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Havre High Basketball Preview: Havre High boys should be much improved this winter

A young and inexperienced program takes its lumps early, but with every passing game, tournament, and season, that young program grows older and more experienced. The Havre High boys basketball team now has a complete season with head coach Curt Leeds behind it. And while struggles are sure to continue at times this season, the Blue Ponies, slightly older and more familiar with the recently renovated coaching staff, are now looking for big things out of this 2013-2014 season.

Practice began weeks ago, but the regular season begins this weekend with a very difficult two-game road trip.

Friday the Ponies will get their first test when they take on the Class B Mustangs in Malta. The Mustangs have ruled the series in recent years, but graduated a lot of senior talent, including Kendall Denham from last years’ team. The Ponies’ schedule won’t get any easier Saturday as they remain on the road for another nonconference matchup. This time the Ponies will take on the Class AA Rustlers of CMR in Great Falls, another tough team that will expose any early holes in the HHS program.

Last season the Ponies went 5-15 overall, but would like to get off to a solid start. The season ended a year ago after going 0-2 at the divisional tournament, and missing out on another trip to the Class A state tournament.

“We have more experience this year,” Second-year head coach Leeds said. “We are older than last year, and the kids have just gotten to know my staff and I better. I think we will just be more familiar with each other and with the program, too.”

Leeds and the Ponies didn’t do anything out of the ordinary, but struggled to get the offense rolling last season. But with the return of 6-4 senior Kade Rismon handling most of the duties in the low post, that is where the offensive production needs to start. HHS plays an inside-out style, and if Rismon can get active in the paint, things will open up for the shooters outside. Rismon was named Second-Team All-Conference last year, shooting 50 percent from the field and 70 percent from the free-throw-line for over 11 points per game. He also led the team with nearly six rebounds per game as well as put up 24 steals and 27 assists on the season.

Returning sophomore Dane Warp leads a talented group of guards that will play key roles in HHS’s success this year.

Warp was named First-Team All-Conference as a freshman after totaling a team-high 29 steals and 59 assists. Warp also had six blocks as he averaged more than 15 points and five rebounds per game. Warp can also play inside and down low if needed, while returning shooters like 6-0 senior Brian Smith, 5-11 sophomore Nate Rismon, and 5-10 senior Jonathan Faber will handle the outside shooting.

The return of 6-4 junior Jase Kato and 6-2 junior Michael Bakke also give the Ponies some depth at the post position, while freshman Nate Korb, sophomores Jerod Boles, Jeff Miller, Tanner Lowe and Zachary Hunt, and juniors Wyatt Lindbloom, Rocky Kuhr and Michael Compton will make up the rest of the varsity/junior varsity roster.

“We will have seven or eight guys rotating, and from there we will slowly see who we can develop into another three or four spots,” Leeds said. “I think we match up well with most teams. I think Kade is physical enough to handle himself down low, and Jase is getting there. We aren’t too big, but we aren’t small either, we are a good size with some ability. I have four guys that I can trust inside, and we are looking to get those touches in the low block. I think that will help us get a good mix of inside out basketball this year.”

Each player who earns varsity minutes will have to play well if the Ponies hope to get past a very difficult schedule. This season the Ponies will face teams like Malta and CMR this weekend, but will also see teams like Great Falls High, Conrad, Rocky Boy and Fairfield in more nonconference action. Mix in Belgrade, Livingston, Lewistown, and Browning in conference matchups, and the Ponies look to have a schedule that never lets up.

“I think our schedule will be tougher this year, I think we might match up better at the same time,” Leeds said. “Rocky Boy is going to be a tough game, they are a good team, but you want to see those upgrades, you want to see the best teams on your schedule because that is how you get better when it comes tournament time.”

Belgrade and Browning share some attention for early favorites in the Central A, but the Ponies should challenge Livingston and Lewistown for a spot near the top of the conference. Every team in the Central A lost some talent from last year, but they also return a lot. And with Belgrade holding an edge with their impressive numbers, once again, their talent will be tough to beat.

The Panthers dropped their first game this season, but the 56-52 loss came to a very good Class AA Bozeman squad. And even after losing talented shooters like All-State guard Jeremy Ragar, the Panthers still shoot the lights out. Shiloh Christopher, Baxter Roys, Koby Ruff, Trevor Mahn and Ethan Turner should highlight the roster this season. Christopher is a returning All-Conference Honorable Mention winner, while 6-3 Roys will be a force in the paint.

Other key returning players from around the Central A include Second-Team All-Conference guard Ladan Rickets from Livingston and Honorable Mention All-Conference players in Lewistown’s James Derheim and Browning’s George Hall.

The regular season may just be getting underway, the Ponies are already focused on the conference and the end of the season tournaments.

“I think we could get a couple of wins (this weekend), but the whole season is just about getting better every weekend,” Leeds said. “We are really focused on improving each week before tournament time, nobody remembers December, but everybody remembers February. It is a building process, and hopefully we can get to the state tournament this year. I think the boys are capable, but it will depend on how much better we get as we go.”

Friday the Ponies face Malta on the road, and Saturday the Ponies remain on the road to face CMR in Great Falls.

 

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