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Havre's Kyndall Keller, Harlem's L'Tia Lawrence were set to play for Montana in annual All-Star basketball games
Havre High's Kyndall Keller shoots during a Class A state tournament game back in March in Billings. The state tournaments were cut short due to COVID-19, and now, the Montana-Wyoming All-Star Series has been canceled as well. Keller, and Harlem's L'Tia Lawrence were both selected to play on the Montana girls team in the series.
The COVID-19 pandemic has seemingly wiped out just about everything that high school athletes could play in this spring, and into the summer - including all-star games for graduation seniors.
And last week, the last big all-star game to be canceled was the annual Montana-Wyoming All-Star Basketball Series, which was set to be played in June. It's the first time in 45 years the series will not be played.
"It's super disappointing," said Rocky Erickson, president of the Midland Roundtable in Billings, which puts on the series, to 406 sports "I really, really wanted to have the games. But we're stuck and there's nothing else we can do."
It will be disappointing for a pair of local hoopsters, too.
Havre High star Kyndall Keller and Harlem standout L'Tia Lawrence were both set to play for Montana in the girls series. Keller, a four-time Class A All-State performer, and two-time Class A state champion, as well as Lawrence, who was a three-time Class B All-State standout, are both headed to the University of Montana Lady Griz next fall.
Montana's boys lead their series 61-27 and have won 16 in a row. For the girls, Montana leads 33-13 and has won seven straight.
The boys series began in 1976 and the girls in 1997. Sheridan College head coaches traditionally coach the Wyoming teams. Cody Ball, head men's coach, agreed with canceling the games, while Providence' Steve Keller coaches the Montana boys, and Rocky Mountain women's head coach Wes Keller coaches the Montana girls.
Montana's state tournaments were canceled March 13 after the semifinal games. Wyoming's 3A/4A tournaments, scheduled for the same weekend in Casper, were canceled before they began; champions were crowned in 2A and 1A the previous week, also in Casper.
The Montana girls team was composed of Keller Lawrence; Maddie Albrecht, Billings West; Willa Albrecht, Billings West; Dyauni Boyce, Roy-Winifred; Lexi Deden, Missoula Sentinel; Marie Five, Hardin; Mya Fourstar, Wolf Point; Olivia Moten-Schell, Billings Central; and Kortney Nelson, Scobey.
The Montana boys roster was made up of Brendon Johnson, Livingston; Carter Ash, Bozeman; Keeley Bake, Fairfield; Abe Johnson, Missoula Hellgate; Camdyn LaRance, Missoula Hellgate; Famous Lefthand, Hardin; Julius Mims, Billings Skyview; Cayden Redfield, Hardin; Cade Tyson, Billings West; and Rollie Worster, Missoula Hellgate.
The Montana-Wyoming Series joins the famed Montana East-West Shrine Game and the Badlands Bowl, as well as Class B and C all-star football games, that have been canceled due to COVID-19. Havre High, and Hi-Line football players would have played in many of those games as well.
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