Bayard’s Amber Kistler has a dream of playing Division I basketball someday. She also realizes that to get there, her first step is to start small. Monday, Kistler took the first step in achieving that dream by officially inking a letter of intent to play for Dave Harnish and the national power Western Nebraska Community College women’s basketball team.
Kistler said the decision was an easy.
“I always wanted to play college basketball and I want to go D1 after two years here,” the 5-foot-8 guard/forward said. “I was also looking at a school in Texas, but I decided to go to WNCC because they have a good program and I think I can work hard here for two years and then go where I want to in two years.”
Harnish is getting a player that was a bear on the court for the Bayard Tigers the past four years, earning Star-Herald All-Region First Team honors this past winter. Kistler averaged 17.4 points and 8.8 rebounds a game, as the four-year starter collected over 1,000 points in her career.
“I think Amber will definitely bring us some very good athleticism. I like what she is able to do and I followed her for four years,” Harnish said. “She came to our summer camps and our summer league on Monday nights. She is able to play all four positions. Early on in her career, she played more of a guard and the last couple of years she played more of the forward and was able to post up. She brings us the ability to be able to play all the positions on the floor.
Kistler is no stranger to the Cougar Palace flow this past year. The multiple sport standout played Western Trails Conference basketball game at WNCC in February, as well as just finishing up two all-star game appearances at the college in the Panhandle Prep basketball game as well as the West Nebraska All-star volleyball game. Kistler will even be back on the Cougar Palace hardwoods next week when she will help instruct in the Cougar girl’s basketball camp that begins Monday.
It is that all-around mentality that has Harnish extremely pleased of what he is getting in a talent like Kistler, especially after what she did in the Panhandle Prep game last month. Kistler finished the game with 10 points to pick up the MVP honors of the contest.
“I thought she had an outstanding weekend here [in the basketball all-star game] and proved the level that she can play at in being the MVP of the game,” Harnish said. “She will be able to come in and shoot for us and play the guard position. We will get her to play a little bit harder and get some defense under her. But, she certainly has the skills and athleticism to play at this level and we are excited to have her.”
Kistler was not only stellar on the basketball court, but she was also a fierce middle hitter as well as one of the top hurdlers in the region and state. Kistler earned all-state honorable mention honors for both volleyball and basketball, as well as Academic All-State with a 3.9 grade point average. Kistler was an Star-Herald All-Region First Team selection in volleyball, and finished 8th in the 300 hurdles at the Nebraska Track and Field Championships.
While Kistler will be leaving the halls of Bayard, she is excited to begin a new chapter in her life.
“I will miss playing at Bayard because of all my friends and just having everyone know you. I will also miss my coach as well as the community support,” she said. “I think I had a good career at Bayard. It was fun.”
Kistler said by her staying here for two years, she can have the Bayard faithful follow her two more years.
“I chose WNCC because it is close and everyone from Bayard will get to watch,” she said.
Harnish said it is hard to get local stars to come to WNCC to play. But, it is a credit to his program when they do stay at home in the Panhandle.
“We are always excited to have the local kids that really want to come out to WNCC to play,” Harnish, who will beginning his 21st year coaching at the college, said. “We are always looking for the community support and we will be getting that from Bayard. It is an honor here to keep the kids here especially for the kids that can come in and help our program and play at this level.
“I think we have built such a great program and tradition here to help Amber go on to the next level after two years. I think it will be good for her as well as us. It really brings in that community support and brings in that local flair. She knows she can play here and that is the biggest thing in having the confidence of playing at this level.”
Kistler said that she was only looking at basketball to play in college and would love to take the Cougars back to the national tournament as well as improving her skills.
“I think I am ready for [college basketball practices],” she said. “There is always room for improvement.”
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