At first, Morgan Klose wasn’t so sure about playing basketball for Minot State.

Don’t get her wrong, she liked everything about the program and coaching staff, except for

“The only part of me that didn’t want to come here was because I didn’t want to follow in (Katie Hardy’s) footsteps,” she said.

Since the 2001-02 season, when Hardy was a third-grader and Klose a second-grader, the pair played together, culminating in Fairview (Mont.) High School’s Class C state championship in 2010.

Hardy landed at MSU and Klose was reluctant to follow.

When Klose committed to the Beavers, Hardy was in attendance.

They’re both glad she decided to sign with MSU. It gave them an extra four years on the court together.

That makes this weekend particularly special for the pair.

On Saturday, Hardy, a 6-foot redshirt senior, and Klose, a 5-9 senior, will play their final game at the MSU Dome.

“We started together, we’re going to end together,” Hardy said. “It’s a pretty cool feeling.

Fairview roots

Just once, Klose wants to be introduced as Minot State’s senior guard from Fairview, Mont. – not Fairview, N.D.

Hardy, a forward, feels the same way.

Technically, they’re both from North Dakota.

Hardy, who moved to Fairview in third grade, grew up a half mile east of the Montana border. Klose, a lifelong native, was raised 11/2 miles from the Treasure State.

But technically, Fairview, N.D., is considered a census-designated place – an unincorporated community identified for statistical purposes only.

“Be careful what you ask for,” quipped MSU coach Sheila Green Gerding, a Clancy, Mont., native herself.

From kindergarten through eighth grade, Hardy and Klose attended East Fairview Elementary School. At “East Side,” they had less than 50 classmates.

For high school, East Side students transition to Fairview High School, located in Montana.

“When we were younger, it was a population of like 1,000 people,” Hardy said. “Everyone knows everybody and everyone supports you in everything you do. Now it’s kind of crazy. There’s two stoplights in Fairview now, there’s a Subway.”

Estimates list Fairview’s growth at more than 12.3 percent since 2010, likely to eclipse 1,000 in population for the first time since the 1980s.

“It doesn’t feel like home,” Klose said.

Growing on hardwood

Hardy and Klose lifted Fairview’s girls basketball team to a different level during their prep careers.

In a town of its size, having two NCAA Division II-caliber players is a luxury, if not a rarity.

“My mom actually was the assistant coach when I was in later elementary and junior high,” Klose said. “They struggled. Katie’s freshman year was probably their first winning season for a while. It kind of just took off from there.”

The Warriors’ state championship in 2010 is a fond memory, but not something they “wake up and think about,” Klose said.

What they do reminisce about more often is the community of Fairview.

“I honestly don’t think I would change my childhood. I really don’t,” said Hardy, who plans to move back Fairview to live near her boyfriend of eight years, Ty Hurley. “I mean, to be in a small community like that it was awesome. Tournaments were cool. The whole community comes out and supports you. Everyone knows who you are.

“The team that we started with pretty much followed us all the way through high school. When we won the state championship my senior year, there were three of our original traveling team that we had that got to capture that.

“Fairview’s a special place. My childhood, no way would I change it at all.”

Transformation

at MSU

By looks alone, Hardy has transformed the most between the two.

In 2013 she shed 90 pounds during the offseason after her redshirt year. Since her junior campaign, Hardy has been one of the Beavers’ most versatile players.

“We were all proud of her,” Klose said. “She knew it needed to happen. It’s just made her that much of a better player. She can go out and guard a quicker guard. … It’s just huge. It made her a better player, and I think she’s happier with herself.”

But Klose has progressed as well, maturing into a stronger player and a better leader.

“With Morgan, in high school she let her head get involved quite a bit,” Hardy said. “She’s grown in that aspect a lot. She doesn’t let missing a bucket change what she does. She’ll get back and play her heart out on defense.”

Added Green Gerding: “It’s always fun to have kids in the program who have been part of the program their entire career. You get to watch how they came in, the struggles that they went through, yet you see them grow not only as basketball players but also as people and develop and mature. I think that’s the best part about coaching.”

Beaver careers winding down

Last weekend, Hardy scored her 1,000th career point, becoming just the 13th player in program history to do so.

Fellow redshirt senior Christina Boag and former Beaver Carly Boag, who also started at MSU in 2010, also have eclipsed the 1,000-point milestone.

“I think it’s kind of cool because Carly and Chris both did it and we all came in the same year together,” Hardy said. “For all three of us to do something like that, it’s pretty special.”

Green Gerding made sure to point out the impact Klose has had on Hardy’s career.

“It (1,000 career points) realistically has to do with the fact that Morgan Klose was her teammate and they played all the way through high school,” Green Gerding said. “Morgan’s playing point guard this year, so she had the opportunity to get the ball more.”

“She gave me those dimes, I just finished for her,” Hardy said, smiling.

“I got you,” Klose replied, not missing a beat.

The duo have an uncanny connection, similar to telepathy often shared by twins like the Boags.

It’s one that’s been developed over the past 14 years.

“It’s just one of those things that we’ve always had,” Hardy said. “I can usually tell where she’s going to be on the court.”

For Beavers fans, it’s the last time they’ll get a chance to see the Fairview natives at the MSU Dome.

This game, against Bemidji State on Saturday, has been a long time coming.

“It’s a big thing,” Hardy said. “You start with someone, to have them end with you is pretty cool. It’s pretty special.”

Ryan Holmgren covers Minot State athletics and high school sports. Follow him on Twitter @ryanholmgren.