RAPID CITY — Pine Ridge boys basketball coach Casey Means fittingly summed up Marvin Richard III’s 57-point performance on Thursday.

“Marvelous,” Means said. “He’s the marvelous one. The reason we call him the GOAT. He steps up in big games. St. Francis started hanging around and he took it upon himself to get us rolling. … I am really proud of him.”

Richard III’s 57-point performance etched his name in Lakota Nation Invitational lore, setting the boys single-game scoring record. He broke the previous record set by Tiospaye Topa’s Kris Meeter (54) in 2022. 

Richard III’s 57-point performance came in a 94-64 win over St. Francis in the quarterfinals of the Oceti Sakowin bracket. 

“It definitely means a lot just to come in here and show out in front of all these fans — in front of all the different reservations,” Richard III said. “It definitely felt good to get the LNI scoring record. It’s something I always looked up to as a kid.”

Richard III didn’t just break the LNI scoring record, but he also set the Pine Ridge boys single-game scoring record. He previously tied the record in Pine Ridge’s season opener, set by Will Garnier (49) in 1966.  

Pine Ridge has a rich basketball tradition, filled with all-staters and high-scoring guards. The Thorpes have produced the likes of Willie White, George Bettelyoun and Brent Brewer, among others. 

But no Thorpe has scored more points in a game than Richard III. 

“I always grew up wanting to be a Thorpe,” Richard III said. “I wanted to put this jersey on and just to come out here and break records for the school, it feels amazing.”

Richard III’s performance is also among the all-time Class A boys basketball single-game scoring records. West Central’s Josh Mueller and Mahpiya Luta’s Alejandro Rama have the all-time Class A single-game scoring record with 60 points apiece. 

Mueller and Little Wound’s Brice Hornbeck are next on the list with 58-point performances. Richard III’s 57-point outing is now the fifth most in a Class A boys basketball game. 

All these accomplishments aren’t a surprise to Means. 

“He deserves everything,” Means said. “I say this over and over, he’s the most humblest kid. But he deserves everything that’s coming to him because he works for it.”

On Thursday, Pine Ridge led 37-30 at halftime as Richard III scored 20 points at the break. He broke the record with 3:25 left in the game and was later subbed out to a loud ovation from the fans. 

“I definitely had a big smile on my face,” Richard III said about the moment. “It just shows I have a lot of fans and a lot of supporters. I love the feeling.”

Richard III has been pumping in the points to start the season. He came into the LNI averaging 39.3 points per game, and scored 43 points in the tourney opener against Tiospa Zina.

“I am feeling way confident right now,” Richard III said. “My confidence is above the roof.”