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Wall basketball programs relish opportunity to compete against elite competition at Lakota Nation Invitational
Wall coach Ryan Kjerstad and the Eagle basketball teams relished their opportunity to play in the 2022 Lakota Nation Invitational
Rodney Haas - 605 Sports

Wall basketball programs relish opportunity to compete against elite competition at Lakota Nation Invitational

Dec 20, 2022
  

By Rich Winter

Wall boys basketball coach Ryan Kjerstad and his staff attended the 2021 Lakota Nation Invitational. So impressed with the event and the level of competition Kjerstad reached out to Lakota Nation President Chuck Wilson to see if there were any possibilities of Wall being invited to participate in the December classic. 

“I sent Chuck an email and about three days later he got back to me (and) there was an opening,” Kjerstad said. 

At that 2021 tournament Flandreau Indian was a last minute scratch and Wilson sent the Todd County junior varsity boys and girls to fill that slot. The invitation to participate in the 2022 Lakota Nation Invitational came shortly after and for the past few months the town of Wall and surrounding communities were looking forward to finding out exactly what Lakota Nation is all about. 

For Wall senior Cedar Amiotte, an enrolled member of the Oglala Sioux Tribe, experiencing the Lakota Nation Invitational and all its splendor left a lasting impression. 

“I’m an enrolled member and I like my Native American heritage side,” Amiotte said. “It was fun to have my teammates around and show them what a big deal this is and how important it is. I’ve been to some pow-wow things and seeing drum groups and everyone being so respectful it was a very good and cool learning experience.”

Wall players Jace Mohr (No. 2) and Ben Amundson (No. 25) watch as Brodi Sundall battles for a rebound during the game against Crow Creek - Rodney Haas 605 Sports

The Wall boys ended up going 1-3 in the tournament. Coach Kjerstad said that was not what his team was hoping for but the experience of competing against elite level competition every game was an invaluable experience for his team. 

“It was an eye-opening experience to see how many good players there are,” Kjerstad said. “We were able to experience a different type of basketball, something we hope to emulate within our program.”

The cultural experience caught Kjerstad and his team's attention the moment they stepped through the doors for the opening ceremonies. 

“To feel that and experience those opening ceremonies was unique to witness that,” he said. “We heard (former WNBA player) Ruthie Bolton speak and after dinner we got to talk to her for about 10 minutes and she had some neat things to share with the boys.” 

Originally the Wall basketball teams planned on commuting back-and-forth to Wall but the weather changed those plans and the Eagles ended up staying in the same hotel as Cheyenne-Eagle Butte and Pine Ridge. 

“We had some really good conversations with the Cheyenne Eagle-Butte bus driver and the Pine Ridge coaches,” Kjerstad said. 

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The Wall girls, a Class B state tournament team in 2021, finished the tournament with a 2-2 record. Freshman Maranda Poor Bear said the experience of playing at the Lakota Nation Invitational was inspirational to the team and the Wall community. 

“It was an honor to be invited and welcomed into such a big family,” she said. “Playing at the different arenas and on such a big stage is going to help us as the year progresses.”

Wall girls coach John Hess wasn’t exactly sure what to expect at the tournament. He says the coaching staff and the team relied on Rhea Tucker who played with White River in previous tournaments to share what to expect. 

Wall players Nora Dinger (No. 3) and Paige Kjerstad (No. 4) battle for a loose ball in Thursday's game against Lakota Tech - Rodney Haas 605 Sports

“The girls were excited to be there,” Hess said. “The atmosphere was incredible and I don’t think very many of our players had ever experienced anything like that before.”

Like Kjerstad, Hess said seeing a different type of basketball and such elite talent can only make his girls better. 

“After this tournament we can kinda see where we are at,” he said. “We are going to some classics this year and will see some really good competition so this experience was very good for us.”

Fifteen members of Wall's 9AA state football championship team are all members of Federally recognized Tribes. The players are from three different Tribes - Oglala Sioux Tribe, Rosebud Sioux Tribe and three Affiliated Tribes of North Dakota. Pictured from left to right are left to right #31 Kyler Kjserstad, Austin Kjerstad #73 Jereiah Lange, Teelan Kjerstad, Brayden Lange, #16 James Livermont, #65 Matthew Heathershaw, Rylan McDonald, #13 Cedar Amiotte, #5 Norman Livermont, #26 Younger Amiotte, Kaylen Spotted Bear, #27 Talon Anderson, Coach Lex Heathershaw, #0 Levi Sharp - Photo courtesy of Anita Heathershaw


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