The Presentation College senior closed out her home career in leading her basketball team to a wild 98-87 win over North Central University Tuesday at the Strode Center in Aberdeen. It was a game, which brought back memories of her standout cousins, Scott and Chad Boekelheide, who did some of their best college basketball work across town at Wachs Arena for the Northern State Wolves.
The Boekelheide trio all played for Northwestern High School in Mellette, 20 miles south of Aberdeen.
Boekelheide had 38 points - including 10 three-pointers and a five-point play and nearly another one - 16 rebounds, two steals, one assist and one blocked shot. It was one of many memorable moments in her 2½-year career with the Saints.
She started college basketball late, but she has been finished strong as one of the Saints' leaders in all-statistical categories.
"Kelli has been a great leader for us, on and off the court," PC coach Alaina Benson said. "She brings a good work ethic with her every single day whether its individual workouts, practices, games or the classroom. She is so passionate about the game, and you can see her love for the game when she is on the court."
The Saints had a 23-point lead with 10½ minutes left in the game, but the team from Minneapolis rallied with a 16-0 run. On its next four possessions, PC turned the ball over with only a 79-72 lead. North Central, however, would miss its next five shots.
After a North Central technical foul, Boekelheide drained two free throws to get the Saints back on track. She then nearly drained a three, a five-point feat she turned in earlier in the game after North Central's first technical foul.
The Saints would go on to make 17 of 19 free throws in the final 5½ minutes to seal the win. The Saints made 28 of 32 free throws.
"It was a great win," Boekelheide said. "That was the most important thing, to get the win. My teammates are so great and each is very special to me. We are close on and off the court and we work together well. They did everything they could to get the win for me tonight. That meant a lot to me."
Boekelheide said she also appreciates her coaches and fans. "It is really cool to play so close to home because you always have a lot of fans coming out to watch you play."
Benson said her lone senior will be missed.
"She has been a great model for our younger kids," Benson said. "Kelli is a very unselfish player - the type of player every coach wants on their team. I have been lucky to have coached her."
The Saints have two games left in the regular season. They will play Silver Lake College in Manitowoc, Wis., Friday and Finlandia University in Hancock, Mich., Saturday.
NORTH CENTRAL UNIVERSITY (6-16): Jamie High 3-15 0-0 6, Emily Aleckson 4-6 0-0 8, Rachel Parsons 1-2 0-0 2, Julie Skeesick 9-17 3-4 25, Shelby Norman 3-6 0-1 9, Elisabeth Trickey 5-8 0-1 10, Tara Jefferson 1-2 0-0 2, Jorie Grenell 9-20 3-5 25, Melissa Kidd 0-1 0-0 0. Totals 35-77 6-11 87.
PRESENTATION COLLEGE (11-10): Rachel Fuhrmann 6-11 12-15 24, Hannah Phillips 6-16 9-9 22, Kaylee Voorhees 1-3 0-0 2, Abbie Geraci 0-3 1-2 1, Kelli Boekelheide 11-22 6-6 38, Lynn Weikel 2-4 0-0 4, Kendra Ostrom 3-7 0-0 7. Totals 29-66 28-32 98.
Halftime - PC 53-39. 3-point field goals - NCU 11-23 (High 0-1, Skeesick 4-6, Norman 3-6, Grenell 4-10); PC 12-28 (Phillips 1-6, Geraci 0-2, Boekelheide 10-16, Ostrom 1-4). Total fouls - NCU 24; PC 13. Fouled out - NCU, Trickey. Technical fouls - NCU, High, Grenell. Turnovers - NCU 19; PC 21. Rebounds - NCU 38 (High 14); PC 41 (Boekelheide 16). Assists - NCU 17 (Skeesick 7); PC 19 (Geraci 7). Steals - NCU 13 (High 4, Trickey 4); PC 13 (Fuhrmann 6). Blocked shots - NCU 6 (High 4); PC 2 (Boekelheide 1, Weikel 1). Officials - Scott Kusler, Tim Steinwandt, Tom Waage. A - 200.