RAPID CITY — The Thorpes won an all-Pine Ridge Indian Reservation tilt and will play for the Lakota Nation Invitational title on Saturday.

The Thorpes downed rival Lakota Tech, 80-60, in Oceti Sakowin semifinals at the Lakota Nation Invitational at the Summit Arena. Pine Ridge will now play Rapid City Christian in the championship game on Saturday. 

Pine Ridge is making its first LNI title game berth since 2018. 

“It feels great,” Pine Ridge guard Marvin Richard III said. “I came up short the past couple of years, but to finally make it is just amazing.”

Richard III, a budding sophomore, tossed in 25 points and collected nine rebounds. Xavier Little added 11 points, while Kanye Hollow Horn posted 10 points and 10 rebounds.  

Lakota Tech’s Riley Casey netted 21 points and grabbed eight rebounds. Gilbert White (14 points) and Mackenzie Cass (12 points) scored in double figures for the Tatanka. 

The Thorpes and Tatanka, who know each other on and off the court, played in front of a sea of red and black at the Summit Arena. 

Pine Ridge, which built a 40-28 halftime lead, weathered Lakota Tech’s third-quarter surge and stretched its lead back to double digits. 

“We threw some heavy blows at them,” Pine Ridge coach Casey Means said. “But they fought back. Kudos to them. Riley Casey really stepped up and started doing some scoring for them.”

Lakota Tech shot 5 of 19 from the 3-point line and 21 of 47 from the field overall. 

The Thorpes countered with a 7 of 22 3-point clip and 30 of 62 overall from the field. Pine Ridge also controlled the boards, 39-22.  

“Offensively, it was because of our defense,” Richard III said. “We played hard on defense, which led to our offense and we knocked down shots all second half.”

Lakota Tech will play White River in the Oceti Sakowin third-place game on Saturday. 

Pine Ridge, meanwhile, will play Rapid City Christian in the Oceti Sakowin championship game. 

“It is going to be really special,” Richard III said. “Pine Ridge hasn't been to the LNI championship in a while. It just feels good to be back.”

The Thorpes haven’t won the LNI title since 2013, when Means was an assistant coach under legendary coach Dusty LeBeaux. 

Standing in Pine Ridge’s way is Rapid City Christian, which dispatched perennial power White River in its semifinal game. 

“It’s going to be a state level game,” Means said. “The atmosphere is going to be state level and you have two of the top programs in the state.”