Blue Pony boys basketball splits conference road trip

The Havre High boys basketball team has been battling all season long and this past weekend on the road was no different. On Friday night, the Blue Ponies lost, 53-43, on the road to Glendive but they bounced back Saturday for a 69-51 win on the road against Sidney.

“Anytime you go on the road, it’s always going to be a battle,” HHS head coach Walynn Burgess said. “I just like the way the boys responded to being on the road and having to go through that battle for the first time.”

The Ponies started the weekend against Northeast A opponent Glendive Friday night. The game started with a competitive first quarter. After Max Eaton scored a layup to start the game, Josh Currie nailed a 3-pointer to give Havre an early 3-2 lead. Michael Murphy then scored for the Devils and Shane Patascil responded with a layup for a 5-4 Havre lead. Murphy then made a 3-pointer to retake the lead for the Devils. A layup from Patascil then tied the game, 7-7, for the Ponies.

Neither team could take momentum as every score earned a response from the opposing side. After Murphy made a 3-pointer, Isaac Pedraza made a 3-pointer to tie the game again. Eaton scored a layup to give Glendive the lead again, but Caleb Spangler made a layup and one free throw to give Havre a 13-12 lead.

The Devils finally took control in the final minutes of the quarter with a 7-0 run. After Taven Coon made a three from the corner, Eaton and Parker Buckley scored a pair of baskets to give Glendive a 19-13 lead to end the quarter.

While the second quarter was a low-scoring affair, every basket received a response. After Patascil scored to cut the Ponies’ deficit, Buckley and Eaton scored a pair of baskets to stretch the lead to 23-15. Xavier Butler responded with a three from the corner to keep the Ponies in the game. Buckley scored a layup and one free throw and Caden Jenkins scored to cut the Ponies’ deficit to 26-20 at halftime.

But the Devils found some momentum in the third to create some distance on the scoreboard. After Pedraza made a 3-pointer to cut the lead to three, the Devils went on a 13-2 run to take a 39-25 lead. Butler and Jevin Jenkins scored some baskets late in the quarter but the Ponies trailed, 41-29, heading to the fourth.

“Just being as experienced as those guys are and how hard they play, you have to play a good game. You have to be on top of your stuff and we just had a few mental lapses,” Burgess said about falling behind the Devils.

The Ponies tried their best to get back in the game as they cut the deficit to 49-41 late in the fourth. But there was not enough time as the Devils closed out the win. Buckley led the Devils with 16 points while Patscil led the Ponies with 11 points.

The Ponies bounced back Saturday with their conference win over Sidney. After an early 2-2 tie, the Ponies scored eight straight points to take the lead. Butler led the way with a 3-pointer and then a layup and one free throw to give Havre a 10-2 lead three minutes into the game.

Even after a Sidney basket, the Ponies continued to set the tone. Butler continued to play well as he scored two more buckets to stretch the lead to 14-4. Caden Jenkins then got in on the action with a pair of free throws and a layup. Braylon DiFonzo scored late in the period, but the Ponies had the 18-6 advantage at the end of the period.

“We just played the way we wanted. We want to put people on their heels. We want to play fast and do different things on defense and I thought our boys responded really well and came out and played that way,” Burgess said about the start against Sidney.

The Ponies continued to play well with a 13-0 run to start the second quarter. Currie made his presence felt during this run as he scored seven points, including a 3-pointer. The Eagles went on a run late in the quarter, but the Ponies had a 39-20 lead at halftime.

In the second half, the Eagles were unable to get back in the game as the Ponies cruised to victory. Butler finished the game with 16 points while Patascil scored 15. Chance Waters led the Eagles with 15 points.

The Ponies are now 5-6 on the season and 3-3 in conference play. The Ponies came into the season as a young team and that has been seen through the year. As the postseason begins next month, Burgess hopes he can use this past weekend as well as their upcoming games to continue getting better for when the games matter the most.

“It’s constant steps towards the end of February,” Burgess said. “It’s just those steps to get ready for that divisional tournament.”

The Ponies return home to Havre High Gymnasium when they host Malta Tuesday night at 7:30 p.m.

Glendive 53, Havre 43

HAV - 13 7 9 14 - 43

GLE - 19 7 15 12 - 53

HAV - Shane Patascil 11, Isaac Pedraza 8, Xavier Butler 7, Caleb Spangler 5, Jevin Jenkins 4, Josh Currie 3, Tre Gary 3, Caden Jenkins 2.

GLE - Parker Buckley 16, Michael Murphy 13, Max Eaton 12, Taven Coon 12.

Havre 69, Sidney 51

HAV - 18 21 15 15 - 69

SID - 6 14 16 15 - 51

HAV - Xavier Butler 16, Shane Patascil 15, Isaac Pedraza 10, Josh Currie 9, Caden Jenkins 6, Caleb Spangler 6, Tre Gary 3, Jevin Jenkins 2, Jackson Headdress 2.

SID - Chance Waters 15, Jerome Entz 9, Braylon DiFonzo 7, Aren Larson 7, Austin Taylor 4, Cooper McNally 4, Ty Lovegren 3, R. McGinnis 2.