Hi-Line Athlete Profile: Peyton Filius, HHS Girls Basketball

As a junior, Peyton Filius has already had a standout career at Havre High. And with her senior season still ahead of her, Filius still has time to leave an even bigger impact as a three-sport athlete for the Blue Ponies.

Filius is a three-year varsity letter winner in both volleyball and basketball, and will undoubtedly be a three-year letter winner for the track team when the 2013 season rolls around. Filius has also earned an academic letter each of her first three years as well.

Havre High junior Peyton Filius has already achieved a lot of athletic success in her first two years as a Blue Pony. And she's continuing to grow as a basketball player, as well as an all-around three-sport standout. The Pony girls are home to face CMR Saturday.

Now nearing the end of her junior season with the Blue Pony basketball team, Filius is having another standout season while chasing a state championship.

As a sophomore, Filius was named First-Team All-Conference for the Ponies. She also led the Ponies in 3-point percentage, assists, and in field goal percentage. This season she is one of three Ponies to be shooting over 30 percent from 3-point range, while also averaging a team-high 11.7 points per game. She also leads the team in assists, is second in steals, and averages almost five rebounds per game from the guard position.

As the setter for HHS, Filius also earned Second-Team All-Conference honors last season.

Filius and the Ponies are currently 5-1 in the Central A and lead the conference. They are the defending Central A champions and have a very good shot at taking the conference again this season. HHS has just five more games before the divisional tournament in Great Falls.

Here's five questions with one of HHS's many weapons.

HDN: What is the hardest thing about transitioning from the volleyball season to the basketball season?

Filius: "I don't think it is a hard transition. They are both great sports and you are still competing, I just think basketball is just more physical and you have to run a lot more."

HDN: Can this team win a state title, either this season or next season before you are done? How?

Filius: "Yes I think so. I think everybody on this team is skilled enough to handle other top teams, and we work well together. We have to keep getting better offensively because our offense hasn't beeen the best, and defense, we just have to keep working hard at what we do."

HDN: How does team chemistry play a role in the team's success?

Filius: "We have played together so long, that we know where each other is going to be. When we are running the floor or running plays, that helps a lot. And we are all best friends."

HDN: Fans are aware of the loud and different warm up music the team likes to play before the game. What song is a must have for you?

Filius: "Um, I don't know, 'Sexy and I know it." No, no, I am just kidding, that isn't even on there. Really I don't have one, and honestly, 10 minutes before we go out somebody is usually saying 'we should probably get some songs together so it's not silent.' As long as they aren't slow songs, we play anything."

HDN: How do you see basketball or volleyball in your future?

Filius: "If I can get offers, I would love to go play college basketball somewhere. It is a goal of mine, but we will just have to see what happens."