Ponies return with Malta doubleheader

Both Havre High basketball teams got some much-needed rest over the holiday break and with each team starting January with home games against Malta, the Blue Ponies are going to be thankful they got it.

Each Havre team opened the season on the road against Malta and both came away with losses back on Dec. 5. But Saturday at the HHS gymnasium, each team will get a chance to make amends for a season-opening defeat. The Havre boys will take on Malta at 5 p.m., followed by a battle between HHS and the Malta girls at 6:30 p.m.

"This is going to be an important game for us," HHS head coach Curt Leeds. "We not only want to continue how we have played, but this will also show how ready we are after the Christmas break. It's another part of the process of building towards the end of the season."

Since the season-opening loss to Malta, the Blue Pony boys have been on a roll, winning four straight, including wins over CMR, Belgrade and Great Falls High. And a big reason why HHS has won its last four games is defense.

In the first meeting with Malta, the Ponies allowed the Mustangs to score 61 points and shoot better than 50 percent from the field. Yet, since that game, Havre has allowed just 50 points a game and has done a much better job of rebounding, which were both major concerns of head coach Curt Leeds entering the season.

While the defense has been good for Havre, the offense has been even better. The Ponies have scored 60 or more points in three of four games and are averaging just over 61 points per game during their win streak.

"The biggest thing for us has been our defense," Leeds said. "The boys have really committed defensively and that has been the biggest difference from the first game. I knew that our offense would be fine, we are always going to be able to score, but defense is the real key for us."

Of course, Dane Warp has been a big part of Havre's offensive success as he leads the team with 23 points per game. The senior is excelling not only as a scorer, but also leads the team in rebounds at 7.2 per game, blocks with two per game, steals with 2.6 per game and assists with 2.2 per game.

Yet, Warp is not the only senior who has been a driving force for HHS this season as point guard Jerod Boles and swingman Nate Rismon have both been catalysts for success. Boles has made his biggest contribution on the offensive end, where he is averaging 10.8 points a game, while Rismon has made his presence felt on the defensive end.

"He just brings so much energy," Leeds said of Rismon. "He's kind of the glue that holds everything together for our defense. I think he will come along more offensively as the season goes on but right now he is just doing whatever we need him to do to win games."

Havre's roster is filled with talent and experience, but if the Ponies want to even the season series with Malta, they will need to slow down the likes of Allen Williamson, who had 21 points in the first meeting and Nate Costin, who finished with 18.

When Malta knocked off the Havre boys, it was seen as a mild upset, but when the M-Ettes defeated the Pony girls it was the furthest thing from it. That's because Malta may have the most talented girls basketball team in the state and at 5-0, the defending Class B state champs certainly look like the real deal.

"I think our approach this week in practice has been fantastic," HHS head coach Dustin Kraske said. "Our kids are working hard. They are on it. Anytime you play a team like Malta in non-conference, it doesn't mean much recordwise, but it makes you better. We are going to go out and compete. It's going to be a good basketball game."

In the first matchup, Hailey Nicholson, Jada Nicholson and Sophia Stiles dominated. Those three players combined for 53 of Malta's 63 points and holding them in check will be essential for the Ponies to have any chance of pulling the upset.

"I think the biggest thing is that we need to do a better job of keeping them in front of us," Kraske said. "We just gave them too many open looks and we need to try and limit those."

HHS may not have a big three as good as Malta's, but the Ponies still have two of the best players in Class A girls basketball. Dani Wagner, who recently committed to play at Carroll College next season, is third in the state with a scoring average of 18.4, while Naomi Terry is 11th with an average of 13.

Yet, as good as Malta is offensively, the M-Ettes are equally good on defense and if Havre is going to have a chance to win, the Ponies need to be much more efficient offensively.

"The biggest thing for us will just be getting the best shot for that possession," Kraske said. "Taking care of the ball will be important because it seems like we turn it over at times, unnecessarily. But I think we can get to the basket a little better. Last time I thought we settled too much. They are well-coached and great defensively, so we need to get to the basket, take good shots and shoot confidently."

The Pony girls, who come into their showdown with the M-Ettes at 2-3 will look to avoid being swept for the second straight year. Tip-off for the girls game will be at 6:30 p.m. The boys game will precede it and get underway at 5 p.m. Both games will be played inside the HHS gymnasium.