9C Tournament Extra: Hi-Line Athlete Profile: Kyla Momberg, Box Elder

In just three seasons playing for the Box Elder girls basketball team, Kyla Momberg has gotten to be a part of experiences that most players could only dream of. Her most noteworthy achievement was being a key contributor for a state championship team in 2019, the second in a row for the Bears.

"I still think about it to this day. Every time somebody asks me a question, that always comes up. It's a good feeling all around. Just knowing what went on and that I was able to be a part of that group of hard workers," Momberg said.

Last year, Momberg also got the opportunity to play in a tough high school basketball league when she moved to Spokane, Washington.

"It was definitely a different kind of physicality but it was the same skill, the same tempo, but it was just more physicality over there," Momberg said. "It was great. I really loved the experience of being able to be over there and then come back to Montana and just seeing the difference of both states. That was pretty nice."

Of course, hoops runs deep in her family, as she played for her dad Joel her first two years at Box Elder, and got to play with her older sister Joelnell both in Box Elder and Spokane.

Now, Momberg hopes to use what she learned from her time in Washington to help her team achieve success in the District 9C Girls' Basketball Tournament this weekend. After a win against Hays-Lodge Pole Tuesday night, Momberg and the Bears advanced to face No. 1 seed Fort Benton Thursday at 10:30 a.m. at the Havre High School Gymnasium. Before her next game, the Havre Daily News got to catch up with Momberg to ask her a few questions.

HDN: How did you originally get into basketball?

Momberg: "Growing up with a sister who really loved basketball. It was in our family too. It was like, 'If you don't like it, just try it out. See how it is.' So, I tried it out, I liked it. Originally, I wanted to do cheer. That was the plan but it didn't work out and I ended up playing basketball. Having that older sister who really loved it, just going along with her growing up, working out with her, that's what really got me into it."

HDN: What is your favorite basketball memory?

Momberg: "I think it would have be my teammate Sarah Parisian hitting the three on Turner for us to go into overtime to go to state (in 2019). That was probably my favorite memory."

HDN: What did you learn from your time in Washington?

Momberg: "Having a really good, deep chemistry with my team here was definitely different from over there. So learning to build that was definitely new coming from a family going to a new team where I really didn't know anybody. Just building better bonds with people was definitely one thing that I learned there."

HDN: What is your favorite hobby outside of basketball?

Momberg: "That is so tough. Outside of basketball, I like to longboard with friends but other than that it's just basketball. I don't really have any hobbies."

HDN: Are there any other sports you're passionate about?

Momberg: "I just watch basketball. I don't really have any other sports that I'm interested in. I like to watch volleyball, too, but it's just basketball mainly."

HDN: Do you have a favorite basketball team or player?

Momberg: "North Carolina for college basketball men's and Gonzaga. For girls, Baylor. Those are my favorite college basketball teams. Professionally, Lakers, of course, for Kobe."