The Havre girls’ basketball team is setting out for an unprecedented fourth state championship in a row. Before the festivities begin in Butte on Thursday, New Media Broadcasters spoke with Lady Ponies coach Dustin Kraske and he shared what his team has been doing to prepare for the ultimate stage in Montana high school basketball.
“We spent a couple days last weekend resting up getting our academics back, getting our health back,” Kraske said. “The last three or four practices have been pretty good.”
“(We’ve been) spending some time continuing to work on fundamentals,” Kraske said. “Making your layups, make your free throws, play good defense, take care of the ball, and of course, rebound.”
There is no pressure on this 2023-24 Havre girls’ basketball team because they have been in this spot before as a program. Kraske put things into perspective with how he will again teach his team about being in the moment and playing freely at the state tournament.
“Our role in responsibility for our own team is to work to play your best basketball at the end of the season,” Kraske said. “That’s been how we’ve approached things for a long time.”
“State to me has always been for our kids the reward for coming into June at 7 in the morning to try and get better for the Blue Ponies,” Kraske continued. “(We’re) constantly reminding (the players) to thoroughly enjoy the state tournament (and) enjoy being one of the best eight teams in Class ‘A’, playing a weekend of basketball together and enjoying each other’s company.”
The 2024 MHSA State Class ‘A’ Basketball Tournament will feature an opening round contest between the No. 1 seed out of the east Havre girls (18-3) and the No. 4 seed out of the west Browning girls (15-7). Tipoff from the Butte Civic Center will be around 1:30pm and you can listen on KOJM-610AM and HiLineToday.com.
