HHS boys top AA CMR

The Havre High boys basketball team was looking to get in the win column for the first time this season Saturday at Class AA rival CMR. And with a much-improved performance from its season-opener, that's exactly what the Blue Ponies did.

Thanks in large part to a 20-point fourth quarter, and a number of clutch shots from 3-point range, Havre beat the Rustlers 55-43 for their second straight win over CMR in Great Falls at the CMR Fieldhouse. The win improved HHS to 1-1 on the young season.

“I thought our boys played really well,” HHS head coach Curt Leeds said. “They really committed themselves on the defensive end.”

The win by the Ponies was also their third straight over the Rustlers after sweeping CMR last season, a feat which is not an everyday accomplishment for Havre basketball teams.

“I don’t think our boys really think of them (Rustlers) as a big school that we can’t beat,” Leeds said. “I think that they believe they are good enough to win every night when they step onto the floor, no matter who we are playing.”

The Ponies got off to a solid start by outscoring CMR 13-9 in the opening stanza, before CMR bested Havre in the second quarter 16-10 to grab a slim 25-23 halftime lead. In the early stages of the third quarter, CMR had extended its lead, but a 7-0 by the Ponies that included a trey from Dane Warp, gave HHS a 35-30 edge heading into the fourth quarter.

In the fourth quarter, the Ponies poured in 20 points, thanks to a 3-pointer each by Jacob LaBrie, Nate Korb and Nate Rismon.

Havre also imposed its will defensively in the second half, holding the Rustlers to just 18 points over the final 16 minutes.

“We were a lot more aggressive offensively,” Leeds said. “Dane did a good job of getting in the paint more and that opened up a lot of things for us.”

Warp had another good scoring night for the Ponies and led all scorers in the game with 21 points. He was 8-of-11 from the charity stripe and also connected on six field goals, including one 3-pointer.

Rismon and LaBrie each contributed with 11 points in the win for the Ponies, while Korb also added seven.

Sam Vining led the way for the Rustlers in the loss with 17 points. He also hit three 3-pointers. Xavier Pace also pitched in with 10 points for CMR.

After shooting 32 percent from the field and grabbing just 21 rebounds in their season-opening loss to Malta, the Ponies rebounded shooting better than 40 percent and grabbing 34 rebounds. HHS also did a great job forcing turnovers and finished the game with 12 steals.

“We were dialed in defensively and we also did a much better job rebounding,” Leeds said. “That was something we focused on this week and CMR is a much bigger team than Malta, so that was a good sign. I think if we can be about 50-50 with teams in rebounding, we are going to be in good shape.”

After two non-conference games to open the season, the Ponies will turn their attention to Central A conference play this weekend, when both Belgrade and Livingston will come to town. Havre will face Livingston Friday at 6 p.m., followed by Belgrade Saturday at 2 p.m. Both games will be held inside the HHS gymnasium.

“I think this will give our boys a lot of confidence,” Leeds said. “I think what it shows us is that we can be that great defensive team if we dig down. We are going to be a good offensive team and we are going to score points, it’s just going to be about limiting other teams offensively and I think the boys showed (Saturday) that they are capable of doing that.”

Havre 55, C.M. Russell High 43

Havre 13 10 12 20 – 55

CMR 9 16 5 13 – 43

Havre – Jerod Boles 0 1-2 1, Nate Rismon 3 4-6 11, Nate Korb 3 0-0 7, Dane Warp 6 8-11 21, Jacob LaBrie 4 1-2 11, Isaac Warp 1 0-1 3, Michel Loftus 0 1-2 1. Totals: 17 15-26.

CMR – Sam Vining 5 4-5 17, Wyatt Bleskin 0 1-2 1, Daniel Bonilla 1 0-1 3, Isaiah Chargois 1 1-2 3, Garrison Rothwell 1 1-3 3, Alex Cunningham 0 1-4 1, Xavier Pace 3 2-5 10, Russell Gagne 2 0-0 5. Totals: 13 10-22.

Team fouls – Havre 21, CMR 25. Fouled out – None. 3-pointers – Rismon 1, Korb 1, Warp 1, LaBrie 2, Isaac Warp 1, Vining 3, Bonilla 1, Pace 2, Russell Gagne 1.