GREAT FALLS — Just one more game at the State A tournament here at the Four Seasons Arena in Great Falls.
It's time for the much anticipated girls title game. Eastern A rivals Havre and Billings Central have a lot of history and hardware on the hardwood.
The Rams and Blue Ponies have combined for the last eight Class A state titles. Billings Central won the last two and shared the title with Hardin in the COVID-19 shortened 2020 tournament, and Havre won five titles in six seasons from 2017-2023.
But the Blue Ponies haven’t beaten the Rams since that 2023 season and the Rams have won 46 straight games against Class A opponents. These two teams have played twice so far this season. The Rams defeated the Blue Ponies 42-35 at home in the regular season and 44-36 in the Eastern A title game.
Tom Wylie and Will Charlton are on hand to provide live updates through the title game.
Here's how the early games played out:
- Frenchtown 58, Laurel 32
- Hardin 56, Dillon 45
- Hardin 64, Frenchtown 63 (2OT), third place
***STATE A UPDATED SCORES AND PAIRINGS***
11:09 p.m. | HIGHLIGHTS: HAVRE BACK ON TOP IN CLASS A (RECAP BELOW VIDEO)
10:54 p.m. | RECAP
GREAT FALLS — Havre turned in a dominant defensive effort Saturday night, defeating two-time defending champion Billings Central 52-28 to win the Class A girls basketball state title.
After a tight opening quarter, the Blue Ponies seized control behind standout guard Amaya Jarvis, who scored 20 points with seven rebounds and four steals. Havre led 21-16 at halftime, stretched the margin to 38-19 after three quarters, and held the Rams to 8-for-35 shooting (22.9%) for the game.
It was also the first time since 2023 the Blue Ponies beat the Rams. The win snapped Central's win streak at 46 games over Class A opponents.
“It feels great to come back, get our revenge. Everything we worked for, it feels good,” Jarvis said. “I think that we talked a lot about just executing on defense. If we get defensive stops carrying it into our offense."
Havre’s senior class, which also won a state title as freshmen in 2023, capped its run with another championship performance.
“I feel amazing. I mean, I’ve been with these girls my whole life and it’s like the absolute dream. I wouldn’t want to do it with any other people,” senior Ela Harbor said.
Senior Ariana Gary said the moment carried extra meaning for the group.
“State champions. It’s surreal. You live in the moment,” Gary said. “I think it shows what we can accomplish. My tears are happy tears we won, but two — I will not get to play with these girls ever again."
The title was also the first for second-year head coach Tommy Brown, who took over for longtime championship-winning coach Dustin Kraske.
“It means everything, man. And it’s these kids, man. All credit to those kids putting in the work, you know, not just this season — years in advance,” Brown said.
Billings Central was led by Annika Stergar with 12 points, but the Rams never found consistent offense against Havre’s pressure.
For Havre’s seniors, the championship completed a journey that began four years earlier.
“It’s crazy to think that we’d be here right now looking back on it, but it’s a journey that we went through together and I’m really proud of them," Jarvis said. "And I’m glad that we ended on a win."
10:26 p.m. | HAVRE HAS IT! A STATE TITLE!
Havre takes down two-time defending champion Billings Central 52-28 in the State A title game. It's the Blue Ponies first state title since 2023 when the team's three seniors were freshmen.
And it's the first state title for second year head coach Tommy Brown, who took over the program from Hall of Famer Dustin Kraske. He was the first person that Brown ran to embrace after the game.
We'll have more in a bit.
10:10 p.m. | HAVRE DEFENSE IS SUFFOCATING
Havre leads 46-26 with 3:19 left. Just looked through the schedule, Billings Central's lowest point total of the season was 40 points which came in a 40-37 win over Frenchtown.
10:01 p.m. | BLUE PONIES IN CONTROL AFTER THREE
It's 38-19 Havre entering the fourth. Not sure I've ever seen a more locked player and team than Jarvis and the Blue Ponies.
Jarvis just converted a wild, one-handed, off balance jumper after a steal - got fouled - and converted the free throw. Everything going right for Havre.
Look at this shot! She made this:
9:47 p.m. | AMAYA JARVIS IS A BALLER
Havre has jumped out to a 30-18 lead behind a determined Jarvis. Steals, layups, assists. The Blue Ponies crowd and bench are locked in.
A reminder that Central trailed Frenchtown by nine entering the fourth quarter in the Friday semifinals, before turning it around and outscoring the Broncs 20-3 in the final frame.
Can the Rams find another surge here?
9:34 p.m. | HAVRE WITH THE EDGE AT HALF
Havre leads 21-16 at halftime. After the last update, Havre went on a 7-0 run keyed by back-to-back buckets from Amaya Jarvis who has 10 points at the break.
Central went nearly nine minutes without scoring a field goal across the first and second quarter. Annika Stergar leads Central with 10 points at the break. The Rams have only scored four field goals, but have gone a perfect 6 for 6 from the foul line to stay in the game.
Havre is 7 for 25 (28%) for the game and 3 for 14 from beyond the arc.
9:23 p.m. | TIED AFTER ONE QUARTER
Apologies, I was finishing coverage of the boys game and missed the tipoff update.
Central jumped out to a 9-3 lead, but Havre came back and tied the game at nine after the first quarter. Just three minutes into the second, we're tied at 14. Amaya Jarvis and Annika Stergar traded 3-pointers.
Fun game between bitter, talented rivals so far.
7:14 p.m. | GIRLS TITLE GAME WILL TIP LATE
If you're here for updates from the State A girls title game, it won't tip until close to 9:15 p.m.
But you can follow updates from the boys title game here.
6:45 p.m. | THIRD-PLACE THRILLER!
Incredible game between Frenchtown and Hardin in the consolation final. The Bulldogs took down the Broncs 64-63 in double overtime just two days after Frenchtown beat them in the quarterfinals 47-46.
Kevee Rogers led the Bulldogs with 24 points while Dakota Takes Enemy added 12 points including a game winning three late in the fourth quarter. Boise State commit Mason Quinn had a tournament high 34 points for Frenchtown.
Check out the finish here:
Dakota Takes Enemy with the game winning three! Hardin wins 64-63. pic.twitter.com/9Ut5xqtFoE
— Tom Wylie (@WylieTom) March 15, 2026
