Havre girls look to keep it rolling in 2018

The Havre High girls basketball team is off to a perfect 6-0 start this season, and after a few weeks off for the holidays, the Blue Ponies are ready to get back to the court and back to their winning ways.

Yet, after not playing since Dec. 21 against Great Falls High, Havre won't have time to be rusty, as the Ponies start the second part of their schedule tonight in Fairfield, against the defending Class B state champions. The Ponies and Eagles will meet tonight at 7. Havre will then return home to host Lewistown Saturday. Tip-off is set for 6:30 p.m. inside the HHS gymnasium.

"Fairfield is going to be a challenge," HHS head coach Dustin Kraske said. "Winning there isn't easy. They don't have the same team they did last year, but Dustin Gordon does a great job and he will have them ready to go. For us, we are just focusing on continuing to improve and get better."

As far as the Ponies are concerned, they have been ready to go from the opening tap this season. Havre has played well on both sides of the ball on its way to six straight wins. Offensively, HHS is averaging 60 points per game and shooting 40 percent as a team from the field.

While the Ponies boast a balanced attack offensively, the key cogs are sophomore Kyndall Keller and senior Danielle Wallace. Keller, who earned All-State honors as a freshman, has taken her game to another level this season, averaging 19 points, six rebounds and three steals per night. She is also averaging more than eight free-throw attempts per game. As a team, Havre is averaging close to 18. Keller is the leading scorer, but Wallace has also been a steady presence inside for the Ponies and she is scoring 10.8 points and also grabbing a team-high seven rebounds per night.

Another key performer for Havre this season has been Kaylee Nystrom, who averages seven points per game, in addition to four steals and three assists. She leads the team in both categories. Fellow senior Marca Herron has also been a solid contributor with an average of 6.7 points. She is also the Ponies leading 3-point shooter, as she is knocking down 44 percent of her shots beyond the arc.

But as good as Havre has been offensively, the strength of the team is still its defense. The Ponies are allowing opponents to score just 31.6 ppg and have yet to allow a team to score 40 points in a game this season.

"I think the biggest thing for us is that our kids just continue to work really hard," Kraske said. "I think at times we have had lapses, but I see some of our younger players starting to get better and better, especially over the break. Our kids are just really committed to it and I think they have just decided they are going to work really hard and that's it."

Of course, Fairfield has also been known for having an outstanding defensive program and this season, the Eagles are solid again, allowing opponents to score 49 points per game. However, on the other end, Fairfield has struggled to score, getting just 46 points a game.

After stepping out of the Central A conference tonight, the Ponies will return to conference play Friday, when Lewistown comes calling. It will be the third and final Central A home game this season for Havre (6-0, 2-0).

"It's kind of funny how that worked out," Kraske said. "We are already done with half our conference schedule and all of the games have been at home. But it's an important game. (Lewistown) has a new coach, and she is doing a good job."

Lewistown, which comes in averaging just 39 points per game, is led by Anna Zimmer, who averages 9.6 PPG. The Eagles other top scorers are Hanna Hayes (8.0 PPG) and Haydn Potter (7.2 PPG).

Havre will open its two-game stretch this weekend tonight in Fairfield at 7. Havre and Lewistown will play Saturday at 6:30 p.m.