Havre boys take fourth at divisional tournament

It was not easy, but the Havre High boys basketball team extended its season thanks to a fourth-place finish at the Eastern A Divisional at the Metra in Billings this past weekend. After a loss to open the tournament, the Blue Ponies defeated Laurel, 62-54, Friday and then defeated Hardin, 62-45, Saturday morning to extend the season. With their season on the line, HHS head coach Walynn Burgess believes the Ponies came together as a team.

“I thought defensively, we were really locked in this week as far as assignments and doing those types of things,” Burgess said. “When these boys were pushed up against a wall where if you lose one game, your season’s over, I thought they responded really well to that adversity and came out and played the right way.”

The Ponies extended their season with their win over Laurel in a loser-out game Friday afternoon. The Ponies started the game with buckets from Tre Gary and Xavier Butler to take the lead. After a Laurel score, Butler knocked down a 3-pointer and Crawford Terry scored to give Havre a 9-2 lead.

The Locomotives eventually got rolling in the first quarter, but the Ponies took a 16-12 lead into the second quarter. The Ponies then started the second on a 10-0 run to stretch their lead to 26-12. Matt Huse made the biggest impact with five points during this stretch.

The Locomotives bounced back with an 11-2 run to cut Havre’s lead to 28-23 late in the half. With little time left before the break, the Ponies retook control with an 8-0 run. Butler’s six points helped the Ponies take a 36-23 lead into halftime.

Laurel tried to get back in the game, cutting Havre’s lead to 41-30 early in the third. The Ponies responded with free throws from Gary and a three from Terry to push the lead to 46-30. But the Locomotives kept fighting as they made it a 48-38 lead heading to the fourth.

The score remained steady through most of the fourth quarter as the Ponies took a 53-43 lead into the final three minutes of the contest. The Ponies finally put the game out of reach with a 6-0 run to make it a 59-43 lead with about a minute and a half left.

The Locomotives got on a late run to cut into the lead, but there was not enough time as Havre held on for the win. Butler finished the game with 16 points while Terry and Shane Patacsil each scored 11 for the Ponies. Eli Weisenberger led Laurel with 16 points.

Saturday morning, the Ponies defeated Hardin in a loser-out game to advance to the consolation game and clinch a spot in the Class A State Tournament. It was a tight contest early on as it was 11-11 late in the first quarter.

After Hardin took the lead thanks to some free throws from Antonio Espinoza, Butler knocked down a three and Terry made a pair of free throws to take the lead. The Bulldogs scored late in the quarter, but the Ponies took an 18-14 lead into the second.

The Bulldogs fought back to make it a 26-26 game halfway through the second quarter. But the Ponies went on an 8-0 run to take a 34-26 lead into halftime. Kash Keller made the biggest impact with four points during this stretch.

The Ponies maintained their momentum as they took a 45-35 lead into the fourth. The Ponies then pulled away in the fourth to secure their spot in the Eastern A Divisional consolation game. Terry finished the game with 14 points while Gary, Keller and Patacsil each scored 10 points.

The Ponies’ weekend came to an end with a 55-48 loss to Billings Central in the consolation game. The Rams started the game strong as they took a 9-3 lead in the first quarter. After they fought their way back, Kyler Northrop nailed a three to maintain the Rams’ lead. The Ponies went on a quick 4-0 run, but the Rams scored to take a 14-11 lead into the second.

The Ponies kept it close as they were able to make it a 19-18 lead halfway through the second. But the Rams ended the half on a 13-4 run to take a 32-22 lead into halftime. Espinoza and Northrop each scored four points during the run.

Early on in the third, it looked like the Rams would run away with it as they had a 41-28 lead. After a bucket from Terry, Carter Spangler made a layup and a 3-pointer to cut the Rams’ lead to 41-35 heading to the fourth.

Throughout the fourth, the Ponies kept it close but were unable to take control. Thanks to a three from Jackson Headdress, the Ponies cut the deficit to 52-48 with just under two minutes left. But the Rams made their free throws and played strong defense to win down the stretch. Terry finished the game leading the Ponies with 10 points.

With the fourth-place finish in the Eastern A Divisional, the Ponies have earned their way into a play-in game against Columbia Falls. The Ponies must win that game if they want to clinch a spot in the Class A State Tournament in Bozeman, so the Ponies will be solely focused on that game.

“It’s a win or go home type of situation for us so we know that we’re going to have to come out and play really well,” Burgess said.

Friday

Havre 62, Laurel 54, LO

LAU - 12 11 15 16 - 54

HAV - 16 20 12 14 - 62

LAU - Eli Weisenberger 16, Cody Dennis 11, Trey Hull 7, Tanner Knaub 6, Krew Hunter 6, Gus Robertus 3.

HAV - Xavier Butler 16, Crawford Terry 11, Shane Patacsil 11, Kash Keller 7, Matt Huse 7, Tre Gary 6, Jackson Headdress 3, Reid Kato 1.

Saturday

Havre 62, Hardin 45, LO

HAV - 18 16 11 17 - 62

HAR - 14 12 9 10 - 45

HAV - Crawford Terry 14, Shane Patacsil 10, Tre Gary 10, Kash Keller 10, Reid Kato 7, Xavier Butler 6, Matt Huse 3, Jackson Headdress 2.

HAR - Antonion Espinoza 10, Kingston Hugs 7, Houston Little Light 6, Justin Strait 5, Tronson Monroy 4, James Jefferson 4, Daquan Lee 2, Chance Three Irons 2.

Billings Central 55, Havre 48, Consolation

HAV - 11 11 13 13 - 48

BC - 14 18 9 14 - 55

HAV - Crawford Terry 10, Tre Gary 8, Jackson Headdress 8, Carter Spangler 7, Shane Patacsil 6, Xavier Butler 5, Matt Huse 2, Kash Keller 2.

BC - Kyler Northrop 16, Kaden McMinn 10, Darcy Merchant 9, Jaden Sanchez 7, Brayden Osse 6, Kaden Boyd 4, Ayden Salter 3.