Ponies shake off early jitters to win

BELGRADE - Those weren't butterflies floating around in the stomachs of the Havre High boys basketball team. They felt more like sparrows.

With not one player on the team having any state tournament experience, the Ponies had every right to be nervous when they opened Thursday's Class A State basketball tournament in Belgrade. And they played like it early on.

However, thanks to a stifling pressure defense and a rejuvenated offense, the Ponies rallied for a 69-61 win.

Havre showed plenty of jitters early on, missing easy shots, making unforced turnovers and looking downright uncomfortable in i...