By Jason Shoot
Havre basketball coach Dennis Murphy certainly did not let his team get lackadaisical during the holiday season, keeping his kids busy with eight practices during the recent break.
"The kids are ready to play a game," Murphy said. "They're excited about playing again."
The Ponies will get to put on their game faces when they host Browning tonight at 7:30 p.m. at the Havre High gym. Havre will then travel to Malta Saturday.
The Ponies will play a little shorthanded for the next 4-6 weeks as senior forward Chris Daniel is sidelined with a stress fracture in his right leg, Murphy said.
"It cuts us from eight players to seven playing on the first unit," Murphy said. "We're young anyway, so when you lose a senior it just makes you that much younger."
Murphy said Browning is a "veteran team" that enjoys an up-tempo game.
"They return a lot of experience," Murphy said. "They like to press and they like to run. Because of that they've been able to put a lot of points on the board.
"We're not capable of running like they are. We like to press, but it's more of a controlled press. We've got some contrasting styles."
Browning is currently tied for second in the Central A with a 5-1 record and 17 seeding points overall. The Blue Ponies are 2-4 with seven seeding points.
Also, Havre had postponed its Dec. 16 game at Fort Benton due to inclement weather, but has rescheduled it for Tuesday, Feb. 6. The game will begin at 7:30 p.m.
