By Matt Gade

605 Sports

WALL — The Lakota Tech girls basketball are back in the state tournament after a three-year hiatus following their 72-59 win over Rapid City Christian on Thursday night in the SoDak 16 game in Wall.

The Tatanka were led by sophomore duo Lizzie Robinson and Bella Shangreaux. 

The pair have been standout performers for Lakota Tech (19-4) all season.

“They've been playing together for so long. They've been traveling together, playing middle school ball together, their family, their best friends,” Lakota Tech head coach Laura Big Crow said. “I mean, this is a dream come true for them, too. So, you know, they just trust each other. They've trusted the process for all these years, and it's playing out for them.”
On Thursday night, Robinson led all scorers with 23 points while Shangreaux added 18.

“We work so hard, and we just beat each other up at practice all the time. We were prepared for this moment, and I'm just so excited,” Robinson said.

Going into Thursday night’s matchup, despite beating Rapid City Christian 59-49 during the Lakota Nation Invitational, the Tatanka were the lower seed to the Lady Comets.

But Big Crow said she knew her girls had it in them to win again; they just needed to play to their capabilities.

“These girls have been focused on themselves and getting better and working on their game all season long. And it's, it's worked for us all year,” Big Crow said. “We focused on us, and we do what we need to do to win games, and we have been winning those games.”

So far this season, Lakota Tech has been battle-tested.

Two of the team’s four losses have come to No. 1-ranked Mahpiya Luta this season, 65-34 in the LNI championship game and 76-62 back in January.

The Tatanka’s other two losses were to Sioux Valley (66-63) and Dell Rapids (63-60) in January. 

Leading Lakota Tech have been Robinson and Shangreaux, who are also the team captains.

Not only have the girls put in the work in the off-season, but Big Crow also said the pair have a special bond that is part of why they succeed.

“All summer we're in the gym, doing everything we can,” Shangreaux said. “We actually fixed it so we have every class together.”

The bond between Shangreaux and Robinson isn’t of a competitive nature, Shangreaux said, but of two best friends.

“It means so much to me,” Robinson said. “Most of us have played together since we were younger. We have a strong chemistry with each other.”

Lakota Tech will face Hamlin in the first round of the Class A state tournament beginning on Thursday, March 12, at 11 a.m. (CST).

Getting back to the state tournament has been a goal for Big Crow all season, and one she knew would take a lot of work, but also one her team was capable of.

“It means everything, obviously, to make it to the state tournament,” Big Crow said. “But this group of girls was really special to me. I coached two of my daughters and three other girls who have been traveling with my daughters their entire lives since second grade. So this means so much to me. I have my husband next to me and our kids playing.

“I'm so excited that the whole state of South Dakota gets to see what they're going to do for the next few years.”