Havre girls face road test to begin new year

As the calendar turns to 2022, it is time for the Havre High girls basketball team to get back on the court after the winter break. The Blue Ponies are already off to a 5-1 start this season and they hope to maintain their rhythm when they head on a road trip this weekend to face Miles City and Hardin. With the road test ahead, HHS head coach Dustin Kraske hopes to see his team come out strong to start the new year.

"(We expect) to play well together, play hard and have fun," Kraske said.

The Ponies will get the weekend started against Miles City tonight. The Cowgirls enter the weekend with a 3-2 record and 1-0 conference record. Last season, the Ponies made quick work of Miles City with a 66-8 win at home and a 62-42 win on the road.

One player who might get things going for Miles City is Lainey Smith, who leads the Cowboys in scoring and was named second team all-conference as a sophomore last season. The Ponies will also need to watch out for the next two leading scorers for the Cowgirls who are Jillian Kanduch and Alli Glasscock. If the Ponies take their opponent lightly, Miles City could make it a fight.

"They're very well coached," Kraske said. "They play incredibly hard. They're very disciplined and we look forward to the opportunity. It'll be fun."

The Ponies will continue their road trip with a game against Hardin Saturday. The Bulldogs are off to a strong start this season with a 7-0 record. Hardin should be a tough matchup after giving Havre trouble last year.

In the regular season, Havre lost, 41-38, at home to the Bulldogs. The Ponies then went to Hardin and defeated the Bulldogs, 44-40. In their most important meeting of the season in the postseason, the Ponies again grinded it out for a 50-46 win over Hardin. Their undefeated record so far this season shows that the Bulldogs are just as competitive as they were last season.

"I think Hardin could be the best team in Class A," Kraske said. "They are very disciplined. They are flying all over the place. They press, trap, shoot the ball from anywhere and they share the ball. They're very good and it'll be a really fun game for us to play."

Kamber Good Luck and Kylee Old Elk return for their senior seasons after all-state seasons last year. Good Luck is currently averaging 16.3 points per game for the Bulldogs. The Ponies should also focus on Breanna Old Elk who was honorable mention all-conference last season for the Bulldogs. Aiyanna Big Man will also look to make an impact as she averages 11 points a game for the Bulldogs. Havre will also need to box out Dierra Takes Enemy who leads Hardin with 5.3 rebounds a game.

After winning the state title last season, the Ponies are off to a strong start with a 5-1 record and a 3-0 start in Northeast A competition. After an all-state season last year, Yelena Miller is following it up with a team-high 12.3 points and 6.8 rebounds per game this season. Avery Carlson is also playing well for the Ponies averaging 11.5 points and 5.8 boards a contest. North Star transfer Jade Wendland is also making an impact in her first year with the Ponies as she averages 11 points a game.

While the Ponies are playing well to start the season, there might be some rust from the winter break. But Kraske believes that if his players can refocus, they will recapture the momentum they had heading into the break.

"We have to make the effort in practice, which I think we have been," Kraske said. "It's just getting mentally prepared to get off the bus and play. I think sometimes that's hard for kids and that'll be our biggest challenge."

The Ponies will start the road trip tonight at 6 p.m. against Miles City. The Ponies will then end the weekend Saturday at 4 p.m.