HHS tennis teams shine in Conrad

The weather continues to be a big story for spring sports, or more so, the lack of bad weather so far. And that was the case for the Havre High boys and girls tennis teams as they tripped to Conrad this weekend.

The Blue Ponies were in Conrad Saturday for duals against Cut Bank, Lewistown and Conrad, and the weather, along with the progression of the Pony teams was the highlight according to head coach George Ferguson.

"For it not even being April, you couldn't have asked for a better day for tennis," Ferguson said. "Sunny, warm, not too much wind, it was the perfect day for us to continue working towards our goals. And I was pleased with how we did. It's early on, and we are still pretty rusty in some areas. But I thought the quality of tennis was collectively much better than last week and that's our main goal right now."

The Havre boys went undefeated Saturday, beating Cut Bank 6-1, Lewistown 4-3 and Conrad 4-3.

Individually, Ned Malone and Zach Hellegaard went unbeaten in singles for the Ponies, as did sophomore Jamie Lieberg. Senior Jacob Holden went 1-0 in singles as did freshman Jerod Boles, while the senior duo of Nick Rhines and J.J. Hovet won big matches against Cut Bank and Lewistown, while they lost a tiebreaker to Conrad. Holden also paired with sophomore Wyatt Lindbloom to win a doubles match, capping off a big day for the versatile senior.

"I saw a lot of good things from our boys team," Ferguson said. "I was really excited about the way our No. 1 doubles team played. Those were three very good opponents for them and they really stepped it up for how early in the season it is. I thought some of our younger kids really did a great job too. It was the first matches for Jerod Boles in his career and he played very well.

"As a whole, I thought our boys team moved forward," he added. "We had some struggles too, and that's to be expected right now. But I don't believe we took a step backwards and that's the most important thing right now. And on top of that, we're going to see all these same kids this weekend in Havre, and so we'll really be able to gauge how much the boys are improving."

The Blue Pony girls lost to Cut Bank 5-2, but beat rival Lewistown 4-3 and Conrad 6-1. Havre was short-handed, as senior Jade McCormick missed the tournament due to illness, while junior doubles player Morgan Jappe was also gone. But, Ferguson thought his team stepped up and played well.

Sophomore Tatiana Ralph went unbeaten in singles play, while junior Shannon Herring had a busy and productive day, playing singles and teaming up with Haley Graham to play doubles, She won several matches in both singles and doubles. Brandy Lambourne also made her season debut, going 1-2 in singles, while the duo of Ellery Bresler and Breck Don remained undefeated on the season, winning three matches Saturday.

"Again, I thought the we looked better than we did in Cut Bank, and all the girls felt like they played better this week, so I was happy," Ferguson said. "Even in losses, I was really happy with what I saw. I thought Lainey Chagnon and Jennifer Cichosz played really well against three very tough opponents, and all three of their matches could have gone the other way. All the girls did a great job, and like the boys, we'll really get a good idea of where we're at after we play these same kids this weekend in Havre."

And Ferguson also noted that his teams were excited to take advantage of the great conditions, and that their effort was right where he wanted it to be.

""Many kids now have three or four or five short matches under their belts," Ferguson said. "That's big for us considering it's only April 1. And that just hasn't happened too often lately. So we're already ahead of where we've been the last couple of years. So I couldn't be more pleased with how the kids did Saturday and how things are going.

"This coming week is a big one for us," he continued. "It's our only week we get to play on our courts, and we always look at the Havre Invite as the first corner in our season. So it's going to be an exciting week."

Havre's busy week begins Tuesday as the Blue Pony girls dual Chinook at 4 p.m. at the Bill Vaughey Memorial Tennis Courts. The 2013 Havre Invitational takes place Saturday, starting at 8 a.m.

CONRAD DUALS

BOYS

Havre 6, Cut Bank 1

Singles

Isaac Matt, CB def. Jeff Miller, HAV, 6-5 (7-4); Ned Malone, HAV def. Che' Little Dog, CB, 6-5 (7-4); Zach Hellegaard, HAV def. Spencer Czech, CB, 6-1; Jerod Boles, HAV def. Trenton Francorn, CB, 6-2.

