Blue Ponies cruise into Class A state championship game

The Havre Blue Ponies and Browning Indians have played some important girls basketball games over the years, but Friday night’s Class A semifinal in the Four Seasons Arena in Great Falls, was probably the biggest in 20 years.

But while the game was huge, only one team looked ready for the moment and it was the Ponies, who crushed Browning 53-29, on their way to a berth in Saturday night’s Class A state championship game.

“It feels great,” HHS head coach Dustin Krasker said. “Geez, our kids played so well tonight. I am so proud of their effort. We really have a team-first mentality and this team has really bought into that.”

In the early going, both teams struggled to score, as jitters and strong defense impacted the scoring at both ends. However, before the first quarter was over, Havre started to impose its will -- in fact it was the Ponies Kyndall Keller who imposed hers.

First, Keller knocked down a 3-pointer from the corner to give the Ponies an 8-4 advantage at the end of the first quarter. Then, in the second quarter, she took over, scoring eight points to help Havre build a 16-4 lead.

“I just tried to play my game,” Keller said. “My teammates did a great job of finding me. They set some nice screens and Kaylee Nystrom made some great passes.”

While Keller was going off, the Havre defense completely stymied the Indians, holding them without a field goal for the entire second quarter. Havre sophomore Kadia Miller added a trey of her own and another two-point bucket. At the half and after holding the Indians to 2-of-20 (10 percent) shooting in the first 16 minutes, the Ponies led 25-5.

“I thought that we would play more help defense,” Kraske said. “We wanted to keep them away from the basket and I thought we did a good job of limiting their open looks. It was quite a while before we gave them some good looks at the basket.”

In the third quarter, the Indians started to get something going offensively, scoring the first four points of the half, but each time, Keller and the Ponies had the answer. A series of jump shots by Keller helped maintain the margin. Six more points from the All-State sophomore gave Havre a 33-13 advantage with eight minutes to play.

In the final stanza, Keller continued her dominance. In the first few minutes of the final quarter, she scored five quick points. Five more from Marca Herron helped Havre extend its lead to 44-18 with 4:38 left in the game and at that point, the outcome was no longer in doubt.

Keller put together quite possibly the finest game of her young high school career, as she made 10-of-21 shots for 25 points. Herron also contributed with nine points on 3-of-4 shooting. The senior also had three assists. Nystrom scored just one point, but she also dished out four assists and nabbed three steals. Miller also pitched in with five. Danielle Wallace also managed four points and a game-high 12 rebounds.

After holding Browning to 10 percent shooting in the first half, Havre held the Indians to 24.4 for the game. The Indians were also just 1-of-14 from 3-point range, while the Ponies shot 46.2 percent overall and were 2-of-6 from beyond the arc.

“It’s an amazing feeling,” Keller said of making the state championship game. “I am so excited. I can’t even describe how it feels, it’s great.”

With the win, the Ponies are now 23-0 on the season, which sets the Havre school record for wins in a season. Havre can finish off the first undefeated season in Blue Pony basketball history with a win in the Class A state championship game. Tip-off time is scheduled for Saturday night at 8.

“It’s feels really good,” Nystrom added. “Really good. I have never really had a feeling like this before.”

All season, the Ponies have avoided talking about going 24-0 and finishing with a perfect record. But now that they are one win away, Nystrom admitted, “It’s a big goal of ours. It’s something we really want to do.”

Saturday night in Great Falls, they will have a chance to complete it, along with their first state title since 2014, which Havre won, ironically, at the Four Seasons Arena.

“I don’t know if it feels the same to the kids,” Kraske said. “They were probably sitting and watching in the bleachers. But for us coaches it does. It gives our community a chance to come down and supports us. We like playing in the barn.”

Havre 53, Browning 29

Browning 4 1 8 16 - 29

Havre 8 17 8 20 - 53

Browning - Danaiya Polk 4, Lacie Gross 2, Olivia Hall 4, Taylor Jordan 3, Ronnal Jordan 4, Dulci Skunkcap 11, Tamika Guardipee 1. Totals: 11-45 6-18 29.

Havre - Ryen Olson 1, Kyndall Keller 25, Kylie Walker 2, Kaylee Nystrom 1, Kadia Miller 5, Marca Herron 9, Katie Wirtzberger 2, Danielle Wallace 4, Loy Waid 2, Kyley Verploegen 2. Totals: 18-39, 15-24 53.

3-Pointers: Keller, Miller, Polk. Fouls: Browning 20, Havre 17. Fouled out -- Olivia Hall.