Basketball Game Preview: Little Wound Mustangs vs. Mahpiya Luta Crusaders

Little Wound hasn't had much luck against Mahpiya Luta recently, but that could start to change on Monday. The two teams will round out the year against one another at at 5:00 p.m. Both come into the game bolstered by wins in their previous matches.

Little Wound is headed in fresh off scoring the most points they have all season. They came out on top against Todd County by a score of 51-44 on Saturday. Perhaps unsurprisingly given the team's high-flying offense, the game also marked the team's biggest win of the season.

Meanwhile, Mahpiya Luta faced Rapid City Christian in a battle between two of the state's top teams on Saturday. Mahpiya Luta breezed by Rapid City Christian to the tune of 62-31. The Crusaders' victory was nothing new given the team hasn't lost yet this season.

Little Wound better focus on containing Jodene Big Crow-Hunter and Ashlan Carlow-Blount as the pair were huge in Mahpiya Luta's win. Big Crow-Hunter went 7 for 16 on her way to 20 points and three steals, while Carlow-Blount dropped a double-double on 12 points and 11 boards. Carlow-Blount has been hot for a while, having also posted two or more steals the last 30 times she's played. Essence Tobacco was another key player, putting up ten points.

Mahpiya Luta smashed the offensive glass and finished the game with 11 offensive rebounds. That strong performance was nothing new for the team: they've now pulled down at least nine offensive boards in eight consecutive matches dating back to last season.

The win made it two in a row for Little Wound and bumps their season record up to 3-4. As for Mahpiya Luta, their victory bumped their record up to 5-0.

Little Wound took a serious blow against Mahpiya Luta in their previous meeting back in January, falling 84-22. Can Little Wound avenge their defeat or is history doomed to repeat itself? We'll find out soon enough.