Doubles

Nick Rhines/J.J. Hovet, HAV def. Jerry Michael/Michael Kraft, CB, 6-3; Noah Landgraf/Brian Smith, HAV def. Josh Kloos/Daniel Fugle, CB, 6-3; Jacob Holden/Wyatt Lindbloom, HAV def. Aaron Burtness/Jessie Burtness, CB, 6-2.

Havre 4, Lewistown 3

Singles

Andrew Bruno, LEW def. Jeff Miller, HAV, 6-4; Ned Malone, HAV def. Zach Hould, LEW, 6-5 (7-2); Zach Hellegaard, HAV def. Bryson Behl, LEW, 6-0; Jacob Holden, HAV def. Christian Neil, LEW, 6-4.

Doubles

Nick Rhines/J.J. Hovet, HAV def. Andy Butcher/Austin Songer, LEW, 6-3; Bryce Petersen/Hooper Armour, LEW def. Noah Landgraf/Brian Smith, HAV, 6-2; Preston Kynett/Alex Irish, LEW def. Wyatt Lindbloom/Jerod Boles, HAV, 6-3.

Havre 4, Conrad 3

Singles

Cameron Janzen, CON def. Jeff Miller, HAV, 6-4; Jamie Lieberg, HAV def. Tyler Padilla, CON, 6-2; Dan O'Brien, CON def. Patrick Leeds, HAV, 6-0; Zach Hellegaard, HAV won by FFT.

Doubles

Austin Zomer/Konnor Bjelland, CON def. Nick Rhines/J.J. Hovet, HAV, 6-5 (8-6); Noah Landgraf/Brian Smith, HAV won by FFT; Jerod Boles/Wyatt Lindbloom, HAV won by FFT.

GIRLS

Cut Bank 5, Havre 2

Singles

Paige Larson, CB def. Brandy Lambourne, HAV, 6-2; Kodi Hoffman, CB won by FFT (def. Shannon Herring 6-2 in exhibition match); Tatiana Ralph, HAV def. Donelle Novak, CB, 6-5 (7-5); Dakota Eisheld, CB def. Madison Huebsch, HAV, 6-0.

Doubles

Jillian Altenberg/Duana Gobert, CB def. Lainey Chagnon/Jennifer Cichosz, HAV, 6-2; Breck Don/Ellery Bresler, HAV def. Alex Kraft/Allie Anderson, CB, 6-5 (7-4); Haley Graham/Shannon Herring, HAV def. Lleila Adams/Paige Johnston, CB, 6-2.

Havre 4, Lewistown 3

Singles

Jeanna Mane, LEW def. Brandy Lambourne, HAV, 6-4; Hannah Thomas, LEW won by FFT (Shannon Herring def. Thomas 6-3 in an exhibition); Tatiana Ralph, HAV def. Rita Campano, LEW, 6-4; Brianna Petersen, LEW def. Madison Huebsch, HAV, 6-4.

Doubles

Monger/Neilsen def. Lainey Chagnon/Jennifer Cichosz, HAV, 6-4; Breck Don/Ellery Bresler, HAV def. Allen/Backer, LEW, 6-0; Graham/Herring, HAV won by FFT (def. Petersen/Olson 6-5 (7-3) in exhibition).

Havre 6, Conrad 1

Singles

Brandy Lambourne, HAV def. Amy Bailey, CON, 6-1; Shannon Herring, HAV def. Catie Bach, CON, 6-2; Tatitana Ralph, HAV def. Cashley Redd, CON, 6-2; Madison Huebsch, HAV won by FFT.

Doubles

Kristine Warlick/Megan Fetters, CON def. Lainey Chagnon/Jennifer Cichosz, HAV, 6-4; Breck Don/Ellery Bresler, HAV def. Jenna Rodriguez/Trinty Cox, CON, 6-2; Haley Graham/Shannon Herring, HAV won by FFT.