RAPID CITY — The rematch is set.

Class A boys basketball powers Pine Ridge and Rapid City Christian will again collide for the Lakota Nation Invitational Oceti Sakowin championship Saturday at the Summit Arena. 

It’s the second consecutive season the Thorpes and Comets will play for the championship, with Pine Ridge winning 80-66 last season. 

It’s the matchup most people wanted to start the tourney, and they delivered the much-anticipated championship matchup. 

“It’s what the people wanted,” Pine Ridge coach Casey Means said. “I didn’t want to speak on that in the beginning, but I figured it was coming down to us two teams.”

For the Comets, it will be their third straight championship appearance and Rapid City Christian coach Kyle Courtney knows how special the atmosphere will be on Saturday.   

“Championship night at the LNI is just an amazing experience for the kids,” Courtney said. “It replicates a state tournament atmosphere. We are thrilled to be in it for the third straight year.” 

Pine Ridge and Rapid City Christian’s semifinal contests were opposed ends of the spectrum.

In the first semifinal contest, Rapid City coasted past Lakota Tech for a 76-46 decision. Benson Kieffer and Simon Kieffer scored 21 and 16 points, respectively. Julius Frog added 10 points. 

The Comets shot 31-of-58 from the field and scored 14 or more points in each quarter. 

“I thought we played well,” Simon Kieffer said. “One thing we pride ourselves on is sharing the ball, and playing together.”

Pine Ridge, however, had a battle with Custer. The Wildcats led 9-8 after the first quarter and led 25-21 at halftime. High-scoring Pine Ridge guard Marvin Richard III had 14 points at halftime, and powered a third-quarter surge as the Thorpes grabbed the lead. 

Richard III scored 10 points in the frame, sparking a 36-34 third-quarter lead for Pine Ridge. Richard III scored 31 points as the Thorpes picked up a 48-36 victory. 

“We stay composed throughout the whole thing,” Richard III said. “I love how we stayed together as a team and stayed brothers.”

Richard III’s back-court mate, Anthony Steele, was limited to just five points. But he nailed a crucial 3-pointer for a 45-34 Pine Ridge lead with 3:31 left. 

The triple gave Pine Ridge its first double-digit lead, and helped lift the Thorpes into the championship. 

“That’s what Anthony does,” Means said. “A lot of his stuff goes unnoticed. But I think him and Marvin complement each other so well and they are perfect for each other.” 

After that, the rematch was officially set. The Pine Ridge vs. Rapid City Christian rematch features several of the same characters from last season’s contest. Richard III has made headlines this season, with one high-scoring outburst after another. 

The all-state guard pumped in a Lakota Nation Invitational record 57 points in Pine Ridge’s quarterfinal victory on Thursday. He’s averaging 41.5 points per game and has scored 131 points through the first three games of the LNI. 

On Saturday, Richard III and the Thorpes will get another shot against the Comets. 

“I have been looking forward to it,” Richard III said. “I have been waiting for it. I am ready for this matchup and to go head to head with them.”  

The Comets are powered by Benson Kieffer, Simon Kieffer and Frog. The trio were all-state selections last season. The veteran Comets have seven total seniors on the roster, and will lean on their experience in the championship game.

“We’ve been here before,” Simon Kieffer said. “We kind of know what that atmosphere is going to be like. We’ve been through it a couple of times. We will be able to handle those emotions. We will be ready to go.”  

Simon Kieffer added last year’s defeat left “a bad taste in our mouth,” and knows the atmosphere will be electric. 

“This is definitely one of the best atmospheres in the state — if not the best,” Simon Kieffer said. “It’s like a state tournament atmosphere. It’s super fun and we are just super grateful to be playing in it.”

For Means, he also expects the Summit Arena to be rocking and said both teams will benefit from facing each other. 

“Let’s have fun and let’s get each other ready for March,” Means said.