First Look: Ponies face tough field at State A

In less than 48 hours, the Havre High girls basketball team will take the floor at Hamilton High School in the Class A state tournament. And while playing in the state tourney is nothing new to the Ponies, being the defending Class A state champions is a new experience.

But, as the 2015 state tournament begins Thursday afternoon, the Blue Ponies are not thinking about defending their state title, instead, head coach Dustin Kraske and his crew, is trying to win their next one.

Havre, which takes on Eastern A runner-up Hardin Thursday night at 8 p.m. in the first round of the state tournament, is one of three true favorites in the field this week, as well as being the returning state champ, though the Ponies graduated four starters from that championship team that beat Hamilton for the state title a year ago in Great Falls.

And while the Ponies, along with Columbia Falls and the host Hamilton Broncs are the three teams most fans consider the team's with the best shot to claim the state title Saturday night, like every year, the tournament will be a dogfight from beginning to end. And last year's state title will have little to do with how the 16-4 Ponies fare this weekend.

"Right now we haven't even talked about state," Kraske said after the Ponies won their fourth straight divisional championship last Saturday night. "First, we are just going to focus on getting healthy because we are banged up right now. Then just try to put three good games together and see what happens."

Here's a team-by-team glance at all eight teams in the Class A state tournament field. The tourney runs Thursday-Saturday in Hamilton.

Billings Central Rams

Eastern A Champion

The Rams were one of two teams two spring big upsets at last weekend's Eastern A in Billings, and it led to a divisional championship. Now, the Rams, who missed the last two state tournaments are back on the big stage, and they could certainly be a sleeper pick this weekend. An offensive-minded squad, BC can get double figures from the likes of Morgan Lucas, Mariah Wittman, Julienna Arellano and Ellie Hanser on any given night. The Rams last won the state title in 2012.

Lewistown Golden Eagles

Central A Runner-up

The Eagles, once a very dominant Class A power, are finally back in the state tournament, and they will take on Billings Central in the first round Thursday. Lewistown won back-to-back state championships in 2004 and 2005, and after beating Livingston in a Central A challenge game, they get their chance to return to state glory. Lewistown will be an underdog this weekend, but Jaree Mane, Tara Olson and Kyra Flaherty will be players to watch as the Eagles look to spring upsets in Hamilton.

Columbia Falls Wildcats

Northwest A Champion

One of the top teams in Class A all season, the Wildcats and coach Craig Finberg will have a lot of pressure on them in Hamilton. They were expected to win the 2014 state title, but lost in the semifinals to Hamilton. Now, they return to state trying to win the title on, ironically, the Broncs' home floor. The Wildcats have one of the tallest teams in the tourney, and they have a ton of depth, too. They are also a year older and that bodes well for their chances this weekend. Sisters Ciera and Cydney Finberg are the focal point of Columbia Falls' offense, but they have a great supporting cast, and that's the reason they're the favorite this weekend. Columbia Falls has never won a Class A state title, but the Wildcats did win the Class AA title back in 1983.

Butte Central Maroons

Southwest A Runner-up

The Maroons are the reason the Wildcats don't have an easy road to the state title. They draw Columbia Falls in the first round after finishing second in the Southwest A. Butte Central is back at state after finishing second in 2012 and winning the state championship in 2011. Mollie Peoples can be a big time scorer for the Maroons, while Emily St. John is another player for fans to keep an eye on this weekend.

Hamilton Broncs

Southwest A Champion

Hamilton was primed to win a state championship a year ago, but the Havre Blue Ponies killed that dream in the 2014 state championship game. Now, after an up-and-down regular season, but after winning the Southwest A title, the Broncs get a chance at redemption, and they get it on their home floor. Seniors Taylor Gologoksi and Jaylee Albert are two of the best guards in Montana at any level, and if Hamilton gets past the first round, the Broncs will likely see the Blue Ponies in the semifinals. Hamilton hasn't won a state championship in girls basketball since 1984, and nothing would be sweeter for Broncs' fans than if they were able to do it on their home floor this weekend.

Frenchtown Broncs

Northwest A Runner-up

Standing in Hamilton's way of a semifinal berth is an old foe in the form of the Frenchtown Broncs. Frenchtown is one of four teams to make back-to-back trips to state, and like the Hamilton Broncs, Frenchtown is a year older and more experienced. The Broncs did graduate key players from last year's fifth-place team, but Haley Cyr and Lacey Hochhalter are back to lead this state tourney run. The Broncs have never won a Class A girls title.

Hardin Bulldogs

Eastern A Runner-up

It's been a while since Hardin was on the state tournament stage, but after two upsets in the Eastern A divisional last weekend, the Bulldogs are back. Behind dominant center Darrelynn Left Hand, the Bulldogs will be pesky for Havre in the first round, but more than that, they come into the state tournament with nothing to lose, and that makes them dangerous. Hardin last won a girls state title in 1994.

Havre Blue Ponies

Central A Champion

The Blue Ponies are the defending state champions, but their roster this weekend is much different, as Brandy Lambourne, Peyton Filius, Lacey Waid and Haley Ohm all started a year ago in the title game. Still, Havre and head coach Dustin Kraske have been a team all season that has looked like it could repeat. Led by senior Morgan Mazurkiewicz and junior Dani Wagner, the Ponies are every bit a threat to win it all yet again. Add in the emergence of sophomore Naomi Terry, and the steady play of senior Lindsey Kudrna, not to mention the possible return of Tori Mazurkiewicz from a foot injury, and the Ponies obviously didn't rebuild this season, they just re-loaded.