Blue Pony girls prepped for tonight's big game against Browning

The Havre High girls basketball team will get a break from non-conference play this week, but with one of the best teams in Class A invading the HHS gymnasium, there will still be a big-game feel tonight at the HHS gymnasium.

That's because when 7 p.m. rolls around, the Blue Ponies will renew their rivalry with the Browning Indians, a former Central A rival and the team HHS knocked off the state semifinals last year in Great Falls.

"We are looking forward to playing Browning," HHS head coach Dustin Kraske said. "They have the (Dulci) Skunkcap kid who is very, very good. They have Gardipee who is very good and Polk who is having a very good year. They have some wonderful low players and it's going to be another really nice game at Havre High."

Earlier this season, the top-ranked Ponies battled another Class A contender, Billings Central and the game went to overtime. It was the closest Havre has come to a loss during its 32-game winning streak and with the 7-1 Indians coming to town tonight, it should be another heavyweight fight.

One thing that will be fun for basketball fans will be watching Havre's defense (34.5 ppg allowed), which is among the best in the state, take on the Browning offense. The Indians are averaging 65 points per game this season and they are led by Tamika Gardipee, who has been a force inside for the Indians with an average of 16.5 points and 10.2 rebounds per game.

Dulci Skunkcap, who also averages double-digit points for Browning with 10 a game is another key that makes the Browning offense go. Another big threat is Danaiya Polk, who is a dangerous 3-point shooter, who makes 53 percent of her shots from beyond the arc, as well as averaging just under nine points a night.

Havre will counter with its own talented roster led by junior Kyndall Keller, a two-time All-State performer who is scoring 15.6 per game to go along with 5.6. rebounds. Fellow junior Kadia Miller has also become a strong two-way force for the Ponies, as she is second on the team in points (9.1) in addiiton to leading the team in rebounding (5.7 rpg). Loy Waid, Sadie Filius and Jessa Chvilicek are three others who have been hot offensively in recent weeks. While Waid starts along with Miller, Keller, Katie Wirtzberger and Kylie Walker, both Filius and Chvilicek have provided a key presence off the bench, which could be a big factor against a team of Browning's quality.

"Not to take anything away from Fairfield, but Browning is the game we are really focused on this week," Kraske said. "Other than us just trying to get better with every game. But I am excited about this game, it's going to be fun."

Havre will start its week tonight against Browning, yet Saturday, Havre will take on another familiar foe in Fairfield, the Class B rival that has been a regular part of the Ponies' schedule for years. Of course, the coaching matchup between Kraske and the Eagles Dustin Gordon always draws attention as both coaches bring multiple state championships to the sideline. The Ponies will host the Eagles Saturday night at 5.

The Eagles will head into the Pony Corral with a winning record that includes a recent 50-44 win over Lewistown last Friday. Fairfield also sits atop of the District 1B standings with a 3-0 mark after wins over Cut Bank, Shelby and Rocky Boy. Havre swept the Eagles last season when the two teams met in non-conference play.

"(Dustin) Gordon always goes a great job," Kraske said. "His kids are going to be well prepared and they will play hard. I do know that they have one guard that is pretty salty, but that will be another good challenge for us."

The Ponies will open their week tonight against Browning in a rematch of the Class A state semifinals. Tip-off time is set for 7 tonight. Havre will then host Fairfield Saturday with the start time scheduled for 4 p.m.