By Tiffany L. Rehbein
The Havre Blue Ponies girls basketball squad, 12-3 overall, are No. 1 in the Central A, according to Oct. 25 statistics.
The Blue Ponies have accumulated 41 seeding points throughout the season, averaging 2.929 points per matchup.
Since most of the Central A teams do not meet during the regular season, a point system was developed to ensure a fair evaluation.
The Central A seeding system measures wins and losses, the strength of the teams schedule, whether the team is winning at home or on the road, and whether the team is playing a higher classification, for example, are they playing a Class AA team.
Havres three losses have come against Central A Dillon, Eastern AA C.M. Russell in Great Falls, and, most recently, Central A Lewistown.
The Browning Indians (12-2) are No. 2 in the division.
The Blue Ponies downed Browning 58-47 at Browning earlier this season.
Class B Conrad handed Browning its only other loss this season, a 59-51 edging.
Browning has 37 seeding points and leads the division, averaging 60.6 offensive points.
The Indians Laura Jo Kipp leads the Central A in scoring, averaging 21.1 points per game.
She also has the highest average field goal percentage at 56.9.
Kipp also leads the league in rebounds, notching 12.1 on average per game.
Teammate Kristin Madman leads the league in steals, averaging 4.5 per game. Kipp is second with 3.8.
Madman also leads the league in 3-point field goals made, with 24 on the season.
The Dillon Beavers, 10-4, are third in the division with 33 seeding points. Dillon opened the season with a 61-47 win over Havre.
The Belgrade Panthers have accumulated 35 seeding points, but, with an 11-4 record, sit fourth in the division.
The Panthers hold their opponents to, on average, 40.9 points per game; the fewest in the league.
Lewistown, 9-5, is the only other team with a winning record.
The Golden Eagles downed Havre 49-41 more than one week ago.
Butte Central, Anaconda and Livingston round out the division.
In Central A action this weekend, Browning plays at Havre, and Belgrade plays at Lewistown Friday.
Saturday, Butte Central plays at Dillon.
Central A Standings
Team
W
L
Seed. Pts
Ave.
Off
Def
Havre
11
3
41
2.929
51.4
45.4
Browning
12
2
37
2.643
60.6
41.3
Dillon
10
4
33
2.357
59.2
49.1
Belgrade
11
4
35
2.333
49.7
40.9
Lewis.
9
5
29
2.071
58.3
52.1
B. Cen.l
6
8
25
1.786
44.4
51.4
Ana.
6
9
20
1.333
47.1
52.1
Livingst.
5
9
18
1.286
42.8
52.1
Oct. 26
Havre def. Chinook 54-43
Oct. 28
Bozeman at Livingston
Oct. 29
Boulder at Butte Central
Browning at Havre
Belgrade at Lewistown
Livingston at Laurel
Dillon at Three Forks
Oct. 30
Butte Central at Dillon
Browning at Fairfield
Havre at Malta
Anaconda at Deer Lodge
