By Tiffany L. Rehbein
The Havre Blue Ponies are at the top.
Unfortunately, it is the top of the lower half of the Central A, according to Jan. 10 standings.
The Ponies (4-5) have 14 seeding points, averaging 1.556 seeding points per game, and are fifth in the division.
Havre has been towing the long road of few wins, struggling to find a defensive identity. Havre is third in the league in points scored by the opposition, allowing 62.8.
The Browning Indians (2-5) allow the most defensive points, at 72.4, but are second in the league in offense, averaging 67.7 points per game. The Fergus County Golden Eagles have allowed 64.4 points.
Havre defeated Browning 77-64 last Friday and ended a three-game skid. The Eagles edged Havre 73-71 on Dec. 21 at Lewistown.
The Dillon Beavers (6-2) are No. 1 in the Central A with 20 seeding points. They lead the league in offensive points, averaging 74 per game. Dillon downed Havre 76-62 at the Central A tip-off tournament at the beginning of the season.
The Butte Central Maroons (6-2) also have 20 seeding points, but in head-to-head action, the Beavers handed the Maroons a 78-48 thrashing last weekend.
Lewistown (5-3) is third in the league with 19 seeding points. During the last week, Lewistown defeated non-conference Laurel, but were upset by the fourth-place Belgrade Panthers 80-63 last Friday.
The Panthers (4-4) are even in the league, and meet two non-conference opponents this weekend.
The Anaconda Copperheads (2-6) and Park Rangers (1-7) are in the basement in the division. Havre defeated the Copperheads 75-66 at the tip-off tournament, and has not met Livingston this season.
Central A games this weekend include Dillon at Livingston, Butte Central at Livingston, and Lewistown at Browning. Havre plays at the CMR Fieldhouse at Great Falls Thursday.
Central A Standings
Team
W
L Seeding Ave.
Off
Def
Dillon
6
2
20
2.500
74.0
55.4
Butte Central
6
2
20
2.500
58.3
53.6
Lewistown
5
3
19
2.375
62.5
64.4
Belgrade
4
4
14
1.750
52.9
55.1
Havre
4
5
14
1.556
62.4
62.8
Browning
2
5
10
1.429
67.7
72.4
Anaconda
2
6
7
0.875
59.4
62.3
Livingston
1
7
7
0.875
55.4
62.6
Jan. 13
Belgrade at Boulder
Havre at CMR
Dillon at Hellgate
Jan. 14
Dillon at Livingston
Belgrade at Manhattan
Butte High at Anaconda
Browning at Cut Bank
Billings Central at Lewistown
Butte Central at Whitehall
Jan. 15
Butte Central at Livingston
Anaconda at Big Sky
Lewistown at Browning
