HHS netters thrive in Glendive

After watching it rain for four straight days, and watching an entire day of tennis get washed away, the Havre Blue Ponies finally found themselves back on the court. And, they were on courts in unfamiliar territory.

But, even with the Ponies attending the Elks Invite in Glendive for the first time in more than 20 years, Havre’s return to Glendive Friday and Saturday was certainly a triumphant one as the Pony boys and girls combined for six wins and two ties in duals. And, it was also an exciting trip for HHS head coach George Ferguson’s teams.

“The Glendive trip was everything we were looking forward to,” Ferguson said. “It was a great experience. We played a lot of tennis. We won matches against good competition, and most importantly, we took some more steps forward. We knew we weren’t going to reach our peak this weekend, but the Glendive tournament was a great way to help us get there. So I’m really glad we went and all of our kids once again represented Havre High tennis very, very well.”

As expected, the Havre High boys were on top of things for much of their five duals. On Friday, the Ponies bested Cody, Wyoming and Miles City, losing just one match in those two duals. Havre then beat a strong, but short-handed Glendive squad 4-2. The Ponies also tied Hardin 3-3 and fell to defending state champion Billings Central 4-2 Saturday.

Individually, Havre got another big weekend from senior Jeff Miller, who went 4-1, while the doubles teams of Trey Hanson and Nate Korb and Kennedy McKay and Trey Murphy also won four times each, including matches against tough Billings Central squads. Ferguson said his entire team, including the tandem of sophomore Brady Ophus and freshman Tommy Brown performed well at one time or another throughout the two days.

“I thought we got off the bus and played really well on Friday,” Ferguson said. “We did have some ups and downs, but when you raise the level of competition, that’s going to happen. Tennis is never going to be perfect, and we suffered some close losses in some tough matches this weekend. And we didn’t play our best all the way through.

“But when it was all said and done, our boys did exactly what we asked them to do,” he continued. “They gave us their best effort, they worked hard to improve and they gained a lot of valuable experience. Our boys have high expectations and high goals this season, and even with some tough losses, we took steps towards achieving those goals this weekend, so I’m very proud of all of them.”

Ferguson was just as excited for his girls team. The Ponies opened the weekend with a split with Cody, a victory over Miles City and a loss to a tough Glendive squad. On Saturday, HHS also split with Hardin before falling to Billings Central in a tight dual for the second time in as many weeks.

“Our girls are just getting better and better,” Ferguson said. “And it seems, the last couple of weeks, the tougher the competition, the better they’re playing. Our top two doubles teams are really starting to hit their stride, but up and down our lineup, our girls are playing really well, and they did again this weekend.

“Again, you’re not going to win them all in tennis,” he continued. “And we had those kinds of matches this weekend. But, I felt like our girls played very well. So I’m proud of all our girls. They really continued the momentum they started to build last week in Lewistown.”

HHS’ top two doubles teams, composed of Rainey Stoner and Madison Huebsch and Reggie Bernard and Alara Vogel did indeed lead the way, with the senior tandems combining for nine wins on the weekend. Havre also got strong singles performances at different times from both Paige Nelson and Meggan Smith, but again, Ferguson liked what he saw from all of his players, the girls and the boys.

“The competition was good, it was a long trip and a new environment,” Ferguson said, “and our kids handled all of it really well. They all stepped up. They were focused and they all got better in different areas and at different times. Our young kids continue to learn and our veterans continue to sharpen the things they already are doing well. So I couldn’t be more excited about how this Glendive trip went, and where our teams are at right now.”

Havre will turn around and go from one tough trip to another. This Friday and Saturday, the Blue Ponies are at the prestigious Helena Invitational.

BOYS

Friday

Havre 5, Cody 1

Singles: Jeff Miller, H. def. Gaston Osterland 6-2, 6-2; Dustin Haas, H, def. Shad Wasia 6-2, 6-2.

Doubles: Jake Sedahl/Jerod Boles, H, def. Joe Luedde/Evan Wambeke 6-2, 7-5; Nate Korb/Trey Hanson, H, def. Naboa Brown/Mark Bullerdick 6-2, 6-2; Trey Murphy/Kennedy McKay, H, def. Luke Campbell/Takota Hammond 6-2, 6-3; Cody Hume/Duke Dickson, C, def. Tommy Brown/Brady Ophus 6-4, 7-5.

Havre 6, Miles City 0

Singles: Jeff Miller, H, def. AJ Dusatko 6-2, 6-2; Dustin Haas, H, def. Randell Sikveland 6-2, 6-2.

Doubles: Jake Sedahl/Jarod Boles, H, def. Devin Doughty/Christian Stradley 6-3, 4-6 (6); Nate Korb/Trey Hanson, H, def. Adam Glasscock/Drake Davis 7-5, 6-4; Trey Murphy/Kennedy McKay, H, def. Tristan Reno/Mason Lovec 6-2, 7-5.

Havre 4, Glendive 2

Singles: Jeff Miller, H, def. Josh Hoffer G. vs. 6-2, 6-3; Dustin Haas, H, def. Michael Hopfauf 7-6 (6), 6-3.

