'Remember who you are': Carroll College's Kyndall Keller shooting herself into history books

HELENA When Kyndall Kellers grandfather passed away, she stumbled upon his lifes work tucked away in filing cabinets at his home.

Among the decades-old scouting reports, diagramed plays, research, and basketball films was a Jim Gross-written blurb about Carroll College Hall of Famer Catherine Mason.

Gross, Kellers maternal grandpa, coached Mason in the mid-1990s, witnessing first-hand many of her 1,492 career points that rank sixth all-time in Saints program history.

Thursday, with Masons daughter Clare Converse watching from the bench, in the same Treasure State town her own mother captured a Class AA state title some 41 years ago.

I guess Im proud of all the work Ive put in, Keller said.

It just goes to show that hard work pays off...

We still have a lot left to do this season, but I think thats a cool milestone for me, personally, because I did it in high school.

To be able to do it in college, too, is a pretty cool accomplishment.

Keller and her Hall of Fame grandpa spent many evenings watching WNBA games together.

Those experiences, and competitive parents who met playing basketball at Carroll, sparked Kellers own drive and desire to play the game at a high level.

Her father, Bill, rebounded for Keller at Havre Middle School and MSU-Northern, but it wasnt until early teenage years the future collegiate sharpshooter learned to enjoy splashing 3-pointers.

Theres that one-on-one aspect of it, Keller said of basketball.

In any sport, [theres] that, Im gonna outcompete you.

Thats what I loved growing up.

I always wanted to be the best when I was little, so I was super competitive in that way...

I think thats what I really liked was, Im gonna show you, Im gonna show the next person that Im better than you and Im gonna beat you.

I think I like it in that way.

Two Class A state championships satisfied Kellers edge until her transfer from the University of Montana to Carroll allowed her winning ways to continue collegiately.

Thursday was NAIA victory No.

69 for the former Blue Pony.

Keller never considered shed play at Carroll, for the same reason kids dont want to always follow their parents, but the last two and a half seasons produced the continuance of a purple and gold Keller legacy.

I think its a full-circle moment and I didnt even realize it until I got here, Keller said.

I was just like, that is so cool.

We dont share the same experiences, but in a way its kinda similar...

I think [my grandpa] would be super proud.

Both my grandparents really wanted me to come to Carroll.

I know that he is proud of me right now.

Kellers third, and final, season at Carroll has been her best.

A team-best 14.7 points per game is Kellers career-high, as is her 4.3 rebounds and 2.2 assists.

Thursday, scoring 21 points, was Kellers ninth 20-plus point game as a Saint, five of which have come this season all while the fifth-year senior is attempting to slow down her final handful of games.

Keller is within 10 made 3-pointers of a career-best, closing in on 150 made triples at Carroll, and two buckets shy of 370 at the NAIA level.

Nights like Thursday, though, when Keller shot 57.1% (8-for-14) have often been paired with 4-for-13 (Jan.

11 @ Montana Tech) or 5-for-15 (Saturday @ Providence) struggles, highs and lows of a non-perfect season.

Its in those moments, when nine of 11 3-balls miss the mark, that Keller recalls her grandpas most memorable advice.

Remember who you are, Keller said.

Remember the work youve put in.

Wed go back and watch [games] and hed talk to me about certain plays or Xs and Os.

I think just remembering who you are and why youre playing...

I think that was a really good piece of advice.

It helps you in a lot of situations, it builds my confidence.

I feel that remember who you are is such a good thing to live by through the highs and lows.

A willingness to persist through tough times injuries, losses, poor performances creates a journey with a satisfying ending only experienced because of the tribulations.

Remembering who she is a sniper, a state and Frontier champion, a multi-time 1,000-point scorer, a former Gatorade Player of the Year, a daughter to basketball junkies keeps Keller hoisting the next shot that will always drop.

Winning is hard, Keller said.

I think that can get underestimated sometimes.

To go in and compete and win day in and day out and have luck be on your side...

Really luck is just all that hard work.

It just shows up at the time you need it.

Kellers final regular-season game, fittingly, takes place in Havre on Feb.

22, the place where it all started for Carrolls newest 1,000-point scorer.

Then, its off to Four Seasons Arena in Great Falls, the site of Kellers back-to-back state championships and tournament MVPs.

Raising another trophy in that building on March 4 would be Carrolls second tournament title in Kellers three seasons.

That doesnt happen for a lot of people, Keller said.

Our last conference game is at Northern, too...I really enjoyed playing at Four Seasons in high school...

We always drew a great crowd and I really liked the atmosphere because its what I grew up with and what I knew.

I think itll be a really cool full-circle [moment] and a great way to end [my career].

Keller has only known 20-win seasons in Helena, a team achievement now within six victories of repeating.

Chasing that goal also means seeking head coach Rachelle Sayers 300th career win at Carroll.

Thursday was the Absarokee natives 295th triumph in 14 seasons.

That would be a huge honor, Keller said.

Rachelle has done a great job and she is a phenomenal coach.

What shes done for me, truthfully, I cant thank her enough.

She is so valuable to this team, to this school...

Once she gets her 300th win that just goes to show what kind of person she is on and off the floor.

She does so much for us.

To be part of that would really be an honor.

Putting the finishing touches on a business management and marketing degree, Keller plans to attend JZ Academy in Utah this summer to learn to style hair.

She aims to open her own salon one day, but also remain close to the game of basketball.

Keller doesnt know what life outside the sport looks like, shes never experienced it before.

Remembering her grandpas advice will no doubt aid that journey, though, just like it did during Kellers standout career.

I think its gonna be really tough, Keller said.

Ive been saying, I might have a little identity crisis because its all Ive ever known and done...

Once its all said and done, taking time away just to see what I like to do other than basketball, which I dont really know.

I do think I will find my way back to basketball somehow..

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