By Tiffany L. Rehbein
The Havre Blue Ponies, who have dropped three-straight games, will be looking to rock the pendulum the other direction this weekend.
The Ponies, who dipped to 3-4 on the season with a non-league 58-52 loss to Class AA Great Falls High Tuesday, travel to Browning on Friday to play the Central A Indians in conference action.
"This is a very important game for us," said head coach Dennis Murphy. "We need to get back on the winning track."
The Indians (1-4) defeated Class B Harlem 84-73 on Dec. 17 to tally their lone win.
"They are very similar to us," Murphy said. "They really want to run hard. They'll play some man and they will press us. It is really important for us to up there and be ready to play."
Havre's last win also came on Dec. 17, when they defeated Class B Fort Benton 62-55 in the home opener.
Senior Ricky Brown leads the offense, averaging 19.3 points per game. Brown, who did not start against the Bison, was held to his lowest offensive effort of the season with 11 points.
Seniors Landen Grant and Nate Baltrusch also average double figures for the Ponies.
Baltrusch scored a team-high 12 points on Tuesday. He also leads the team, and is at the top in the Central A, in assists.
Grant leads the team in rebounding. Against the Fergus County Golden Eagles on Dec. 21, he pulled down 12 boards. In the third game of the season against Class B Chinook, he raked in 13 boards.
Ryan Fink played strong against the Bison, while Nick Crawford, and Cliff Cooper also played tough.
The Malta Mustangs (1-0, 4-1), the No. 1 team in the District 2B, will play at the Blue Pony Corral on Saturday.
Nick Parker and R.J. Tollefson are big and strong for the Mustangs. Cody Oxarart handles the ball well.
"They have got a tradition and they will be tough," Murphy said. "They are going to come in and get after it."
The Ponies tip-off both nights at 7:30 p.m.
