Lower Brule avenged an early-season loss and captured its third straight Dakota Oyate Challenge boys basketball championship on Jan. 27. 

The Sioux lost to Crazy Horse, 74-49, at the Lakota Nation Invitational in December. But Lower Brule flipped the script and edged the Chiefs, 53-49, in the DOC championship at the Corn Palace. 

In the first meeting, Lower Brule coach Brian LaRoche said the Sioux were flat and was pleased with their response in the second meeting. 

“I think everybody went flat and as a coach I even went flat and I take full responsibility for that,” LaRoche said. “So it’s just how we bounce back from that. In the middle of the season with this DOC we have to start looking for that long run. I think the boys are finally understanding that and are playing as a team.” 

The victory extended Lower Brule’s winning streak to four games as it eyes another deep postseason run. The Sioux have qualified for the past three state tournaments, including two straight Class B boys basketball runner-up finishes. 

LaRoche said winning the DOC is a bonus, but added the Sioux have more work in order to make another March push. 

“This isn't the long run,” LaRoche said. “We look for that state run like the past few years now and that’s our goal is to try to make it to the state championship. Obviously it’s going to be one game at a time. We still have a lot of work to do.” 

The Sioux’s lineup has been bolstered by a mid-season transfer. Six-foot-8 Payton Palmier, a Flandreau Indian transfer, was eligible to play after Christmas break and gives Lower Brule another post presence. 

Palmier, who was named MVP of the DOC, is averaging 10.3 points and 8.1 rebounds per game. 

“Hopefully this gives him a boost,” LaRoche said. “But he’s got a lot of work to do. I am pretty proud of him. We don’t have to rely on one guy trying to defend that paint.”

Palmier complements 6-foot-7 Marley Carpenter, who is averaging 5.2 points and 7.8 rebounds per game. The senior duo give Lower Brule a solid interior presence to go with its host of guards. Quentin McBride is averaging 18.5 points per game, while Lane Gray scores 17.6 points per game. Elliot LaRoche chips in with 7.5 points per game. 

Up next, Lower Brule will play at rival Crow Creek on Jan. 30 and will host No. 5 Wessington Springs on Feb. 1.  

Hanson’s Jim Bridge breaks coaching record

Jim Bridge took over as South Dakota’s all-time winningest girls basketball coach on Jan. 26. 

The long-time Hanson girls basketball coach captured win No. 630, surpassing Dawn Seiler as the all-time winningest girls basketball coach in state history. Bridge reached the 630th win in Hanson’s 74-25 victory over Bridgewater-Emery. 

Bridge and Seiler, who coached at McIntosh and Aberdeen Central, are the only two girls basketball coaches in state history to reach 600 or more wins. Parkston’s Rob VanLaecken is No. 3 on the all-time list with 595 wins. 

Top-5 South Dakota girls basketball all-time coaching list

1. Jim Bridge, Hanson, 630-228

2. Dawn Seiler, McIntosh, Aberdeen Central, 619-244

3. Rob VanLaecken, Parkston, 595-224

4. Fred Tibbetts, Jefferson, Sioux Falls Roosevelt, 550-101

5. Ron Determan, Geddes, Burke, South Central, 524-465

1,000-point club update

Sioux Valley’s Isabelle Bloker and Colome’s Joseph Laprath recently joined the 1,000-point club.

Laprath scored his 1,000th career point against Kadoka Area on Jan. 6. He was recently recognized for the milestone. 

Bloker hit the mark against Chester on Jan. 25.