State champion Ponies clean up on postseason awards

After a historic season that included an undefeated record, an Eastern A Divisional title and a Class A state title, the Havre girls basketball team dominated the postseason awards like it dominated the entire season.

When the Class A All-State team was finalized, it had a heavy Blue Pony presence as Kyndall Keller, Marca Herron and Danielle Wallace all earned All-State honors. All three players were also named First Team All-Conference in the Central A.

For Keller, it was her second straight year on the All-State team and she played her way onto the team after averaging 18.1 points per game, which ranked second in Class A. She also ranked in the top five in Class A in 3-point shooting after posting a 41 percent mark from deep. She also averaged 4.7 rebounds, 2.5 assists and more than two steals per game.

Wallace and Herron, both seniors, received All-State honors for the first time. Wallace finished the season scoring 10 points per game, to go along with a team high 7.1 rebounds per game. Herron was the Ponies' third-leading scorer at 8.8 per game. She also was second in the state in 3-point shooting percentage at 44 and also averaged more than three assists per game.

Another Havre senior, Kaylee Nystrom, also got some postseason honors, as she was named Second-Team All-Conference in the Central A. Nystrom is known as one of the top defensive players in Class A and averaged 6.7 points, 4.2 rebounds and 3.7 steals per game, as well as 3.4 assists per game. Nystrom also hit a clutch 3-pointer in the fourth quarter of the state championship game, which helped HHS knock off Hardin 42-35.

However, the Ponies weren't done, as both senior Kyley Verploegen and Kadia Miller earned All-Conference honorable mention. Verploegen, a senior, averaged 4.4 points and five rebounds, while Miller, a sophomore, who started every game this season for the Ponies, scored 4.6 points and grabbed 3.8 rebounds. She also turned into one of Havre's top defensive players by season's end.

Joining Keller, Wallace and Herron on the All-State team were Gabby Weber of Belgrade, Cariann Kunkel of Hamilton, Khloe Thatcher of Butte Central, Brynley Fitzgerald of Dillon, Alivia Williams of Frenchtown, Micalann McCrea of Ronan, Dani Douglas and Hannah Gedlaman of Columbia Falls, as well as Ronnal Jordan of Browning. The others that made the Class A All-State team were Aspen Cotter of Laurel, Karissa DuShane and Sharmayne Hardy, both of Hardin, along with Olivia Moten-Schell of Billings Central.

Class A girls basketball

* indicates all-state selection

Central A

First team - *Gabby Weber, So., Belgrade, *Kyndall Keller, So., Havre, *Marca Herron, Sr., Havre, *Danielle Wallace, Sr., Havre, Anna Zimmer, Jr., Lewistown

Second team - Kodie Vondra, Fr., Livingston, Hanna Hayes, Sr., Lewistown, Bailey Christensen, Jr., Belgrade, Kaylee Nystrom, Sr., Havre, Kiah Hohenstein, Sr., Belgrade

Honorable Mention - Kyley Verploegen, Sr., Havre, Hannah Gee, Sr., Belgrade, Kadia Miller, So., Havre, Danielle Babcox, Jr., Livingston

Coach of the year: Dustin Kraske, Havre

Southwestern A

First team - *Cariann Kunkel, Sr., Hamilton, *Kloie Thatcher, Sr., Butte Central, *Brynley Fitzgerald, Sr., Dillon, *Alivia Williams, Sr., Frenchtown , Megan Michelotti, Sr., Butte Central

Second team - Lauren Ryter, Sr., Hamilton, Tessa Della Silva, Sr., Hamilton, Kylie Willett, Sr., Frenchtown, Megan Delaney, Sr., Frenchtown, Angel Richards, Jr., Stevensville

Coach of the year: Mark Albert, Hamilton

Northwestern A

First team - *Micalann McCrea, Sr., Ronan, *Dani Douglas, Sr., Columbia Falls, *Ronnal Jordan, Sr., Browning, *Hannah Gedlaman, Sr., Columbia Falls, Olivia Hall, Sr., Browning

Second team - Jayden Winslow, Jr., Libby, Ryley Kehr, Jr., Columbia Falls, Shannon Reny, Sr., Libby, Tamika Guardipee, So., Browning, Dulci Skunkcap, So., Browning

Co-coaches of the year: Cary Finberg, Columbia Falls; Ray Augare, Browning

Eastern A

First team - *Aspen Cotter, Jr., Laurel, *Karissa DuShane, Sr., Hardin, *Sharmayne Hardy, Sr., Hardin, *Olivia Moten-Schell, So., Billings Central, Karsen Murphy, So., Glendive

Second team - Aiyana Ereaux, Sr., Hardin, Marie Five, So., Hardin, Kyra Oakland, Jr., Miles City, Sammi Spitzer, So., Laurel, Savannah Toms, So., Glendive.