The Sturgis Brown High School varsity basketball team will host a non-conference game against Mahpiya Luta from Pine Ridge, SD, on Friday, January 31, 2025, at 7:30 PM.

• Live stream: Watch Here
• Live stream: Watch Here

Mahpiya Luta and Sturgis Brown: A Season of Promise and Challenges

As the 2024-2025 basketball season unfolds, the Mahpiya Luta and Sturgis Brown teams from South Dakota have both shown their strengths and faced their hurdles. Let’s take a closer look at the performance of both teams, comparing key statistics, season records, and their journey through the league.

Season Records Overview

Mahpiya Luta has posted a mixed record of 6-7 overall, with a strong performance in their regional games (3-1). At home, they’ve had a solid advantage, with a 4-0 record. However, their struggles on the road are evident with a 0-4 away record, highlighting the difficulty of playing in unfamiliar environments. With 767 points scored and 757 points allowed, their game averages indicate that they’ve been in a lot of close contests.

Sturgis Brown, with a record of 4-6, has a more even split in their regional and non-regional matchups (2-3). Their home and away performance has been fairly balanced, each with 2-2 records, but their overall points scored (512) and points allowed (576) suggest they’ve faced some challenges on both sides of the ball.

Scoring Breakdown

Mahpiya Luta’s offensive efficiency is demonstrated through their scoring averages per quarter:

• Q1: 12.4
• Q2: 13.9
• Q3: 16.8
• Q4: 18.2

Their ability to increase scoring in the latter parts of the game has helped them maintain competitive performances, as seen in their final average of 59.0 points per game.

On the other hand, Sturgis Brown has averaged just 51.2 points per game, though their quarter-by-quarter breakdown isn’t provided. Their scoring consistency is a challenge, but they’ll be hoping to sharpen that aspect as the season progresses.

Team Stat Comparison

When comparing team stats across the board, Mahpiya Luta excels in a few areas:

• Points Per Game: 57.8
• Rebounds Per Game: 26.0
• Assists Per Game: 10.0
• Steals Per Game: 8.1
• Blocks Per Game: 1.5

Sturgis Brown, by contrast, has struggled in terms of scoring and overall stats, though it’s clear they have room to improve in these areas moving forward.

Team Leaders

Mahpiya Luta’s standout player this season is Braylon Little, who leads the team with 9.5 points per game. He has been pivotal in driving the offense and will continue to be a focal point for the team. Other key contributors include Daniel Weston, averaging 4.5 rebounds per game, and Tokeya Big Crow, contributing 2.1 assists per game.

Sturgis Brown has yet to have a player break out statistically, but they remain hopeful for their upcoming games to showcase team-wide growth.

Common Opponents: Comparing Outcomes

Both teams faced a handful of common opponents this season, with Mahpiya Luta finishing 1-3 and Sturgis Brown posting a 2-4 record in those contests. Some notable matchups include:

• Hill City: Mahpiya Luta lost 58-45, while Sturgis Brown won 60-58.
• Custer: Mahpiya Luta fell 65-35, while Sturgis Brown lost 71-54.
• Spearfish: Mahpiya Luta lost 70-40, but Sturgis Brown will face Spearfish on 2/11/25.

Record Breakdown

• Mahpiya Luta (24-25):
  • Overall: 6-7
  • League: 3-1
  • Non-League: 2-3
  • Home: 4-0
  • Away: 0-4
  • Common Opponents: 1-3
  • In-State: 6-7
  • Out-of-State: 0-0
• Sturgis Brown (24-25):
  • Overall: 4-6
  • League: 2-3
  • Non-League: 2-3
  • Home: 2-2
  • Away: 2-4
  • Common Opponents: 2-4
  • In-State: 4-6
  • Out-of-State: 0-0

Conclusion

Both Mahpiya Luta and Sturgis Brown have shown resilience despite their mixed records. Mahpiya Luta’s home dominance and late-game scoring have been key to their success, while Sturgis Brown will look to find consistency and sharpen their game as the season advances. Both teams still have several opportunities to improve, particularly in head-to-head matchups against teams like Spearfish and Douglas.

As the season progresses, the rivalry between these two teams will likely continue to intensify, and fans can expect more thrilling moments from both Mahpiya Luta and Sturgis Brown.