A new era of Havre High girls basketball begins

The Havre High girls basketball program is one of of the great sports dynasties. So each new season holds a lot of excitement.

But this season, the excitement will be combined with a big change as longtime Havre High head coach Dustin Kraske retired at the end of last season, while former Blue Pony basketball player and HHS assistant coach Tommy Brown assumes the role of head coach.

And while while this season will mark the first time in decades that Kraske won't be on the HHS girls' bench, after lead the program to many Class A state and divisional championships, one thing that won't be different is, how strong the HHS girls will be.

With returning All-State performers Amaya Jarvis and Ari Gary returning for their junior season, along with returning All-Conference standouts Tierra and Sierra Parker also back, the Blue Ponies have a great core group of players to lead them in Brown's first season.

Havre's lineup this season will also include Ela Harber, Macy Brandon, Katie Tilleman, Bree Hanson, and Tahlyn Olson.

"We are getting more and more excited as our first game day approaches," Brown said. "The girls are eager to get in the gym each day and have been giving a great effort in practice. Our team focus is preparing ourselves for competition as best as we can by improving one step at a time. We look forward to getting our season rolling with our first game down in Miles City."

Of course, as talented as the Ponies are, they'll have to battle in the tough Eastern A, and play a difficult schedule that includes games against Northeast A opponents Lewistown, Miles City, Sidney and Glendive, while the likes of Billings Central, Hardin, Lockwood and Laurel will be tough from the Southeast A.

All roads will lead to the Eastern A Divisional Tournament, which runs Feb. 27-March 1 in Billings, while the Class A State Tournament runs March 12-15, also in Billings.

The Blue Pony girls open their season this Saturday at Miles City.