away with the crown

Personally, one of my favorite moments of 2014 was watching the San Antonio Spurs defeat the Miami Heat to win the franchise’s fifth NBA championship. I have never really been a fan of the Spurs. I’ve been loyal to the Bulls since the Michael Jordan days and have been an unwavering follower ever since. I still even love Derrick Rose, even though it wouldn’t surprise me to see him miss half the season due to a head cold. Just joking I love that guy and think he gets a bad rap. He will be all the way back soon enough.

But as a basketball fan, I couldn’t help but enjoy watching San Antonio dismantle Miami with great ball movement, expert shooting and great defense. The Spurs play the game the way it’s meant to be played and they were rewarded with a championship.

I love sports for the history making moments, but the passion runs deeper than that. I love the atmosphere and the competition. And when it comes to watching a game, few places are better than Blue Pony Stadium.

After not attending a Pony game for several years, getting to be back there on Friday nights this season was a personal highlight for me. So was taking my son to his first live football game, when Montana State University-Northern hosted Montana Tech in football. Things like that make the game even more special. He enjoyed the experience and I enjoyed leaving the notebook behind and being a fan for the day.

The year 2014 was a year defined by great moments and great teams. It was a great year for fans and I, for one, can’t wait for 2015, the first year of the College Football Playoff. It’s going to be a fun and exciting year but before we forget, let’s say thanks to 2014 one more time.

Finally, Jim Harbaugh, please, accept $49 million to be the next head coach at Michigan. If you do it by Dec. 31 at 11:59 p.m., you can still make my year.