Hamilton Bests Havre and Stops Ponies' Run for Repeat

HAMILTON -- Despite a valiant effort on the road in a hostile environment, the Havre High girls basketball team came up short in the semifinals of the Class A state tournament and will not be repeating as state champions.

The Blue Ponies knocked off Hardin last night in their first step towards winning back-to-back state titles for the first time in school history, but the dream died Friday night in Hamilton as Havre fell to the hometown Broncs 49-41.

Hamilton jumped out to an early 9-0 lead after a pair of 3-pointers by Jaylee Albert and at the end of the first quarter, the Ponies trailed 11-2. Yet, Havre would rally and score the next nine points, tying the game at 11-11 after a three-point play by Dani Wagner.

Havre’s next seven points would come from Naomi Terry, who hits two treys and a made a free throw to give the Ponies the 18-16 edge with just over two minutes before halftime. But, the Broncs closed the second quarter on a 6-2 run to take a 22-20 halftime lead.

In the third quarter Hamilton got a couple of threes one by Taylor Gogligoski and another by Brianna Huggins to help the Broncs build a 34-27 advantage going into the fourth quarter.

Facing an uphill battle and trailing as many as nine points, Havre battled back and thanks to two separate three-point plays by Morgan Mazurkiewicz, the Ponies were within three at 42-39 with just 2:17 left in the fourth quarter. But that was as close as Havre would get.

The Ponies had a chance to tie the game but were unable to convert a 3-point opportunity with just under two minutes left, then Hamilton hit seven of eight free throws to salt away the win.

Mazurkiewicz had 17 points in the loss to lead the way for Havre. Dani Wagner pitched in with 10; Goligoski led the Broncs with 16, Albert and Kali Hayes each contributed with 11.

Havre will now play Columbia Falls Saturday at 11 a.m., in loser-out action. Hamilton will take on Butte Central for the Class A state championship Saturday night at 8 p.m.