RAPID CITY — The Thorpes brought one back to Pine Ridge.

Pine Ridge claimed its first Lakota Nation Invitational boys basketball championship since 2013, pulling past Rapid City Christian for the Oceti Sakowin Championship at the Summit Arena on Saturday. 

“It means everything,” said Pine Ridge coach Casey Means after the 80-66 win. “Pine Ridge basketball has been a part of our community since the ‘80s and we are hopefully starting to build something like what we had back then. But for us, our family, our school, our community — it feels great to bring it back home where I think it belongs.” 

The matchup pitted Rapid City Christian, which won last season’s LNI title, against the upstart Thorpes. Pine Ridge, which had its usual strong following, pulled away down the stretch for the win.

“It feels amazing,” Pine Ridge guard Marvin Richard III said. “I love it. I love winning and winning a championship is even better.”

Richard III, a smooth sophomore guard, paced Pine Ridge with 29 points, six rebounds and three 3-pointers. The soft-spoken guard was named Steve Withorne MVP and tourney playmaker.

“He’s always special,” Means said. “Everything he does is special and he does it in such a humble and respectful way. I have been coaching him since he’s been four or five years old and it’s been our destiny. We are fulfilling it every time we step out on that court.”

Playing in front of an electric atmosphere, Richard III shined and especially so down the stretch. Richard III scored 19 of his 29 points in the second half, doing most of his damage in the paint and finished 10 of 15 from the field. 

For Richard III, it was a moment years in the making.

“I dreamed about this ever since I grew up watching my sisters,” Richard III said. “I watched them play in this all while growing up and it just inspired me.”

But Pine Ridge is far from a one-man show. Jaylin Rouillard tossed in 22 points and finished 6 of 14 from the 3-point line. He finished with the most made 3-pointers in the tournament.  

“Jaylin hit some big threes and Anthony Steele plays stellar defense,” Means said. “There were three or four guys they could have given that defensive award to. But what matters to us is the championship.”

Rapid City Christian’s Julius Frog finished with 18 points on 8 of 17 shooting from the field. Simon Kieffer scored 14 points. Benson Kieffer, last season’s MVP, scored five points on 0 of 3 shooting from the field. He scored all five of his points at the free-throw line. 

The teams played a seesaw first half, with Pine Ridge clinging to a 33-32 halftime advantage. The Thorpes held a 54-50 lead after the third quarter

“I said this was going to be a state atmosphere game,” Means said. “This is what I wanted for them. Our bench players kept the flow and everybody just played their part.” 

The fourth quarter belonged to the Thorpes, who outscored the Comets 26-16 in the final eight minutes.

“I am glad we just pulled away at the end,” Richard III said. “It just really showed how good of a team we were and how good our chemistry is.”

For Pine Ridge, it also accomplished one of its early-season goals before they get gear up for the postseason. 

“We checked it off the board,” Means said. “It was one of our goals we made to start the season. We are going to enjoy it for a couple of days and we are going to get back to the drawing board and figure out how to get better and get ready for March.”