Photos Courtesy of 605sports.com
After transferring from Pine Ridge to Maȟpíya Lúta, sophomore Daniel Weston has stepped into a key role for the boys’ basketball team. Leading the team in rebounding with 4.5 boards per game and ranking second in scoring at 9.4 points per game, Weston has found his place as a crucial presence on both ends of the court.
“The transition to Maȟpíya Lúta had a big impact on me growing as a basketball player because of the important minutes that I play compared to last year,” Weston shared. “The transition was also kinda hard for me because I’m playing at a different school, around different people, and in a different environment.”
Despite the challenges of adjusting to a new team, Weston has embraced his role as a defensive anchor. “We have lots of guys that can score, so my main focus is rebounding and defense and getting what I can on offense,” he said. His ability to secure boards and disrupt opponents has been vital to Maȟpíya Lúta’s success, especially as the team continues to build momentum this season.
Weston also understands the importance of keeping the energy high throughout games. “Like I said, my main focus is just rebounding and defense, but if I feel like our momentum on offense is dropping, that’s when I try to push the offense and run the floor to keep our momentum high,” he explained.
With Weston’s leadership in the paint and a team that continues to grow together, Maȟpíya Lúta is finding its rhythm as the season progresses.