Hi-Line Athlete Profile: Ryan Bakke, Havre High Basketball

There is a history of basketball in the Bakke family and in recent years, there is a history of Blue Pony basketball players in the family.

First, there was Michael Bakke, who was a key player on a team that went to the Class A semifinals in 2015. Now, there is his younger brother Ryan Bakke, who is in his senior season with the Havre boys basketball team.

Bakke, who has played part of three seasons on the varsity level for HHS, said he and his brother Michael weren't on the court together often in a Havre uniform, but there were a few times,

"I remember sitting on the bench and being dressed out quite a few times," Bakke said. "But there was a couple of times when I got in and we were on the floor together. There was also a couple times it happened in a JV game."

Yet for Bakke, he grew up loving the game because of his father and grew up playing it with his brother.

"Every day after school," Bakke said. "As soon as we got home we started playing and we would keep playing basically until it was too dark to see."

After playing minimally as a sophomore and junior, Bakke has taken on a major role this season. Currently, he is one of just six Pony players to play in all 12 games this season. He is also sixth on the team in scoring with an average of five points per game. He also ranks second in rebounds per game with 3.6.

And while the season hasn't gone exactly how Bakke and the Ponies had planned, with their record sitting at 3-10, but with five games remaining on the schedule, there is still time for Bakke and his teammates to make their mark.

One thing Havre will need to recover from is a recent loss to Livingston on a last-second shot. It was a costly loss that has put HHS on the brink of a play-in game for the Eastern A Divisional tournament. But after the Ponies beat Lewistown and Browning and played competitively against both Livingston and Belgrade, Bakke said his team can still surprise some people.

"I think we still have a chance," Bakke said. "We still have a lot of time to get better and we just have to put it all together."

Bakke and the Ponies played last night against CMR and lost to their Class AA rival. Yet they will look to get back on the winning track this Saturday night at home against Malta. Before Havre and the Ponies host the Mustangs, the Havre Daily News caught up with Bakke for five questions.

HDN: So what is it that you like about playing basketball?

Bakke: "I just grew up around it. My dad really got us into it. But I like it because I am a really competitive person."

HDN: So did you and your brother play a lot of one-on-one games? Did you ever come out on top?

Bakke: "Oh yeah, all the time. I did get the better of him sometimes, but then he started to get a lot bigger and taller than me and that made it pretty tough."

HDN: What has it been like for you this year to play a big role on the varsity basketball team?

Bakke: "It's been nice just to be someone that your teammates trust, and it's nice to go out there and show everyone what you can do, even though we haven't had the best season."

HDN: Are you a Lakers fan like your brother and if so, who is the greatest Laker of all time?

Bakke: "Yes absolutely. We were fortunate enough to meet some high ups on the Lakers and they have been really good to us, they have given us tickets before and things like that, so that helps us stay connected. I would have to say Kobe is the best Laker. He just could do it all and had all the skills."

HDN: Do you think you guys can still put together a strong run at divisionals?

Bakke: "Absolutely. I think that we have a lot of potential and we are working in practice to get where we need to be, but I definitely think we can still get there and make a run."