Senior Night Special: HHS boys host Cowboys

The Havre High boys basketball team is striving for new heights this season. And a big part of the Blue Ponies' success is the dedication of the Class of 2021.

That class, composed of Josh Warp, Kellen Detrick, Clint Owens, Max Olson and Nolan Lotton, will be honored Friday before the fifth-ranked Ponies play their final home game of the season when they host the Miles City Cowboys. Havre was set to face Miles City and Hardin this weekend, but the Hardin game has been canceled due to a COVID issue with the Bulldogs.

And while both games would have been big, honoring the seniors, which includes Warp and Detrick both averaging in double figures this season, Owens being one of the top rebounders in the Northeast A, and Olson and Lotton having blossomed into key starting roles, will be emotional for Havre head coach Walynn Burgess.

"Just having a group of seniors like this is really special for a coach," Burgess said. "It's always great getting to see those kids progress as young guys in the program to playing meaningful minutes as seniors. It has been a joy working with these guys on a day to day basis. They just come into the gym and love to go to work, it's something that I have always loved about this group is their work ethic. We are gonna be sad when they leave next year but will always enjoy all the memories we have made together so far."

The seniors and the rest of the Ponies are looking to make some meaningful last memories in the Blue Pony Corral.

Havre (5-1, 6-4) is coming off a pair of tough road losses from last weekend, but the Ponies are still in the driver's seat in the Northeast A, which makes tonight's game against the Cowboys crucial. Havre bested Miles City on the road last month, but the Cowboys, who are 2-2 in conference play, have come on strong as of late and will present a stern test for the Ponies.

Following tonight's game, Havre will head back on the road for games at Browning and Lewistown to finish the regular season. Havre's season finale at Malta was canceled earlier this week.

"Miles city is going to be a really good test for us after they are coming off a win against Laurel on Saturday. We know they are going to come out and play hard for the full 32 minutes. We are just going to have to match their intensity. We always love conference games in the corral," Burgess said. "Hardin has been playing tough as of late. We know how hard those guys play now and how hot they can get on the court, as well. We felt like we let one slip away early in the season in the dawg pound so we were excited about the opportunity to see how much we have improved from that first weekend of basketball."

Speaking of tough, the Havre High girls will also be back on the road this weekend, and that's never easy. Tonight, the Blue Ponies (6-0, 8-2) will visit Miles City, followed by a big rematch in Hardin Saturday afternoon.

Havre is coming off a close loss to top-ranked Billings Central, where, afterward, head coach Dustin Kraske said his team just needed to clean up the little things.

"I love how hard we're playing," Kraske said. "I think we're getting better and better. It's just some things that we have to do better, and I believe we will."

The Ponies, led by double-digit scorers Sadie Filius and Yelena Miller, will likely have little trouble with the Cowgirls in Miles City. Havre beat the Cowgirls with the mercy rule in effect two weeks ago in Havre. Then it will be on to Hardin. The Bulldogs got past Havre in the Corral, and they have only lost to top-ranked Central this season. So, that will be an exciting matchup for the Ponies, who then get to come home.

Following the Havre girls' games at Miles City and Hardin, the Ponies will come home to host Browning for their senior night game, before finishing the season at Lewistown. Havre's season finale with Malta has been canceled.

Tonight's game between the Ponies and Cowboys in the HHS gymnasium will tip off at 6. The Havre girls play at Miles City tonight at 6 and at Hardin Saturday at 4 p.m.