Skylights land Columbia Falls star

Montana State University-Northern women’s head coach Chris Mouat is coming off an unprecedented four-year run of success, including an appearance in the 2017 NAIA Sweet 16 in Billings.

Now, Mouat is looking to build for more success in the future and he recently announced another recruit that will help the Skylights do just that.

On Wednesday, Columbia Falls standout Peyton Kehr signed an NAIA national letter of intent to play for the Skylights starting next fall. Kehr is a 5-10 guard who helped the Wildkats to the 2017 Class A state championship.

“Peyton is a great addition for us,” Mouat said. “She shoots the ball well, she has good length, and is a proven scorer and winner. I really like the fact that she shot good percentages from everywhere on the floor. Plus, she’s coming from a great program, and I know she has been well-coached along the way. We enjoyed having her on campus during the HIT Tournament and I think she is a great fit for our program.”

Kehr is a two-time Class A All-State selection (First Team as a junior and Second Team as a senior) and was named the Most Valuable Player at the 2017 State Class A Tournament. At the State A Tournament in Butte, she averaged 15 points per game and helped lead Columbia Falls to its first State A girls title since 1983. They finished with an overall record of 23-1.

This season, Kehr shot 53% from the field, 34% from the 3-point line, and 80% from the free throw line. She averaged 14 points and 5 rebounds per game. She was recently named to the Great Falls Tribune Super State Team.

Kehr also excels on the softball field, where she has already been a two-time All-State pick. She is currently competing in her senior softball season for the Wildkats.

“I’m excited about Peyton’s future here,” Mouat said. “She is a part of a freshman class that we are really happy about.”

Kehr joins Havre’s Naomi Terry and Fairfield’s Allix Goldhahn as Skylight freshman signees thus far for the class of 2017. Kehr is the daughter of Dave and Robyn Kehr. She plans on majoring in education at MSU-Northern.