Havre High girls making history as they go...a history that MSU-Northern is a big part of

When you have a program steeped in is much tradition and history as the Havre High girls basketball team has going for it right now, there's bound to be some pretty amazing story lines hidden within.

Among the many incredible stories inside the Blue Pony program, and one certainly unfolding as the Ponies head to Missoula later this week to try and win yet another state championship, is the connection between so many of the current players, and family members who once played basketball at Montana State University-Northern, or at a time even when we all affectionately knew our school up on the hill as Northern Montana College.

It's funny, too, because probably many of the current Blue Ponies who have parents or relatives who were alumni of Northern basketball, probably hardly know about the old days of NMC.

Yet we all do. Those days are forever etched in my brain. Remember back-to-back nights of Frontier Conference basketball in the Armory Gymnasium? Remember the old wooden bleachers throughout? Remember the Budweiser Ball Guy? I do. I remember all of it. Those were some incredible times, and while there's still incredible times happening at Northern, it's fun to be nostalgic once in a while.

And even though the current Blue Pony team hasn't even finished its season yet, nostalgia is certainly a fun part of the run the Ponies, under head coach Dustin Kraske are on.

Again, just look at the Northern connections. It's amazing.

Blue Pony senior Sadie Filius' mom and aunt, at one time were known to Northern fans as the Fike twins. A pair of incredible twin sister guards, Kim, and Sadie's mom, Kari, were part of Northern's amazing run to an NAIA national championship once upon a time. Now, Sadie is the second such daughter of Kari who has won a state championship with the Ponies, and she's not done yet.

Junior Yelena Miller, a star post player for the Ponies is yet another example of a direct tie to Northern basketball. Yelena, and her older sister Kadia, who won a state championship for the Blue Ponies as well, are the daughters of Rhea Frey, who was an all-star player herself once upon a time at NMC.

It doesn't end there either. Of the current Blue Pony roster, senior Jade Wendland's mom Jennifer Young was a Skylight, as was sophomore Kyanna Jarvis' mom Tamecia Watkins. Meanwhile, we all remember the sweet-shooting Andy Carlson for the Lights back in the hey day. Well, his daughter Avery is yet another All-State standout for the current Blue pony girls. Havre even currently has yet another assistant coach who played at Northern in Lacy Keller, who was a former Big Sandy star and a major standout for the Skylights under now head coach Chris Mouat, while junior Molly Huse, of course, has her own connection to Northern, in the form of her dad Shawn, the longtime great head coach of MSU-N men's basketball.

Yes, following the run the Blue Pony girls have been on over the years has been so much fun, and it would be fun no matter what. Those of us who love Havre High and love hoops have really treated to something special with the HHS girls.

But, when you factor in the current Blue Pony team, and its strong ties to the great and historic past of Northern basketball, it makes following the Ponies even a little more special than it already is.