Doubles: Bret Vester/Jarod Asche, G, def. Jake Sedahl/Jerod Boles 6-2, 4-6, (4); Nate Korb/ Trey Hanson, H, def. Riley Handran/Brandon Carroll 6-4, 6-3; Trey Murphy/Kennedy McKay, H, def. Mitch Lucido/Casimir Melton 6-4, 6-3; Brian Fulton/Brett Striegel, G, def. Tommy Brown/Brady Opus 7-6 (7), 6-4.

Saturday

Hardin 3, Havre 3

Singles: Jeff Miller, Hav., def. Jon Noteboom 7-6 (1), 6-2; Dustin Haas, Hav., won by forfeit.

Doubles: Jake Sedahl/Jerod Boles, Hav., def. Michael Nesser/Darnell Left Hand 7-5, 4-6, (5); Codi Small/Klay Wacker, Har., Nate Korb/Trey Hanson 7-6, (7), 6-4; David Evans/Jordel Yarlott, Har., Trey Murphy Kennedy McKay 6-2, 6-4; Jae Hugs/Charles Storey, har., def. Tommy Brown/Brady Ophus 6-2, 4-6, (4).

Billings Central 4, Havre 2

Singles: Harrison Fagg, BC, def. Jeff Miller 7-6 (6), 6-2; Jake O’Leary, BC def Dustin Haas 7-5, 6-4.

Doubles: Simon Marshall/Joey Nichols, BC, def. Jake Sedahl/Jerod Boles 6-2, 7-5; Nate Korb/Trey Hanson, H, def. Cairo Morton/Jake Pankratz 4-6, 6-3, (2); Trey Murphy/Kennedy McKay, H, def. Andrew Nelson/Jet Campbell 6-2, 6-3; Alex Beierwaltes/Chris McIntyre, BC, def. Tommy Brown/Brady Ophus 6-3, 6-3.

GIRLS

Friday

Cody 3, Havre 3

Singles: Tessa Blough, C, def. Megan Smith 4-6, 6-3 (6); Lucille Sax, C, def. Paige Nelson 6-2, 6-4.

Doubles: Rainey Stoner/Madison Huebsch, H, def. Dorothy Shippen/Jessica Morales 6-3, 6-4; Alara Vogel/Reggie Bernard. H, def. Zoe Pearson/Kailee Arnold 6-3, 6-2; Alex Donaldson/Megan Lindblom, H, def. Ruby Wood/Chloe Baker 7-6 (2), 7-6 (8); Vicky Morales/Brisa Mata, C, def. Ashley Hoftland/Baylee Miller 4-6, 6-2, (6).

Havre 4, Miles City 2

Singles: Meggan Smith, H, def. Emily Toennis 6-2, 6-4; Paige Nelson, H, def. Tehya Regaldo 6-4, 6-4.

Doubles: Rainey Stoner/Madison Heubsch, H, def. Sydney Anderson/Hallie Banta 7-6 (3), 6-3; Alara Vogel/Reggie Bernard, H, def. Alyssa Lohrke/Morgan Lovec 7-5, 6-4; Shyla Greer/Mariah Beehler, MC, def. Alex Donaldson/Megan Lindblom 5-7, 7-5, (5); Bailee Banta/McKenzie Kortz, MC, def. Ashley Hoffland/Baylee Miller 6-4, 7-6 (2).

Glendive 5, Havre 1

Singles: Ceeara Staiger, G, def. Meggan Smith 6-2, 6-2; Marenah Crockett, G, def. Paige Nelson 6-4, 6-4.

Doubles: Hannah Bogar/Katrielle Carney, G, def. Rainey Stoner/Madison Heubsch 6-4, 6-2; Alara Vogel/Reggie Bernard, H, def. Sami Hubbard/Abby Hill 6-3, 2-6, (4); Alyssa Kessel/Montana Polette, G, def. Alex Donaldson/Megan Lindblom 6-3, 6-3; Kayla Kelly/Cheyenne Damrom, G, Ashley Hoffland/Bayle Miller 6-3, 6-3.

Saturday

Hardin 3, Havre 3

Singles: Brittney Schaff, Har., def. Meggan Smith 6-4, 6-2; Paige Nelson, Hav., def. Mary Anne Herrera 6-4, 6-2.

Doubles: Rainey Stoner/Madison Heubsch, Hav., def. Lisa Cai/Maddie Flamm 6-3, 6-2; Alara Vogel/Reggie Bernard, Hav., def. Makiko Reisig/Katie Murdock 6-2, 6-2;Imani Kindness/Naumi DuShane, Har., def. Alex Donaldson-Megan Lindblom 4-6, 6-3, (4); DeShawna Anderson/Trya Red Wolf, Har., def. Ashley Hoffland/Baylee Miller 6-2, 6-3.

Billings Central 4, Havre 2

Singles: Barclay Fagg, BC, def. Meggan Smith 6-3, 6-3; Meg Fitzgerald, BC, def. Paige Nelson 6-2, 6-2.

Doubles: Rainey Stoner/Madison Madison Heubsch, H, def. Hailey Keller/Emily Frey 6-4, 4-6, (4); Alara Vogel/Reggie Bernard, H, def. Kenna Adolph/Sophia Mascarerna 6-4, 6-4; Blayne Meyer/Emma Putman, BC, def. Blayne Meyer/Emily Putman 5-7, 6-4, (1); Gracie Newbury/Sarah Pankratz, BC, def. Baylee Miller/Ashley Hoffland 6-4, 6-2.