Pine Ridge runs past Red Cloud for '14A' title

By Jim Holland, Journal Sports Writer

RAPID CITY -- Pine Ridge finally gained a step or two on an equally quick Red Cloud team in the fourth quarter to outrun the Crusaders 73-61 in Saturday night's District 14A championship game before 2,200 at Rapid City Stevens'Heier Gymnasium.

The Thorpes, 19-5, now advance to the Region 7A final with Stanley County, set for 6 p.m. Tuesday at the Rushmore Plaza Civic Center.

Pine Ridge outgunned the Crusaders 11-2 early in the fourth quarter to turn a seven-point margin into a 60-46 advantage.

Ryan Pourier paced Pine Ridge with 27 points. The 6-0 sophomore netted 43 points, including 24 from beyond the arc in Tuesday's 94-66 semifinal win over Little Wound.

Pine Ridge coach Dusty LeBeau said a key was preventing Red Cloud's Mackenzie Casey from a repeat of 32-point effort in the Crusaders 78-66 semifinal win over Bennett County.

"We started playing good defense," LeBeau said of the Thorpes fourth-quarter spurt. "We forced the Casey kid a little farther out than he's used to, and we had a lot of help on him."

"He still got some points, but we didn't want him in the 30's."

Red Cloud coach Matt Rama said Casey was unnerved by the Thorpes' hand-checking defense.

"I'm not saying that's why we lost the game. The referees did a good job," Rama said. "They (Pine Ridge) were physical on him and that kept him from attacking like he wanted to."

Casey and James Lays Bad each had 10 points for the Crusaders. Ty Lunderman added 11. Derek Weston led Red Cloud with 14 points.

It was Lunderman who brought the Red Cloud faithful to their feet, giving the Crusaders their only lead of the game, 20-18, with 5:41 left in the second quarter.

Weston added a free throw for a 21-18 edge, but Daelan High Wolf and Pourier struck back with back-to-back threes that gave Pine Ridge the lead for good.

Reserve Marty Red Cloud gave the Thorpes a big punch on the boards, sharing top rebounding honors with Jess Hand and Jason Piper, all with eight.

Pine Ridge outrebounded Red Cloud 36-23.

"Marty Red Cloud did a good job for us off the bench. He had some good passes in there and that's what we needed," LeBeau said.

"Red Cloud has kids who can get up and down the floor, so maybe conditioning came in, too."

Rama said the Crusaders were plagued by turnovers (21) and uncharacteristically cool shooting, (24-53 for 45 percent) for a team that likes to take the ball right to the hoop.

"We didn't do the things that got us here," he said. "We wanted to run and pressure real hard and we didn't do those things tonight.

"You can't play a game that's not yours and expect to win," he said.

"We had our opportunities, but if you turn the ball over and can't shoot very well, you're not going to win."

The Crusaders finish a fine campaign at 17-6.

"It's a disappointing loss, but that's the nice thing about basketball, there's always next year," Rama said.

Next up for Pine Ridge is Stanley County and a possible berth in the state "A" basketball tournament.

"We don't know a thing about them," LeBeau said. "We're just going to show up and play. I hope they're ready to run."

Red Cloud 11 27 44 61

Pine Ridge 14 34 51 73

Red Cloud-Mackenzie Casey 3 3-5 10, Don Giago 4 0-1 8, Derek Weston 6 1-3 14, Johnny Crow 1 0-0 2, James Lays Bad 5 0-1 100, J.J. Cottier 0 4-5 4, Tye Lunderman 4 2-4 11, Brandon Zimiga 1 0-0 2. Totals 24 10-18 61.

Pine Ridge-Ryan Pourier 11 2-3 27, Jess Hand 1 2-2 4, Jason Piper 4 3-2 10, Daelan High Wolf 5 0-0 12, Vinnie Brewer 0 3-5 3, Brandon Brown 4 0-0 8, Jeff Big Crow 2 0-1 4, Marty Red Cloud 2 1-2 5. Totals 31 10-16 73.

Three-point goals-Casey, Lunderman, Weston, Pourier (3), High Wolf (2). FG percentages-RC 45 (24-53), PR 56 (30-53). Rebounding-RC 23 (Lays Bad 5), PR 36 (Hand 8, Piper 8, Red Cloud 8). Turnovers-RC 21, PR 12. Total fouls-RC 17. PR 21. Fouled out-none. Officials-Mark Naugle, Dave Burnett, Keith Ballinger. Attendance-2,200