It’s finally game week for the 2023-24 Havre Blue Ponies basketball team. Head coach WaLynn Burgess told New Media Broadcasters what his team has been doing in the weeks leading up to actually playing in meaningful games.
“We’ve had almost three of just playing against each other,” Burgess said. “They seem like they’re ready to go and play somebody else. It’s a whole lot of just focusing on us right now.”
“I thought we’ve had a lot of good practices since coming back from Thanksgiving break,” Burgess continued. “We’ve been trying to figure out different combinations of what works. I think we’re nine to ten guys deep that we can play.”
The Havre boys’ basketball squad will be looking to start its season on a high note with games at East Helena and versus Lockwood this weekend. Burgess shares his scouting reports for a team that is entering the Northeastern ‘A’ for the first time and a team who Havre has seen in the past.
“We understand that going in, both games are going to be real tough,” Burgess said.
“East Helena, you know you’re playing them at their place,” Burgess continued. “You know it’s going to be a packed house with the doubleheader, bringing both (the boys’ and girls’) teams down.”
“Game against Lockwood…they’re a team that finished in the top-2 in the Southeast (‘A’) last year,” Burgess said. “They’re really well coached. It’s going to be a really fun game (and) a good test for us this early in the season. We enjoy those types of things when you can have early tests like that.”
Burgess has one more message for the Havre community ahead of Saturday’s game at the Blue Pony Corral.
“Anybody that is around on Saturday and wants to come watch a game, we’ll have a pretty good one here against Lockwood.”
The Havre boys’ basketball game with East Helena tips off at 5pm on Friday, followed by the Ponies’ home opener versus Lockwood on Saturday at 4pm. Both games can be heard exclusively on KOJM-610am, home of Havre Blue Pony Athletics.
