Ponies take another shot at M-Ettes

It is always a little different when the Havre High girls basketball team comes out of a tough weekend of competition, just to play again on Tuesday. But despite the short turnaround in action, the Blue Ponies are ready and excited to face another nonconference opponent.

Tonight the Central A Blue Ponies will host the Class B Malta M-Ettes at 7 at the Havre High gymnasium.

HHS is coming off of a tough Saturday loss to the CMR Rustlers in Great Falls, but the short, two-day rest doesn't bother the 8-6 Ponies.

The Ponies have dropped their last three games (CMR, Great Falls High and Belgrade), but now looks forward to what should be another tough matchup with the M-Ettes.

"Playing Malta on Tuesday (today) is going to be fine," Havre High head coach Dustin Kraske said. "They are a good team and playing well this year. I know that our girls will be fired up to play, and it will be fun playing on a Tuesday with nothing to compete against, so hopefully we will have a nice crowd, even being in a little bit of a slump. It should be a good game."

Last season the Ponies dropped both of their games against Malta. And in Havre's first game of this season, the M-Ettes defeated the Ponies 48-45.

In the first meeting, Malta showed they have a powerful offense that can score in a hurry if untamed. HHS got off to a slow start and fell behind early. It took a 21-6 fourth quarter by the Ponies to make it a tight game in Malta, but hopefully this time around the much improved Pony offense and defense will make this a much more favorable game for the Ponies.

The Ponies' defense will look to rattle the M-Ettes defense with a high tempo and plenty of pressure. Hopefully that takes the likes of Courtney Henry, Jayla Graham and Kori Kindle out of their grooves. Kindle posted 20 points on the Ponies in their last meeting.

And on offense, the Ponies are really looking to get out of the slump they have found themselves in the last several weeks. And HHS has the weapons to do some damage, with several kids finding a knack for scoring this season. Peyton Filius, Brandy Lambourne, Jaclyn Evans, Neya Bischoff, Sammy Evans, Chanal Standing Rock and Lacey Waid are all very talented offensive weapons. And if the entire group is playing to the level they are capable of, the Ponies click in a very well balanced style that finds ways to score in transition, in the paint and from outside the three-point arc.

"This game will only help us get better," Kraske said. "It is an opportunity for us to play and get better. Our kids have had great practices; we just haven't played real well the last few games. This is the time of year we really need to get going and I am sure Malta will play well, and I expect us to play well and get ready for February basketball."

Tonight the Blue Ponies will host the M-Ettes at 7 p.m. at the Havre High gymnasium.