HHS tennis teams rise up in Helena

The two biggest tournaments of the year are still ahead of the Havre High tennis teams, but that didn’t mean the Blue Ponies weren’t playing big-time tennis this weekend.

Havre, just one of two Class A schools invited, was in Helena Friday and Saturday for the prestigious Helena Invitational, and the Blue Ponies were their usual successful selves in what is always billed as the toughest regular season tourney in Montana high school tennis.

“Helena always brings out the best in our kids, and it did again this weekend,” HHS head coach George Ferguson said. “This is best on best, and our kids took their games to the next level and beyond. Every one of our players played the best tennis of their season, against the best competition of the season, and that’s really exciting. I was so proud of how well our kids played. It was a great weekend, and it gives our teams a lot of confidence going forward.”

To no one's surprise, the senior doubles team of Trey Murphy and Kennedy McKay paced the Pony boys. The duo was on a hot streak coming into Helena, but ran into the eventual No. 1 doubles champions from Missoula Sentinel in the first round. However, Murphy and McKay rebounded, winning three straight matches, including a huge win over Helena High’s top team. The run ended one match short of the consolation final, as the Pony tandem fell to the top Bozeman squad, which many in Class AA consider the best team in the state.

“Trey and Kennedy came into Helena playing really well, and they left Helena playing even better,” Ferguson said. “Against three of the best teams in all of Montana, they played some of the best tennis of their careers. They went toe to toe with every top team there. It was so much fun to watch, and I think the experience is only going to enhance the fact that they’re going to be a real force in the postseason in Class A. They just played phenomenal tennis.”

As did all of Havre’s boys doubles teams.

Sophomores Reese Bulkley and Jake Huston also made it all the way to the consolation semifinals, while Brady Ophus and Tyrel Kjersem won twice at No. 3 doubles. In the tough singles portion of the tourney, Tommy Brown (1), Kendall Holden (2) and Josh Warp (3), won one match apiece.

“Our boys played at a high level against some really good tennis players and doubles teams,” Ferguson said. “Helena is such a tough tournament, and all of our boys really rose to the occasion. It was a great experience, and it really gives our boys team a ton of confidence moving forward.”

The Pony girls played inspired tennis as well.

Sophomore Cassidy Acor reached the No. 3 singles semifinals before falling twice, and the doubles team of Megan Lindbloom and Devyn Solomon came within one point of reaching the consolation final in the No. 2 bracket.

And while those were the big highlights for the HHS girls, Ferguson said, in wins and losses, Helena also brought out the best in his girls team.”

“Every match our girls played was tough,” Ferguson said. “In doubles and singles, the draws were really hard. But all of our kids battled. We were in a ton of tiebreakers, and a ton of close matches against top AA talent. Our girls really stood up to all those challenges, in wins and losses, and it just confirmed what I already knew, which is, our girls have a ton of talent and potential. I was really proud of the way all nine of those girls played. It was a really good showing by them.”

And playing well in Helena was key, especially with the Central A tournament a mere two weeks away.

“I have always said, if you can battle, play at a high level, and win in Helena, you can accomplish a lot in the postseason,” Ferguson said. “And all 18 of our kids did that this weekend. They played great tennis. They fought hard and stood up to great competition. I was so proud of all of them, and this weekend is a great springboard for all those kids moving forward. They were just awesome, and it was fun to watch all of them play so well.”

Havre closes out the regular season at the Lewistown Invitational Saturday.

Helena Invitational Havre Results

GIRLS

Paige Nelson

1st rd - BYE; QF - lost to Cassidy, BUT, 6-4, 7-5; Consolation 2nd rd - lost to Hofferman, MH, 7-6, 6-3.

McKenzie Tommerup

1st rd - lost to Softich, MS, 6-3, 6-4; Consolation 1st rd - lost to Hasquet, HH, 6-2, 6-2.

Cassidy Acor

1st rd - def. Madden, LIV, 6-3, 6-3; QF - def. Inabnit, GLA, 7-6, 5-7, 10-8; SF - lost to Maisch, BW, 3-6, 7-6, 11-9; Consolation SF - lost to

Alex Donaldson/Katie Donaldson

1st rd - lost to Gee/Farago, MBS, 6-3, 6-2;Consolation 1st rd - lost, to Johnson/Rudbach, GLA, 6-2, 6-2.

Megan Lindbloom/Devyn Solomon

1st rd - def. Koester/Lessmeir, GLA, 7-5, 7-6; QF - lost to Dresbach/Ludlow, CAP, 7-5, 7-6; Consolation 2nd rd - def. Brinda/Hicks, MBS, 6-3, 6-7, 10-7; Consolation 3rd rd - def. Stayner/Nerberg, MS, 6-3, 6-4; Consolation SF - lost to Higgins/Schultz, HH, 6-2, 2-6, 12-10.

Teagan Fee/Tiffany Ralph

1st rd - lost to Coonen/Trevor, HH, 6-3, 7-6; Consolation 1st rd - BYE; Consolation 2nd rd - lost to Finneman/Worthington, BW, 6-3, 3-6, 10-7.

BOYS

Tommy Brown

1st rd - lost to Treece, MS, 6-2, 6-2; Consolation 1st rd - def. Francisco, BUT, 7-6, 6-2; Consolaton 2nd rd - lost to Montague, BS, 6-2, 6-2.

Kendall Holden

1st rd - def. Kober, HH, 2-6, 6-3, 11-9; QF - lost to Wassmer, BW, 6-2, 6-2; Consolation 2nd rd - lost to Thompson, BSV, 6-2, 6-2.

Josh Warp

1st rd - lost to Thomas, CAP, 6-2, 6-3; Consolation 1st rd - BYE; Conoslation 2nd rd - def. Berryman. BUT, 6-3, 6-2; Consolation 3rd rd - lost to Bough, BS, 6-2, 7-6.

Trey Murphy/Kennedy McKay

1st rd - lost to Curtis/Violette, MS, 6-2, 7-5; Consolation 1st rd - def. Rosberg/Johnson, LIV, 6-2, 7-6; Consolation 2nd rd - def. Wyman/Reiman, GFH, 6-4, 6-3; Consolation 3rd rd - def. Martin/Seburn, HH, 7-6, 7-5; Consolation SF - lost to Pedersen/Martinovic, 6-3, 7-6.

Reese Bulkley/Jake Huston

1st rd - def. Watterud/Desmut, GLA, 7-5, 6-3; QF - lost to Anderson/Hasquet, HH, 6-2, 6-3; Consolation 2nd rd - def. Rosenbaum/Tollefson-Knee, MBS, 6-3, 6-4; Consolation 3rd rd - def. Krum/Stimac, CMR, 6-3, 6-4; Consolation SF - lost to Thomas/Olson, MS, 6-3, 7-6.

Brady Ophus/Tyrel Kjersem

1st rd - lost to Battershell/Carson, HH, 7-5, 7-6; Consolation 1st rd - def, Baroch/Mahoney, GFH, 6-3, 6-3; Consolation 2nd rd - def. McQueen/Hones, BS, 6-4, 7-5; Consolation 3rd rd - lost to Battershall/Carson, HH, 4-6, 6-2, 10-4.