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She can only watch now, but Ryen Olson is a huge part of Havre High's success
Havre High senior Ryen Olson takes a shot during a girls basketball game against Fairfield last month in Havre. Olson has been a key cog in the Blue Ponies' run to the Class A state tournament later this week in Great Falls, and she's been a varsity player for head coach Dustin Kraske for the last three years. Olson, however, will be sidelined this weekend with a knee injury, but she says she'll be right there with her team every step of the way, as Havre tries to capture its second state championship in the last four years. The Blue Ponies open the state tourney Thursday afternoon against Hamilton. For full coverage of HHS, see Wednesday's Havre Daily News, and follow the Ponies all throughout the state tournament, in print, at www.havredailynew.com, on Facebook and Twitter.
After making the Class A state tournament in all but one season under head coach Dustin Kraske, the Havre High girls basketball team is used to playing on the big stage.
Yet, this time around, the Blue Ponies, who boast five seniors, including guard Ryen Olson are hoping to do something Havre hasn't since 2014 in girls basketball and that's win the state championship.
The last time Havre won the Class A state title, the state tourney was held at the Four Seasons Arena in Great Falls, the same place it will be this week. The action gets underway Thursday for Havre. HHS will battle Hamilton from the Western A, in a rematch of the 2014 state championship game. Tip-off time for that opening round game will be Thursday at 12:30 p.m.
Beyond the location of the state tournament, there are a lot of other similarities between the 2014 Ponies and this year's version and one of the most striking is senior leadership. The 2014 team was led by senior like Peyton Filius, Brandy Lambourne, Lacey Waid and Hailey Ohm. Those veterans were essential to that run and this time around, the veterans have been a huge part of Havre's success.
Olson, a guard, who came off the bench for the top-ranked Ponies, is one of five seniors who play big minutes for HHS, along with Marca Herron, Danielle Wallace, Kaylee Nystrom and Kyley Verploegen.
Unfortunately, when it comes to the state tournament, Olson will be sidelined. She suffered a knee injury earlier in the season and despite playing at divisionals, she will be unable to play this week in Great Falls.
Olson, who plans on studying accounting at Montana State University next fall, has been a three-year varsity player for the Ponies and would be making her third appearance at state this weekend. During the past two seasons, her role was limited off the bench, but she has always been known for her 3-point shot and this season, she turned into one of the most effective perimeter shooters on the team.
After averaging just a couple points a game a season ago, Olson boosted her average to five points per game. She also shot 32 percent from beyond the arc and had 15 3-point field goals, which both ranked third on the team. Yet, Olson did more than just shoot threes. Her defense steadily improved and even though she missed four games this season, she still ranked fourth on the team in steals with 20. However, this week, she will be relegated to the role of coach/cheerleader.
"I tried playing at divisionals," Olson said. "But it just kept buckling out. There's nothing to keep my knee in place."
Olson will still accompany her team at 21-0 on the season, to Great Falls as the Ponies head there this week as the Eastern A champions and heavy favorite to capture the school's third Class A state championship since 1997. But, before Olson and her teammates head to the Electric City to try and make history, the Havre Daily News caught up with her for five questions.
HDN: How excited are you guys to have the state tournament in Great Falls, close to home?
Olson: "I think it will be great. I know so many people that are going. They are having a pep bus at school. It will be great to have all of our close friends and family there."
HDN: What has it been like going on this run this season?
Olson: "Everyone told us that we were going to be good. I just don't think we realized it. We are just in it together and just try to move on to the next game. So I don't think we ever thought we would be undefeated, but it's really cool to be part of it."
HDN: How did it feel for you guys to finally break through and win the Eastern A title?
Olson: "That was awesome, especially because it was against Hardin again, because we finally got them."
HDN: What would it mean for you and your team if you are able to finish this off with a state championship?
Olson: "It would mean the world to me and I think it would mean a lot to the whole team because we have worked really hard and we are just really close. This is the closest team that I have ever been on."
HDN: Will it be difficult for you to have to watch your team at state this week?
Olson: "Yes for sure, but I am just grateful that I am part of a team that is this good. I'm ready to be there biggest supporter."
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