Pony girls begin Central A title defense

It's been a long time since the Havre High girls basketball team has lost a game within the Central A conference, and this weekend, the Blue Ponies will look to keep that trend going in back-to-back road games against Livingston and Belgrade.

The trip to play Livingston and Belgrade on consecutive nights has been an annual one for the Ponies, but it will be their last trip to Belgrade, as the Panthers are set to join Class AA next season. First, Havre will take on Livingston tonight at 6. Then, the Ponies will close out the weekend Saturday against Belgrade, with tip-off time set for 2 p.m.

"This will give us a chance to be in the best possible position for our divisional tournament," HHS head coach Dustin Kraske said. "That's kind of what we talked to our kids about so they can get ready for that. I realize it's December, but we only have six games to get seeded up for divisionals, so we need to go out and play well on the road."

While playing on the road could be a challenge for the Ponies, who don't have a single senior in their starting lineup, Kraske said the experience against Glendive should help, even though the road trip this weekend will be a little different.

"Maybe the biggest thing for us playing conference games with a team that for our guys, other than Kyndall and Kadia, is their first experience doing that," Kraske said. "That could be a challenge but I think that we will be ready to go."

Havre will come into tonight's game against Livingston sporting a 2-0 record. Livingston, on the other hand, is 1-3. The Rangers won their first game of the season at home against Miles City, 60-47, before losing three straight games to Townsend, Hardin and Billings Central.

As a team, the Rangers are averaging 36.5 points per game and are led by Abby Kokot, who is averaging 11.2 points and 7.2 rebounds. Kokot is also averaging more than two steals and one block per game. The other key contributor for the Rangers so far this season has been Kodie Vondra, who is scoring eight points per game and also grabbing 4.2 rebounds.

"Their guard play has been as good as it's been in a while," Kraske said. "Kokot is a pretty nice kid and they have done a good job. What I like about (Livingston) is that they play really hard."

Havre will counter with a defense that allowed 59 points to Billings Central before turning around and limiting Glendive, a team that made the state tournament a season ago, to just 33 points. Offensively, the Ponies will be paced by junior Kyndall Keller, who is averaging 22 points and seven rebounds to start the season. Keller is shooting 50 percent from the field and 88 percent at the free throw line.

Keller is the only Havre scorer who averages in double figures, yet HHS has four others that average at least 6.5 PPG on a team that has scored an average of 67.5 through two contests. Kadia Miller and Kylie Walker are both second on the team with an average of 8.5, followed by Jessa Chvilicek, who averages eight points, and Sam Oliver, who is scoring 6.5 points off the bench.

After taking on the Rangers tonight, Havre will turn its attention toward Belgrade, a team that also made the state tournament last March. The Panthers are 1-2 after losses to Hardin and Laurel, sandwiched around a win over Miles City. Each of Belgrade's opponents scored 45 points or more, while the Panthers average 44.7 points offensively.

The top threat is Gabby Webber, an All-State performer a season ago that is averaging 14.7 points and 5.3 rebounds. Bailey Christensen is another name to watch for a Panthers team that does most of its work inside and is just 1-of-13 from 3-point range in three games.

"Everything kind of goes through Webber," Kraske said. "And that Bailey Christensen, she works hard inside and I like what she does. They will provide their own challenges."

Havre will take on Livingston tonight at 6 and Belgrade Saturday at 2 p.m.