BLUE BLOOD

There are a host of cliches that could sum up Kyndall Keller's high school basketball career at Havre High. Phrases like: "You've done it all" or "You have nothing left to prove" are apropos when talking about Keller's first three years in a Blue Pony uniform.

Even Keller's dream of playing NCAA Division I college basketball is already a reality, and she hasn't even take a shot yet in her final season at HHS.

Yes, it's safe to say, Keller, who has helped the Blue Ponies to back-to-back state championships, who is a three-time Class A All-State performer, an Academic All-Stater, and holder of plenty of Blue Pony records already and who recently signed to play for the University of Montana Lady Griz, has had as good a career as there has been in modern high school girls basketball on the Hi-Line.

Simply put, Keller is already one of the very best to ever play basketball around these parts.

But because of the kind of kid, the kind of player, and, especially, the kind of basketball junkie Keller is, no one - not Kyndall herself or longtime Havre head coach Dustin Kraske - has to worry about her getting complacent. Instead, it's more than likely that Keller will do even bigger and better things in her senior season, as difficult as some of the things she already has accomplished will be to top.

And Kraske would know. He's been around Keller for years, he's coached her for the last three.

"There's a ton of things to like about Kyndall as a player," Kraske said. "First thing is, her commitment to getting better. She never stops working at it. She's a great student of the game and a student of getting better. She's also really fun to watch play, and I'd also say kids enjoy playing with her. She's unselfish, she's a winner, she's a leader and a great teammate. It's just a privilege just to be around her."

Keller has been fun to watch, and then some. She's an exciting player, and she's as dominant as any girls basketball player has been at Havre High since the great Loree Payne. And that's what has turned her into a top college prospect, and finally, a Lady Griz.

"She's a kid we know has grown up in the gym. Both her mom and dad were basketball players and lots of family around her have Lady Griz connections," Lady Griz head coach Shannon Schweyen said on national signing day last month. "I think Kyndall has that lost mid-range game that a lot of kids don't have. She is a very capable 3-point shooter and a strong guard, who I foresee being able to score down in the paint.

"I think the sky is the limit for Kyndall at the next level," Kraske said. "She'll just get better and better because she'll work at it. I think she needs to get in the weight room and get stronger, which she'll do, and I think, if she can attack the defensive end of the floor, like she does the offensive end at that level, it's going to be a difference-maker for her. Everybody is good at the next level, and everybody can score, but I think what sets kids apart at that level is how hard they work and how well they can play defense.

"I know this about Kyndall," he continued. "The coachability is already there, the work ethic is already there, the commitment is already there, so I think because of that, you'll see her just get better and better in college."

Keller, indeed, has the makings of a dynamic Lady Griz player in the future. First thing's first though. She has a senior season to play. She has plenty left to accomplish - including trying to help her Blue Ponies to what would be a historic third straight Class A title.

Make no mistake, Kyndall Keller has a lot let to do in high school, and her head coach really wants to see her do one thing above all else.

"I would say, I want to see Kyndall and her senior teammates enjoy their last season together," Kraske said. "They've all put in so much hard work over the years, to be a good team. They've put in a lot of time together to have the success they've had, so I just want them to enjoy this. I want time to slow down and have this season be as fun for them as it can possibly be.

"For Kyndall and her classmates, I want to see them go out and play the best basketball of their careers," Kraske continued. "They deserve that. That's the point of all this hard work. It's the point of all the hard work and the time Kyndall has put into this. So, I would say, enjoy it, show it off so to speak, and just have a lot of fun this season."

The final season of Keller's incredible Blue Pony career will begin Friday night in Laurel. But before she grows her legend even further, the Havre Daily News had a Q and A session with the Blue Pony great ahead of her senior year.

HDN: How does it feel to know you are signed with your dream school before your last season starts, and what does that do for you as far as this season is concerned?

Keller: "Signing with Montana before the season has even started is really a tremendous feeling. I love that I know where I'm going next year, and it's one less thing I have to think about during the season, so now I can really focus on Blue Pony basketball."

HDN: What does it mean to you to be a Lady Griz?

Keller: "I'm so thankful that I've been given the opportunity to be a part of a tremendous women's basketball program. There have been so many great Montana girls and to be a part of that tradition is a huge honor."

HDN: Going into your senior season, you've already accomplished so much. What motivates you now?

Keller: "Winning with such an amazing team and all our fans really motivates me. It's so fun and indescribable; it's something I can't get enough of. Being able to step out on the court every Friday and Saturday with my girls is something so special, and I'm so grateful for each and everyone of them. Also just being the best I can be because when it's all said and done you want to think that you did everything you could and left it all on the floor. I also don't think I've reached my max potential quite yet and I'm motivated to bring the best I can be."

HDN: With regards to basketball, what are the things you are trying to improve on this season?

Keller: "I worked hard this summer on improving my strength and conditioning, point guard skills and 3-point shooting."

HDN: A lot of people don't get to see how hard you work or all that you've done to get to this point. Explain just the time and effort you've put into the game and to get to where you are now?

Keller: "To be good at anything in life takes a lot of hard work and you have to make daily sacrifices. Every offseason since the third grade I've been in the gym working hard to improve different skills. I've been lucky enough to play AAU basketball and travel to Oregon, Washington, Utah, California and Nevada to play against very high level competition. Also coach Kraske is not supposed to know about this, however, I like to find some time on Sundays during the season to get a few extra shots up."

HDN: When people mention you now with Loree Payne, what does that feel like? Does it tell you just how far you've come as a Blue Pony basketball player?

Keller: "To be mentioned with Loree Payne is just a tremendous honor. It just goes to show that working hard, having such great teammates, amazing coaches, my parents and awesome support from such a great community can take a kid a long ways."

HDN: This season Havre has a chance to really do something special, and that's win a third state championship in a row? What would that mean to you and your teammates?

Keller: "My teammates mean the world to me. I love them so much. We have grown up playing basketball together since we were third and fourth-graders. All of us wanted to be state champs one day and winning it twice is absolutely incredible, something we never even dreamed of. Getting a third title would mean the absolute world to us. We have put so much time and effort in to this amazing game and we want it really bad. Also we love to play in front of the fans at Blue Pony Corral and if we are able to win another one for them it'd be so amazing."

HDN: Can you put into words what your high school career has been like up to this point?

Keller: "I couldn't have asked for a better high school career so far. It's been a blast and I can't thank all the Blue Pony fans, my teammates, my coaches, and all the parents enough. You guys are what has made it so special and an experience I'll never forget."

HDN: What has coach Kraske meant to you and to your development as a player, and to the program?

Keller: "Kraske is Kraske. He's more than just my coach. He has helped me in every aspect of life, not just basketball. I can't put into words what he means to me. He puts so much time and effort into basketball, as well as making each and everyone of his players better. Going to practice to see Kraske is something I look forward to every day. He truly is something else. Before practice we all joke around and have a blast, and ya know Kraske thinks he's a jokester and thinks he's pretty funny, but when practice starts he means business he and we get stuff done. Kraske is the face of Havre High Girls Basketball."

HDN: Describe the storybook ending to your Blue Pony Career?

Keller: "The perfect story book ending ... a 3-peat, yes for sure it's something we've been working for our whole lives but there's so much more behind the scenes that people don't see. Havre High Girls Basketball is a family, something truly special and so indescribable. The friendships and bonds we have all created are everlasting. I think the perfect ending to a Blue Pony Career is to give your best effort every single day, make your community proud and know that you left everything you had on the floor."