LNI girls: Red Cloud advances over Todd County

By Jim Holland, Journal staff | Saturday, December 22, 2007

Previous Page

Share

• del.icio.us
• Digg
• NewsVine
• Fark

Print

Email

RAPID CITY — Desirae Blacksmith and Saige Pourier combined for 12 Red Cloud points in the third quarter, helping the Lady Crusaders to a 60-42 quarterfinal win over a game Todd County five in the Lakota Nation Invitational at Naasz Gymnasium on Thursday night.

After Marque Lunderman led Red Cloud in a fast-moving first half with 17 points, Coach Jerome LeBeaux gave the 5-foot-11 junior a breather by having her play more of a post role.

That’s when Blacksmith opened up with her eight points for the night, including a pair of 3-pointers. Pourier added two more baskets to complete a 12-8 run for the Lady Crusaders.

“We had her (Lunderman) at point and she got tired,” LeBeaux said. “We put her down low and that sure opened things up for our guards.”

Josie Johnson helped boost Red Cloud’s nine-point lead with a 3-pointer and a pair of steals to put Red Cloud up by 12 with 6:18 left.    

Lunderman still wound up with a game-high 22 points for the Lady Crusaders. Blacksmith, Shaina Clifford and Johnson each had eight points for Red Cloud.

“We were able to penetrate in the middle and get those open shots,” LeBeau said. “Kids came in off the bench and started contributing.

“I give Todd County credit. They’re a tough team.”

Shelley Hunger led the Falcons with 14 points and Michael Decory added 10, eight in the first quarter to help Todd County hang tough in the first half.

“We kind of went a little bit blank there in that first half until we were able to find a groove on defense,” LeBeaux said. “After we started in on defense, then our offense came.

Red Cloud plays the winner of the Little Wound, Cheyenne-Eagle Butte quarterfinal at 3:30 p.m. today at the Rushmore Plaza Civic Center.

Todd County plays Little Wound at 9:30 a.m. today at Goodell Gymnasium at the South Dakota School of Mines.

MAKOSICA BRACKET

Pine Ridge 51, Custer 27

RAPID CITY — Pine Ridge got 12 points from Keisha Brewer and 11 each from Sophia Janis and Lacey Weston as the Thorpes knocked off Custer 51-27 in a Makosica quarterfinal girls game Thursday.

Pine Ridge jumped out to a 28-15 lead by halftime and upped its lead to 22 points by holding the Wildcats to four third-quarter points.

Megan Harkin scored nine points to lead Custer.

Cheyenne-Eagle Butte 40, Little Wound 26

RAPID CITY — Cheyenne-Eagle Butte beat Little Wound, 40-26, in a Makosica Bracket quarterfinal girls high school basketball game Thursday at the Lakota Nation Inivational.

Tiara Maxon and Jessica Keckler scored nine points apiece for the Braves, who led 13-4 after a quarter and 24-12 at halftime.

Nichelle Red Owl scored a game-high 10 points for the Mustangs.

Cheyenne-Eagle Butte plays Red Cloud in a semifinal game today. Little Wound takes on Todd County.

PAHA SAPA BRACKET

White River 91, Crazy Horse 23

RAPID CITY — Maci Gillen scored 12 points and Kaylee Spotted Elk and Sami Gillen chipped in 10 points each as White River won its Paha Sapa quarterfinal game 91-23 over Crazy Horse on Thursday.

The Tigers hit 40 of 87 field goal attempts — a 46.0 percent clip — and held a 52-19 rebounding advantage. Gillen pulled down a team-high 10 rebounds.

All 12 White River players scored during the course of the game.

Kassy Randall led Crazy Horse with 10 points. Nikki White Bull and Hannah Red Willow grabbed six rebounds each to lead the Lady Chiefs.

Takini 54, Flandreau Indian 46

RAPID CITY — Takini had three players score in double figures as the Skyhawks advanced to the Paha Sapa girls semifinals Thursday with a 54-46 defeat of Flandreau Indian.

Krista Bear Stops and Summer Afraid Of Hawk scored 13 points each, and Maria Stewart tossed in 10 to lead Takini. Afraid Of Hawk also snared 15 rebounds and Kayla Turning Heart had 14 boards to lead the Skyhawks.

Faline Headley scored 10 points and grabbed 15 rebounds to lead Flandreau Indian, which pulled down 30 of its 45 rebounds at the offensive end.

Crow Creek 49, Lower Brule 30

RAPID CITY — Sasha Ross scored 14 points and snared 16 rebounds during Crow Creek’s 49-30 victory over Lower Brule in their Paha Sapa quarterfinal game Thursday at the Lakota Nation Invitational.

Jolonna Sazue, Sienna Lengkeek and Ashly Hall scored eight points each for Crow Creek.

The Lady Chieftains held a 54-32 rebounding edge and forced the Lady Sioux into 26 turnovers, which shot 21 of 75 from the floor.

Codi Wright and Shiaonna Ziegler scored 10 points each to pace Lower Brule, which hit 12 of 55 field goal attempts.

Kassandra Estes pulled down 13 rebounds — seven at the offensive end — to lead the Lady Sioux.

Hill City 72, Heart of the Earth 14

RAPID CITY — Thirteen proved a lucky number for Hill City during the Rangers’ 72-14 Paha Sapa quarterfinal victory Thursday over Heart of the Earth, Minn., at the Lakota Nation Invitational.

Four Hill City players — Tiffany Weisenberg, Carly Asheim, Stephanie Burleson and Amanda Straw — scored 13 points apiece to help the Rangers advance to the division’s semifinals today.

Hill City held a 55-29 rebounding advantage on Heart of the Earth, with Straw hauling down 16 rebounds and Burleson 12.