With an eye toward March, Pine Ridge continues to navigate through a beefed up schedule. 

The Thorpes suffered their first defeat against Hot Springs, a 54-46 loss on Jan. 4 in Pine Ridge. Pine Ridge (6-1) responded with a 56-51 win over West Central at the Sacred Hoops Classic on Jan. 6 in Mitchell. 

Pine Ridge boys basketball coach Casey Means was pleased with his team’s response after the defeat, noting how teams will look to play physically against fast-paced Thorpes. 

“We have to win one of these ugly games,” Means said. “It’s hard to beat us when we are playing fast and when the scoring is high. But at state and these classics, when you play these tough, physical teams like this, you have to win ugly. You have to know how to grind it out and we did it tonight.”

The Thorpes are paced by budding sophomore guard Marvin Richard III, who scored 27 points against West Central. Sophomore Anthony Little, junior Domonic Ghost Bear, senior Jaylin Rouillard and senior Kanye Hollow Horn are also key players for the Thorpes. 

“It’s going to be someone different every night,” Means said. “That’s how good we are. I wish I could play them all, but top six is good and just add in what we feel at the time.”

Against West Central, the Thorpes built a double-digit lead and outlasted the Trojans in a seesaw final four minutes. West Central featured a big front line, including 7-foot Jake Kuhl, 6-foot-8 Will Kuhl and 6-foot-4 Crew Heier. 

“I think we performed well and we are getting better,” Means said about facing West Central’s size. “Because it wasn't just them. We played Groton the other night. Hot Springs was a good game for us like that.”

Pine Ridge bulked up its schedule this season. The Thorpes, who captured the Lakota Nation Invitational title in December, played in a Hoop City Classic and will play in three Sacred Hoops Classics this season. They will also play at Vermillion on Jan. 22 and at Class B power White River on Feb. 6. 

It’s part of a schedule that includes only five home games, but one Means said is designed to get Pine Ridge prepared for March. 

“We have to make sure we put the work in and that we don’t overlook anybody and play it game by game, quarter by quarter, play by play, and when March comes, if we do that, we should be at our best,” Means said. “That’s the main goal.” 

Groton Area’s Lane Tietz pours in school-record 47 points

Groton Area’s Lane Tietz erupted for a school-record performance against Clark/Willow Lake on Jan. 5. 

Tietz, a 5-foot-11 senior guard, poured in a school-record 47 points and nailed nine 3-pointers. He added 10 steals, five assists and four rebounds. Tietz will play college basketball at Dakota State University.  

Groton Area's Lane Tietz (10) dribbles the ball against Pine Ridge at the Hoop City Classic in Mitchell. (Rodney Haas / 605 Sports)

Dakota Valley records 60th straight win

The Dakota Valley boys basketball team extended its Class A winning streak on Jan. 6. 

Against Sergeant Bluff-Luton, Iowa, the Panthers won their 60th straight game, which is already the Class A boys basketball longest winning streak.

The boys basketball all-time longest winning streak was set by Armour (64) from 1978-80.