Pony girls thump Morning Stars

ROCKY BOY - Kyndall Keller has done a lot of things during her high school basketball career. However, she had never scored 30 points in a game, until Thursday night in Rocky Boy that is.

Playing on the home floor of the Blue Ponies' Class B rival, Keller got off to a scintillating start, scoring 18 points in the first quarter on her way to a career-high 31 points. When the two-time All-State performer's night came to an end after just 17 minutes, she was 14-of-18 from the field and 3-of-4 from beyond the arc as she led Havre to a 75-32 victory, its 39th in a row.

"I just came out and was in the zone," Keller said. "I can't really explain it."

Indeed she was and you could tell right from the get-go.

Loy Waid opened the scoring for Havre with two free throws, then Keller scored the next nine points for the Ponies as she knocked down her first four shots including a 3-pointer that put Havre in front 11-4. She missed another shot in the opening stanza but that was it and in the closing minutes, she hit again from three and hit another bucket late to get 18 points after making 8-of-10 shots.

"I just thought our entire team came out ready to go," HHS head coach Dustin Kraske said. "But Kyndall obviously came out and shot the ball incredibly well."

In the second quarter, Keller started on the bench but that didn't stop the Ponies from blitzing Rocky Boy for another 25 points. Sophomore Kylie Walker hit twice from three and when Keller entered the game again with less than two minutes left in the first half, she hit again from deep, giving her 21 at the half and putting Havre in front 49-16.

"I think that was the hottest start I have had," Keller said. "I felt really good. "I just came out ready to go I think.

In the third quarter, her dominance continued. The junior scored six points in the first 90 seconds and then after getting another bucket, she was taken out late again in the third with 29. She also played for about a minute in the fourth and scored to eclipse 30 points for the first time in her career. With 31, she was taken out of the game and wouldn't play again with the mercy rule in effect.

"The girls made some great passes," Keller said. "We came out ready to go and we were running the floor and getting some steals and we were able to get some easy buckets."

While Keller poured in a career high, it was still 14 points shy of the school record set by Loree Payne who scored 45 during her days at Havre High. However, it was easily one of the most efficient performances in Blue Pony history with an average of nearly two points a minute.

"I was probably the only person who could stop her," Kraske said. "She just came out ready to go. She caught the ball ready to score."

Keller stole the show, but Walker also had an impressive outing for Havre with 10 points.

Additionally, 11 of the 12 players dressed out in the game scored and 10 players managed at least four points in the win, including Kadia Miller who scored six, as well as Jessa Chvilicek, Sadie Filius, Katie Wirtzberger, Lauren Kato, Loy Waid and Britton Paulson, who each finished with four.

Rocky Boy was paced by Sasha Coffee, who scored 14 points and connected twice from downtown. Jeralyn Parker also pitched in with six.

Havre (15-0) has now won 39 consecutive games and will go for 40 and another 6-0 record in the Central A Saturday night against Lewistown. Tip-off time is scheduled for 5 p.m.

Havre 75, Rocky Boy 32

Rocky Boy 12 4 12 4 - 32

Havre 24 25 16 10 - 75

Rocky Boy - Jourani Coffee 4, Mariah Arkinson 4, Sasha Coffee 14, Kirsten Lamere 4, Jeralyn Parker 6.

Havre - Kyndall Keller 31, Kylie Walker 10, Kassidy Compton 4, Loy Waid 4, Abbey Morse 2, Kadia Miller 6, Jessa Chvilicek 4, Sadie Filius 4, Katie Wirtzberger 4, Lauren Kato 4, Britton Paulson 4.