Ponies just happy to get some shots up

It has been some time since the local basketball scene has hit the courts across Montana due to the COVID-19 concern, but these days, many teams along the Hi-Line have been able to take advantage of the opportunity to have some offseason work.

Though there are major restrictions when it comes to how the offseason practices and workouts function, the Havre High boys basketball team has been taking every shot they can get up

The Blue Ponies' offseason has had some rough setbacks since the outbreak, but patience and perseverance have been able to allow the team to practice and workout in an open gym setting for the summer of 2020. Restrictions in regard to social distancing and proper sanitization have been put in place for the offseason routine, of course, and HHS is making sure they help secure a season this winter.

Havre head coach Walynn Burgess has been making sure his team is making the most of the summer as they can, especially since the team's open gym is back up and running.

"This summer we've just been trying to take that advantage of being able to get at least into the gym," Burgess said. "Being able to get in doing a bunch of our agility stuff and a lot of skill development. We've been able to go the past couple weekends and play a few games on the Hi-Line, like in Belt and Cut Bank. It's been a lot of good development for us because we have a lot of younger kids coming in and working on that skill development part of it."

The offseason workouts have been the steady routine of agility, shooting, passing, dribbling and many other fundamental exercise, all the while improving some mishaps that plagued the Ponies in the last season, as well. It is a process that has been long-awaited for the athletes and coaches, who have been hoping to get back onto the court to play.

There have even been games that the Havre squad has played in over the summer, which helps them get in some great practice outside of the basics, as well. The balance of fundamentals and real-time games have given the Ponies a good spark in an offseason that may have been lost at first. On top of that, there are many, if not all, Havre players who have been working hard at the Lights Summer League this year, too.

But when it comes to the biggest part of this offseason, Burgess knows what will make his team go the distance.

"Our biggest focus has been our skill development," Burgess said. "Trying to shoot, pass and dribble. We're trying to really get the fundamentals down and get back to the basics. We just like to keep it simple. We're trying to get back to what we know, improve what we can and trying to exploit what weaknesses we had last year. It's been pretty good so far."

The present is looking quite well for Havre basketball, but there are still some uncertainties in regard to the upcoming fall and winter seasons, as there are concerns that the virus will continue to put a damper on sports in the future. At the end of the day, the Ponies are just hoping to keep working hard in hopes that something will come about in the winter.

But in regarda to what may come, Burgess knows it is not that simple, so he is making sure he and his team take it one step at a time and grasp whatever present opportunity they can.

"When it comes to the future, you just take it day by day; week by week honestly," Burgess said. "I know I've got buddies that are coaching in other states that can't coach right now and being able to get in the gym like we are, so we're just lucky enough that we're able to get in and work on the skills we need right now. You can't control something that far down the road anymore. We have to control what's in front of us and this is what's in front of us, so we're just trying to have fun with it while we can."

That is exactly what Havre has been doing. With an open gym, summer league and an offseason full of hard work, the Ponies are priming up for a season they hope to have this year. After all, with all the youth and talent that is ready to take the stage and shine, there is no doubt that the Havre squad will be doing whatever it can to get better now as to make the most of the future.

And the Blue Ponies will be taking that journey one step at a time.