Playing a defending state championship team is tough for anyone, but playing two state champions in back-to-back weeks is even more difficult.
While the Havre Blue Ponies played Browning close for the first half last Friday, the same could not be said when faced with the CMR Rustlers Thursday night in Great Falls.
The Rustlers scored early and often Thursday, taking a commanding 30-7 lead after the first quarter.
Facing mainly the Rustlers bench in the second quarter, the Ponies were able to outscore CMR 17-11 to cut the lead to 41-24 at the half.
The Ponies had problems defending CMR from three-point range all night and that showed again in the third quarter as the Rustlers outscored the Ponies 20-10. The two teams combined for 20 points in the fourth quarter, as CMR handily defeated Havre 70-45.
The Rustlers remain undefeated on the season at 6-0, while the Ponies fell to 3-7.
CMR had four players in double figures, led by Justin Hartman with 17, Zach Danelson with 12, Mike Murphy 11 and Jason Goodman 10. Tyler Graham added nine and Royce Fulp 8 for the Rustlers.
Titus Pedraza led the scoring for Havre with 15 points and Mike Frey added 13. No other Havre player scored more than five points in the game.
The Ponies have the rest of the weekend off and will be back on the court next Friday at home against the top team in Class B in Harlem and on the road Saturday at Glasgow.
HAVRE
7
17
10
11
45
CMR
30
11
20
9
70
Havre Cory Brothers 3, Ryan Lusin 4, Titus Pedraza 15, Mike Frey 13, Steve Heberly 4, Tyler Vincent 1, Trent Normandy 5.
CMR Justin Hartman 17, Zach Danelson 12, Jason Goodman 10, Tyler Graham 9, Mike Murphy 11, Brady Leaf 2, Ryan Bagley 1, Royce Fulp 8.
