By Tiffany L. Rehbein
Havre Blue Ponies, ready your weapons.
Havre will meet two unmarred opponents in Browning and Malta Friday and Saturday.
Friday, the Blue Ponies travel to Browning to take on the Central A opponent Indians who stand at the top of the division with Havre with a 5-0 record.
In the Central A, Browning has defeated Butte Central, who the Ponies have not met, and Dillon. The Beavers downed Havre 61-47 over Labor Day weekend at the Tip-off Tournament in Lewistown.
Brownings greatest power lies in the height and scoring ability of sophomore Laura Jo Kipp. Kipp tallied 24 points in Brownings 65-32 win last weekend over Class B Shelby. Kipp amassed 55 total points in two games last weekend including a season-high 31 points against Conrad.
Kristin Madman notched 17 points including four 3-pointers in the Shelby win.
Jessica Edwards and Sienna Schildt have also shown they can score for the Indians this fall. K.C. Everybody Talks About has also proven herself to be an offensive threat.
The size difference is a concern of ours, especially in Kipp, said head coach Dennis Murphy.
The Indians have won by more than 10 points in each contest up to this point. On the season, Browning has notched an average of 63.4 points per game while its opponents have managed only 39.0 points.
They are obviously playing very well right now, Murphy said. They have beaten a really good Class B team in Conrad and a really good Class A team in Dillon.
The Blue Ponies perimeter shooting game will be the offensive key in the match-up.
Junior Alyssa Matter is hot right now, scoring a season-high 23 points Saturday against Great Falls High.
Senior Tiffany Shrauger has tallied double figures in every game so far this season.
All starters, including sophomore Jeri Matter, junior Nikki Baltrusch and senior Erin Patera, can shoot the three.
Defensively, rebounding will be the focus.
We need to keep them off the offensive boards, Murphy said. That, in a lot of cases, is their best shot.
Saturday at home, the Blue Ponies will face off against Hi-Line rival Malta.
The M-ettes have returned a starting line-up from last years state Class B team.
Size-wise, the two teams matchup closely.
Stacey Nevrivy, Juliann Keller and LeeAnn Pekovitch can all shoot the ball very well.
Nevrivy and Keller both notched 17 points in last weekends win over Glasgow. Nevrivy also had five 3-pointers.
Pekovitch and Keller, both are very athletic, Murphy said. They are going to come in here ready to play.
Havre will start its game in its traditional man-to-man, full-court press, up-tempo running game both nights.
Tip-off both nights is slated for 7:30 p.m.
