By Tiffany L. Rehbein
The Havre Blue Ponies boys' basketball team could seal a third-place seed at the Central A divisional tournament with a win over the District 1B Fort Benton Longhorns tonight at Fort Benton.
"We need to win one of the two remaining games, and I would prefer to do it on Thursday and get it out of the way," Havre head coach Dennis Murphy said. "Let's get it done now."
The Blue Ponies (9-7) will close the regular season with the game tonight and a home contest against Class AA leader CMR on Friday.
Havre defeated the Longhorns 62-55 when the two met at Havre on Dec. 17.
"I don't think we are the same team now that we were back then," Murphy said.
Ricky Brown led the Ponies with 21 points during the first go-round, while Nate Baltrusch had 15 and Landen Grant chipped in 13.
But the Blue Ponies have made some changes since that game played before Christmas.
Scott Rice and Jesse Suek have stepped into starting roles and are a factor on the court.
Chris Young and Ryan Fink are contributing on both ends for Havre.
The Ponies are coming into the contest winning five of their last six starts.
But Fort Benton will also boast a different look.
Derrick Honrud, who is returning from a knee injury, is an all-league player who will be in the lineup for Fort Benton.
Adam Olson, Tim Scheele, and Brad Benjamin each tallied double figures for the Longhorns during the last contest between the teams.
The Longhorns will play physical inside and the Blue Ponies will need to compete, Murphy said.
Varsity tip-off is slated for 7:30 p.m. at the Fort Benton High School gymnasium.
