Havre High boys visit CMR

Last season, the Havre High boys basketball team and CMR played two nail-biting games. Fortunately for HHS, the Blue Ponies came out on top both times, but a new year means potentially new results.

After dropping their first game of the season last Saturday in Malta, 61-52, the Ponies will look to rebound with their second straight road game. This time, HHS will visit the CMR Fieldhouse on Saturday for a game against CMR that will tip off at 5 p.m.

The difference between the two teams a season ago, when the Ponies swept the Rustlers, was Dane Warp. In the first game, Warp scored 34 points. He followed that up with 23 against CMR the second time around in Great Falls.

Warp not only averaged an impressive 28.5 points per game in two victories over the Rustlers, he also scored the winning points in each game. In Havre, he made a free throw to win the game and in the second meeting, he hit a shot in the final seconds to give HHS the season sweep.

While the Ponies still have Warp, one thing they do not have is size inside. HHS graduated its top three interior players from a season ago in Michael Bakke, Jase Kato and Wyatt Lindbloom and thus far, replacing them has proven difficult.

HHS head coach Curt Leeds believed one way he could account for their absence was to play more guards and last weekend against Malta, he essentially started the game with five guards: Warp, Jerod Boles, Jacob LaBrie, Nate Rismon and Nate Korb.

But in the end, the strategy proved ineffective against the Mustangs, who not only shot 55 percent from the field in the nine-point win over Havre, but also out rebounded Leeds’ small lineup 41-21.

"That's one thing we have really focused on this week is defense," Leeds said. "We went back and watched the film and we saw a lot of guys that were out of place. So we really went over where we are supposed to be in our zone and hopefully we have a better understanding of that and how we are supposed to rebound out of it."

The Rustlers were just 5-16 a season ago and missed out on the Class AA state tournament. But with a slew of talented players returning, including last year's leading scorer in Karl Tucker II (15.4 ppg) they should be more formidable. Other top players from CMR include 6-6 forward Caleb Gagne, senior Xavier Pace and sophomore Sam Vining.

Unfortunately for Havre, Warp was banged up in the loss to Malta and was unable to finish the game, but according to Leeds, he should be a full go gainst CMR. Warp scored 20 points against Malta, while Boles also scored 12. That doesn't change the fact that the Ponies shot just 32 percent of the field and connected on just 11-of-36 3-point attempts. That means the focus this week will be getting more points in the paint.

"I think that we have some good shooters on our team," HHS head coach Curt Leeds said. "So I want the boys to keep shooting. But we do need to be more aggressive. Passing the ball around a few times and shooting is not going to get us a high-percentage shot."

The outcome will likely be determined in the battle of the boards. If Havre can hold their own against a big, tough, CMR squad, then winning a second straight time at CMR is a definite possibility.

"It's going to be a good test," Leeds said. "They are a big team and AA teams are usually very physical, so it will really help us prepare for conference play against Belgrade and Livingston."

The Ponies will take on CMR in its first game of the season this Saturday at 5 p.m., in Great Falls.