Basketball Game Preview: Lead-Deadwood Golddiggers vs. Mahpiya Luta Crusaders

Lead-Deadwood hasn't had much luck against Mahpiya Luta recently, but that could start to change on Saturday. The Lead-Deadwood Golddiggers will venture away from home to face off against the Mahpiya Luta Crusaders at 7:30 p.m. Having both just faced considerable losses, both teams are looking to turn things around.

Lead-Deadwood lost 70-47 to Spearfish on Tuesday. While losing is never fun, the Golddiggers can't take it too hard given the team's big disadvantage in MaxPreps' South Dakota basketball rankings (they are ranked 106th, while the Spartans are ranked 28th).

Meanwhile, Mahpiya Luta was not able to break out of their rough patch on Tuesday as the team picked up their third straight defeat. They took a blow against Rapid City Christian, falling 70-40.

Lead-Deadwood will need focus on slowing down Chaytan Palmier, one of several Mahpiya Luta players who made an impact when they last played. He posted eight points and seven rebounds. Braylon Little was another key player, putting up 13 points and three steals.

Mahpiya Luta's loss dropped their record down to 6-9. As for Lead-Deadwood, their defeat dropped their record down to 6-10.

Lead-Deadwood came up short against Mahpiya Luta when the teams last played back in February of 2024, falling 78-66. Can Lead-Deadwood avenge their loss or is history doomed to repeat itself? We'll find out soon enough.