Basketball Game Preview: Mahpiya Luta Crusaders vs. Vermillion Tanagers

The Mahpiya Luta Crusaders will face off against the Vermillion Tanagers at 8:30 p.m. on Saturday. Mahpiya Luta knows how to get points on the board -- the team has finished with 55 points or more in their past nine contests -- so hopefully Vermillion likes a good challenge.

Mahpiya Luta is coming in fresh off a high-stakes matchup with another one of South Dakota's top teams: Lakota Tech, who was ranked 22nd at the time (Mahpiya Luta was ranked ninth). Everything went Mahpiya Luta's way against Lakota Tech on Tuesday as Mahpiya Luta made off with a 77-51 win. With the Crusaders ahead 44-22 at the half, the game was all but over already.

Mahpiya Luta's success was spearheaded by the efforts of Ashlan Carlow-Blount, who dropped a double-double on 32 points and 16 rebounds, and Jodene Big Crow-Hunter, who went 11 of 24 en route to 31 points and six steals. Carlow-Blount's evening made it four games in a row in which she has scored at least ten points. Another player making a difference was Dorthie Mesteth, who posted seven points and seven boards.

Mahpiya Luta smashed the offensive glass and finished the game with 18 offensive boards. That strong performance was nothing new for the team: they've now pulled down at least nine offensive rebounds in 12 consecutive matches dating back to last season.

Meanwhile, Vermillion had already won four in a row (a stretch where they outscored their opponents by an average of 23.5 points) and they went ahead and made it five on Thursday. They came out on top against the Orioles by a score of 59-47.

Mahpiya Luta's victory was their 14th straight at home dating back to last season, which pushed their record up to 9-0. Those victories came thanks to their defensive effort, having only surrendered 29.3 points per game. As for Vermillion, their record now sits at 9-1.

Mahpiya Luta came up short against Vermillion when the teams last played back in March of 2024, falling 41-37. Can Mahpiya Luta avenge their loss or is history doomed to repeat itself? We'll find out soon enough.