Blue Ponies set to compete for a third straight title

The Class A State Basketball Tournament has been kind to the Havre High girls basketball team as it has won the past two state championships. Now this weekend in Bozeman, the Blue Ponies will look to make it three state titles in a row as they once again compete at the state tournament. With a chance to win another championship, HHS head coach Dustin Kraske looks forward to seeing what the Ponies can do this weekend.

"I think it's going to be fun. Our kids have had a wonderful season and the state tournament is the reward for all their hard work," Kraske said.

The Ponies will begin their run for a state title Thursday at 5 p.m. when they face Browning. The Browning Indians enter the tournament with a 19-3 record and a fourth-place finish in the Western A Divisional. On offense, they are led by Mecca Bullchild who is averaging 14.4 points a game. Lish Spoonhunter will also look to make an impact as she averages 10.9 points and 7.5 rebounds a game.

"Browning does a nice job getting scoring from multiple players so we're going to have our hands full as far as making sure we understand who we have and what their skills are," Kraske said about Browning. "Just a very nice complete team and we're going to have to play very good basketball to win."

The Ponies have a 17-4 record and just won the Eastern A Divisional. As they look to make another deep run this postseason, the Ponies need the best from their top athletes. Amaya Jarvis will look to keep rolling after averaging 15.0 points a game. Seniors Yelena Miller and Avery Carlson will also look to play well in their final state tournament. If the Ponies want to go deep this weekend, they will need to execute in all areas of the game.

"We have to continue to defend well," Kraske said. "We need to rebound well and take care of the ball. I know our kids are chomping at the bit to get out of town and get down there. We're very excited to go down and play and see what our team's capable of."

If the Ponies defeat Browning, they would face either Hamilton or Billings Central, who play each other Thursday at 3:30 p.m. Hamilton has a 14-6 record and a second-place finish in the Western A Divisional this season. Layne Kearns will look to get rolling as she averages a double-double in scoring and rebounding this season. Taryn Searle will also look to play well after averaging 15.9 points a game this season for the Broncs.

Billings Central should be a tough team this weekend with an 18-3 record and a third-place finish in the Eastern A Divisional. On offense, the Rams will be led by the likes of Coral Old Bull and Kamryn Reinker.

Earlier on Thursday at 9 a.m., Hardin and Dillon will face off to start the tournament. Hardin has a 15-6 record and a second-place finish at the Eastern A Divisional this season. Aiyanna Big Man will be the biggest threat for the Bulldogs as she averages 12.6 points a game.

Dillon finished third in the Western A Divisional and has a 20-2 record this season. Halle Fitzgerald will look to lead the Beavers to success this weekend as she averages 12.3 points a game. Sydney Petersen and Kylie Konen can also make an impact as they both average double digits in scoring.

The tournament will continue Thursday at 10:30 a.m. with a game between Frenchtown and Laurel. Frenchtown just won the Western A Divisional and has a record of 16-4-1 this season. Madison Kaufman is the most dangerous player on offense averaging 13.2 points a game. Even if she is slowed down, Sadie Smith and Mason Quinn can also put some points on the board this weekend.

Laurel has a 17-6 record and finished fourth in the Eastern A Divisional. The Locomotives then had to defeat Columbia Falls in a play-in game just to make it to the state tournament. If the Locomotives want to keep their run going this weekend, they will need players such as Alyse Aby and Emma Timm to continue playing well.

There will be a lot of great teams competing for a state championship in Bozeman this weekend. While some teams are better than others, Kraske believes it will be a competitive tournament where any team can go on a deep run.

"I don't know if there is a favorite this weekend. I think all the teams are good," Kraske said. "I just think the tournament's going to be fun and the games will be close. I think as far as from a fan's perspective, I think it'll be wonderful basketball to watch. We're impressed with all the teams and I think anybody can beat anybody on any given day."

The HHS girls basketball team will begin the Class A State Tournament with a game against Browning Thursday at 5 p.m. at Brick Breeden Fieldhouse in Bozeman.