Havre High boys start 2019 at home against rival Stars

During the first six games of the season, the Havre High boys basketball team learned a lot about itself and now, after a couple of weeks off, the Blue Ponies are itching to get back on the court.

Tonight, Havre and head coach Walynn Burgess will get that chance as the Ponies will play the first of two games this week against Rocky Boy. The Stars, who swept Havre last season, will invade the HHS gymnasium for a game set to tip off at 7.

"We are excited to get back out there and play some games again," Burgess said. "Practice is good and we got better these last couple of weeks, but it's time to go out and play some games, so we are looked forward to that."

Not only will the Ponies get two games this week, but Havre will get a chance to play two very good opponents. Rocky Boy is first and the Stars, who are sitting at 4-2, bring in a solid team that took third place in Class B a season ago. Then, the Ponies will travel to Lewistown Saturday to take on an Eagles team that is among the best in Class A and looks like a lock to reach the state tournament once again out of the Eastern A.

"They are really tough," Burgess said of Rocky Boy. "Frankie Bacon is really good at attacking and getting to the rim. Wyatt Caplette is a kid that we have to keep off the glass. He is really athletic. They get after it and they get up and down the floor. They are well coached and they are more competitive than people give them credit for."

Rocky Boy did lose some key pieces from last year's team such as Kendall Windy Boy, who was denied an appeal (based on age) by the MHSA to play this season, leaving the Stars without him or Ben Iron Eyes, who was a senior last year.

But, under the direction of head coach Adam Demontiney, who has twice coached the Stars to third place in Class B, Rocky Boy appears ready to make another run this season, behind the likes of Frankie Bacon, Olin Arkinson and Wyatt Caplette.

Havre will counter with a lineup that features five players averaging seven points or more. Sophomore Kellen Detrick is the leading scorer for the Ponies with an average of 15.8. Scoring over 15 a game is impressive enough in its own right, however, what makes his offensive numbers even better has been his efficiency as he is shooting 68 percent from the field and 75 percent from 3-point range, although he has only attempted four shots from beyond the arc. Detrick also leads Havre with 7.8 rebounds per game. He has 33 rebounds overall and 14 offensive boards, which are both team highs.

Havre's second-leading scorer is Tommy Brown, who is averaging nine points a game. Then it's Jake Huston (8.4 ppg) followed by seniors Tysen Sangrey (7.2 ppg) and Austin Delarosa (7.0 ppg). As a team, the Ponies are scoring 55.5 points per game and shooting 31 percent from deep, with nearly five makes per game.

Havre will need a strong offensive outing if the Ponies are going to knock off Rocky Boy tonight, yet it will need to even better if they are going to have a chance at upsetting Lewistown Saturday.

The Eagles will begin the week with a 5-1 record overall and are also 1-0 in the Central A. Their only loss up to this point was against Billings Central, another state title contender, and in their five wins, the average margin of victory has been 17.5.

Lewistown boasts quite possibly the top scoring tandem in the state in Jaden Graham and Tanner Trafton, who both average exactly 17 points a game.

"Scott Sparks is a great coach," Burgess said. "I had the privilege of being around him when he was at Denton-Geyser-Stanford, so I will enjoy coaching against him. Graham is one of the best players in the state. He lights it up and he can score from wherever. Trafton just works really hard and his motor never stops. You have to bring your 'A' game against them but I love the challenge of another tough game on the road."

Havre will first play Rocky Boy at home tonight, with tip-off time set for 7. Havre will then take on Lewistown, on the road, Saturday at 6:30 p.m.