Pony girls slip past Browning on the road

Through the first nine games of the season, the Havre High girls basketball team has rarely been challenged. Havre had played some ranked teams in Class B, but none in Class A, which made last Friday's contest in Browning, so highly anticipated.

The Indians came in as the No. 4 team in the Class A and for the most part, they were able to hang with the third-ranked Blue Ponies, who won the game 57-50. Making the win even more impressive was the fact that the Ponies did most of their work without Kyndall Keller, the leading scorer in Class A girls basketball, who was limited to just a few minutes of play and two points because of an ankle injury.

"The kids really stepped up," HHS head coach Dustin Kraske said. "It was a total team effort. Browning has a good team, but our kids really started off well. And we came out after halftime, Browning made a little run, but we held our ground. We got some baskets from pretty much everybody, so that was nice."

Yet, even without Keller, the Ponies still managed to jump on the Indians early. Senior point guard Marca Herron helped pick up the scoring slack with Keller out and got things going early with two 3-pointers. Kadia Miller also scored four first-quarter points and Havre led after one 18-9.

"Marca was aggressive," Kraske said. "She looked to get to the bucket a little more and she did a nice job."

Starting in the second quarter, Havre started to take advantage of its size inside. Kyley Verploegen came off the bench and scored six points. Kaylee Nystrom also added five points in the stanza and the Ponies found themselves leading 33-21 at halftime.

In the third quarter, Browning started to find a rhythm offensively and the Indians were able to score 14 points. However, thanks to a seven-point stretch from Herron, that also included her third make from beyond the arc, HHS maintained an 11-point lead going into the fourth, 46-35.

Over the last eight minutes, Browning was able to creep closer and closer to the Ponies, before finally getting within two possessions with around three minutes to go at 53-48. The Indians were even within four points, 54-50, but Havre scored just enough points to hang on for the seven-point win. Danielle Wallace, who managed five points in the final stanza came up big. Ryen Olson also did her part with a 3-pointer as Havre managed an 11-point fourth quarter.

Herron led all players with a game-high 15 points. Miller, Wallace and Verploegen each added 10, while Nystrom had six. Olivia Hall was the high scorer for Browning with 13. Dulci Skunkcap also added 11.

"Kaylee Nystrom played well," Kraske said. "Ryen Olson hit a big three late. Wallace played really well in the fourth quarter. Verploegen she did a nice job and Kadia, she had another nice game. I am telling you, it was everybody, it took us all to do it."

The Ponies (10-0) will look to continue their winning ways this weekend, when they will travel to Livingston and Belgrade for back-to-back games Friday and Saturday within the Central A conference.

Havre 57, Browning 50

Havre 18 15 13 11 - 57

Browning 9 12 14 15 - 50

Browning - Lacie Cross 4, Kelsey Mad Plume 2, Taylor Jordan 9, R. Jordan 9, Dulci Skunkcap 11, Tamika Gardipee 2, Olivia Hall 13.

Havre - Kyndall Keller 2, Ryen Olson 4, Kaylee Nystrom 6, Kadia Miller 10, Marca Herron 15, Danielle Wallace 10, Kyley Verploegen 10.