STURGIS, SD – The Sturgis Scooper basketball teams hosted the Mahpiya Luta Crusaders in a doubleheader at West Gymnasium on Friday night, with the Scoopers winning the boys contest and the Crusader girls coming out on top in the nightcap.
The Sturgis boys came out hot, canning seven of 11 shots and taking a 17-16 lead into the second quarter.
Mahpiya Luta kept it close in the second and trailed the Scoopers 31-26 at the half.
Sturgis extended their lead on threes by Ty Ferguson, Ty Petrocco and Hayden Rock and led 51-42 after three quarters.
The Crusaders could only manage one field goal in the final quarter and the Scoopers held off Mahpiya Luta, winning 63-46 to improve to 5-6 on the season.
Sturgis was led by Rock with 18 points, with Petrocco adding 14 on six-of-six shooting from the field. The Scoopers made 23 of 52 field goals (44%), eight of 11 charity tosses (72%), grabbed 23 rebounds and committed 12 turnovers.
Mahpiya Luta canned 15 of 51 shots (29%), eight of 14 free throws (57%) and were led in scoring by Memphis Brewer with 11 points. The Crusaders had 18 turnovers and 28 rebounds.
In the girl’s matchup, the Mahpiya Luta Crusaders came into the game ranked #2 in Class A basketball, averaging 70 points per contest. The Crusaders sprinted out to a 21-2 lead after one quarter and had a commanding 41-17 lead at intermission behind Ashlan Carlow-Blount’s 15 points.
Mahpiya Luta outscored the Scoopers 13-4 in the third quarter, using pressure defense to convert turnovers into points and led 54-21 headed into the final stanza. The Crusaders brought in their reserves with about three minutes left and improved their record to 14-0 on the season with a 69-31 win.
Carlow-Blount was the leading scorer for Mahpiya Luta with 21 points. Jodene Big Crow Hunter added 20 points. The Crusaders made 27 of 61 field goals (44%) and converted six of 10 free throws (60%), with 13 turnovers and 20 rebounds.
Addy Kossler dropped in nine points and grabbed seven rebounds for the Scoopers, who fell to 5-6 on the season. Sturgis made 13 of 45 shots (28%), four of five free throws (80%), committed 31 turnovers and snared 27 boards.
The Scooper boys travel to Madison on Saturday to take on the Vermillion Tanagers. The Sturgis girls are in action next on Tuesday as they travel to Belle Fourche.
