Lower Brule and White River renewed their hardwood rivalry Friday night in Aberdeen, as the Sioux and Tigers squared off in the Class ‘B’ State Tournament Semifinals, but it didn’t take 32 minutes to decide a winner.
In triple-overtime, Lower Brule defeated White River 86-83 to set up a match-up with De Smet in the championship game Saturday night.
“You have to be here to see it, that was a lot of fun,” Lower Brule head coach Brain LaRoche said. “These boys, they had one goal, make it to the state championship, and we did it.”
White River overcame a five-point deficit at the end of the third quarter to lead 64-62 with the shot clock off and Lower Brule playing for a final possession at the end of regulation. Both team’s leading scorers, Lower Brule’s Keshaume Thigh and White River’s Joe Sayler had fouled out, leaving it up to anyone to step up.
At the end of regulation, it was Brian LaRoche Jr., son of Lower Brule head coach Brian LaRoche, who hit a floater in the lane to tie the game at 64 and send the game to overtime.
Lower Brule jumped out to an early lead in the first overtime period, but trailing by three, White River’s Gavin Folkers drained a three-pointer with 15 second left to tie the game, and the Sioux were unable to answer before the buzzer, sending things to a second overtime.
In the second overtime, neither side could build up much moment, but White River led by three with time winding down. This time, Lower Brule’s Gavin Thigh drains a three-pointer and White River was unable to get a shot up cleanly, sending the game to a third overtime.
“When you’re tired, you gotta knock down big shots,” LaRoche said.
Finally, in the third overtime, the Sioux were able to prevail. Lower Brule built a small lead on White River and hold on thanks to clutch free throw shooting. Lower Brule completes the sweep of White River on the season, as the Sioux defeated White River in the regular season.
Ellwyn Langdeau led Lower Brule with 21 points off the bench. LaRoche Jr. added 20 points and Gavin Thigh 19 points. Keshaume Thigh added 11 points prior to fouling out.
“We’ve had (guys step up) all year,” LaRoche said. “Everybody’s been in double figures this year, so it didn’t matter (that Keshaume fouled out). The boys stepped up, anybody can step up at any time and we count on the whole team.”
Despite fouling out in the fourth quarter, Sayler led White Rive with 23 points. Folkers added 22 points and Dylan Marshall 21.
Lower Brule faces De Smet at 7:45 p.m. Saturday night inside the Barnett Center in Aberdeen. That game follows the third place game between White River and Potter County at 6 p.m.