The back-up plan for Tara Hansen worked out rather well.

The 15-year-old freshman from Manhattan had to switch horses this week to participate in the Montana High School Rodeo Finals.

The horse she had competed on all year was sick, so she called on Diamond, a 7-year-old quarter horse, to help her out.

“First week in two years he’s run poles,” Hansen said.

“I’m proud of him.”

Hansen turned in the fastest time in pole bending during Saturday night’s performance at Majestic Valley Arena.

She was clocked in 21.83 seconds.

Only one other girl broke 22 seconds, Josey Wilcox of East Glacier. She was close behind at 21.88.

“No,” she said of it feeling like a fast run.

“I felt I was bouncing around a lot.”

Hansen was timed in 22.51 in the first go on Thursday. That had her sitting in 16th place.

After two sessions, she is ninth in the average.

“We knew he was fast from roping on him,” Hansen said of Diamond.

“All I knew is that I had to have a quick turn and go for it.”

There were two sessions of saddle bronc and Jimmy Heptner of Browning had the highest mark with a 60. He was also the lone rider to score.

“She was a long horse, kind of strong,” he said.

“I thought she had me bucked toward the middle (of my ride), but I kept lifting up on my rein.”

That’s what ultimately saved him.

“I thought she was a jumper, kicker,” he said.

“She was long with me and didn’t kick.”

It was Heptner’s first score at state. He was bucked off in the first go.

“Just try to stay on again and hopefully draw a little better horse,” he said for today’s final performance, which begins at 11 a.m.

Heptner, 16, missed last year’s state finals because of a shoulder injury.

“Been healthy this year,” he said.

Trevin Baumann of Hardin is holding down the top position in steer wrestling after two runs. The 16-year-old junior notched a 4.36 time for the best effort on Saturday.

Jess Davison of Miles City was next at 4.99.

Baumann had a 9.68 in the first go on Friday.

“Had a good steer,” Baumann said.

“Will Powell (of St. Ignatius) won the first go on him. I knew if I would get a good start, I’d be fast on it.”

Baumann last year went to nationals in calf roping, but just missed out in steer wrestling. He finished fifth at state. Only the top four make nationals.

“I’m winning the average right now,” he said.

“I’ve won just about every rodeo this year.”

The top 16 cowboys and cowgirls in all events qualify for today’s final round.

“Confidence,” Baumann said when comparing last year to this year.

And ...

“He’s a solid horse,” he said of his 17-year-old quarter horse.

“I never have a bad go on him.”

Montana High School Rodeo Finals

Saturday

Majestic Valley Arena

Kalispell

Second Go

Bareback riding — 1. Trevar McAllister, Ronan, 68.5; 2. Kiin Salois, East Glacier, 67; 3. Skyler Erickson, Powell, 63; 4. Koltin Kimmel, Forsyth, 55.

Steer wrestling — 1. Trevin Baumann, Hardin, 4.36; 2. Jess Davison, Miles City, 4.99; 3. Carson King, Dillon, 5.20; 4. Wrye Williams, Broadus, 5.27; 5. Ogden Harkins, Billings, 6.17; 6. Denver Krone, Augusta, 7.52; 7. Bryce Butterfield, Bozeman, 7.75; 8. Drew Hill, Bozeman, 7.81; 9. Marshal Ray,  East Glacier, 8.91; 10. Jake Malek, 11.07.

Saddle bronc — 1. Jimmy Heptner, Browning, 60.

Tie-down roping — 1. Bryce Bott, Powell, 9.53; 2. Haven Meged, Miles, 9.61; 3. Logan Brown, Miles City, 10.70; 4. Cyris Robertson, Whitehall, 11.00; 5. Houston Brown, Miles City, 11.04; 6. Tate Rhoads, Big Horn, 11.59; 7. Tucker Harmon, Powderville, 11.64; 8. Wyre Williams, Broadus, 11.89; 9. Brandon Yearian, Corvallis, 11.91; 10. Tele Seemann, Polson, 12.21.

Team roping — 1. Brandon Krueger/Shane Kneer, 7.51; 2. Celie Salmond/Bryer Davis, 8.48; 3. Gussie Carr/Tyler Craft, 9.30; 4. Wyatt Foulger/Tucker Harmon, 10.87; 5. Caydee Johnson/James Ramirez, 14.20; 6. Peter Tatsey/Alzonso Skunkcap, 14.74; 7. (tie) Carson King/Wyatt Lytton and Haven Meged/Wrye Williams, 14.75 each; 9. Ouana Harkins/Jack Pederson, 16.18; 10. Jaret Whitman/Ty Everson, 17.00.

Bull riding — 1. Jess Lockwood, Volborg, 87; 2. Clay Applegate, Deer Lodge, 85; 3. Houston Brown, Miles City 77, 4. Cole Wagner, Valier, 60.

Barrel racing — 1. Morgan Link, Billings, 15.66; 2. Paige Moore, Rosebud, 15.81; 3. Callie Wollenburg, Red Lodge, 15.91; 4. Samantha Moulding, Missoula, 15.99; 5. Keslie Wolfe, Boulder, 16.02; 6. (tie) Abby Knight, Charlo, and Mikayla Fuller, Bozeman, 16.03 each; 8. Hannah Wollenburg, Red Lodge, 16.04; 9. Stephanie Bartmess, Helena, 16.05; 10. Laramie Noble, Huntley, 16.16.

Pole bending — 1. Drew Zipperian, Clancy, 21.05; 2. Caydee Johnson, Manhattan, 21.34; 3. Taylour Russell, Conrad, 21.45; 4. Jerilyn Wiseman, Baker, 21.52; 5. Tara Novak, Helena, 21.60; 6. Paityn Maher, Glendive, 21.66; 7. Martje-Jane Plaggemeyer, Big Timer, 21.70; 8. (tie) Mikayla Fuller, Bozeman, and Celie Salmond, Choteau, 21.78 each; 10. Tara Hansen, Manhattan, 21.83.

Breakaway roping — 1. Caydee Johnson, Manhattan, 2.44; 2. Elizabeth French, Pompeys Pillar, 2.50; 3. Bailey Fruit, Ekalaka, 2.58; 4. Laurel White, Harlem, 2.66; 5. Nichole Lake, Polson, 2.67; 6. Ashley Koenig, Belgrade, 2.72; 7. Callie Wollenburg, Red Lodge, 2.74; 8. Shayle Hildebrand, Joliet, 2.85; 9. Jalisa Klassen, Powell, 2.87; 10. Cady Sayers, Three Forks, 2.94.