Ponies fall to Rams, MHSA calls off remainder of state tournies

BILLINGS - With the quarterfinal win over the Hamilton Broncs, the Havre High girls basketball team was ready to face their biggest challenge yet, taking down the Billings Central Rams in the semifinals of the MHSA Class A girls state tournament Friday evening in the First Interstate Bank Arena at the Metra in Billings.

Unfortunately, the Blue Ponies fell to the Rams 50-43 and will not have their chance at a three-peat as state A champions. On top of that, Havre will not get the chance to claim third either and their season has ended, as the Montana High School Association released a statement cancelling the rest of the tournament due to the coronavirus (COVID-19) concern.

With four cases tested positive in four different cities, one being in Billings, there will be no continuation of the tournaments, with the semifinal winners being crowned as co-champions. HHS athletic director Dennis Murphy gave a statement on the cancellation to Havre Daily News Friday night.

"We've been following the recommendation of the CDC and the medical personnel in Montana," Murphy said. "The association has been in contact with them each day and obviously, we've come to a point where it was time, we need to cancel this tournament. It's unfortunate, but it's based on what's going around, it's the right thing to do."

But before the cancellation was announced, Havre and Billings Central squared off in the Metra. Blue Pony head coach Dustin Kraske thought his team fought hard throughout the game against the Rams.

"We fought hard tonight," Kraske said. "But Billings Central had us all the way through the game."

To start of the game, the two recent-year rivals battled it out. Senior Kyndall Keller gave the Ponies an early lead, but Isabelle Erickson and Mya Hansen tied it back up. Keller put up another basket, then Maria Stewart responded, while Sadie Filius tried to inch closer back into the lead. After the first quarter, Central led Havre 9-6.

Keller and Hansen traded blows once again to open the second stanza, followed by an unanswered 7-0 run by the Ponies to lead 15-14 with 3:06 left in the first half. Hansen and Olivia Moten-Schell dropped some buckets for the Rams, but a final minute basket by Keller had Havre leading 20-17 at halftime.

After the intermission, HHS started to hit a slump. Central took back the lead, Filius snagged it right back, then Erickson dropped a field goal to get the lead, followed by some baskets by Havre senior Sam Oliver. In the end, Hansen had just enough to have the Rams lead 26-25 after three. The Ponies had no field goals in the third quarter.

That trend continued into the fourth quarter, where Central put up buckets to lead 30-25, while Havre still could not sink a field goal. Then, the Rams went on an unanswered 7-0 run of their own to extend their lead 37-27. From there, Keller would make the Ponies first field goal of the second half, but Hansen and Central stayed on top to seal their win as Class A girls co-champions.

At the end of the game, Kraske still saw something strong on the court for his team despite the loss.

"

I thought we did well defensively for a good portion of the game," Kraske said."

Now, Havre's season has ended with the cancellation of the Class A state tournament by the MHSA. The Ponies will not be fighting for third place and will graduate a stellar senior class in Kadia Miller, Jessa Chvilicek, Katie Wirtzberger, Keller and Oliver.

With that, HHS girls basketball's historic run in the winner's bracket at the state tournament came to an end, as did the careers the Ponies' special senior class. But, no doubt, HHS will be back and strong again next season.

Note: Billings Central and Hardin will be named co-champions for the girls tournament. For much more on state, see Monday's Havre Daily News.

Billings Central 50, Havre 43

BCC 9 8 9 24 – 50

HAV 6 14 5 18 – 43

BCC – Maria Stewart 7, Solei Elletson 7, Mya Hansen 22, Isabelle Erickson 5, Olivia Moten-Schell 9. Totals: 13 19-25 50.

HAV – Sam Oliver 3, Kyndall Keller 18, Kylie Walker 3, Loy Waid 3, Kadia Miller 5, Jessa Chvilicek 2, Sadie Filius 9. Totals: 13 16-24 43.