Maȟpíya Lúta closed out the regular season in commanding fashion Tuesday night, defeating Hot Springs 74-36 in front of a strong home crowd on Parent Night. The boys also took the floor wearing pink in support of Breast Cancer Awareness, making the night meaningful both on and off the court.
The matchup looked much different from their previous meeting, which had been a close contest. This time, Maȟpíya Lúta set the tone early with defensive pressure and efficient offense, steadily building their lead throughout the game. The win marks the sixth time this season Maȟpíya Lúta has won by 31 points or more.
Riley Brave led the scoring effort with 16 points, and adding three steals. Julian Tonche added 12 points, while Braiden Lunderman contributed eight points, seven assists, and three steals. Braylon Little also played a key role in the balanced team effort.
As a team, Maȟpíya Lúta recorded 16 assists, continuing to emphasize unselfish play and strong ball movement. The team remains undefeated this season when reaching that assist mark, highlighting the impact of playing together and sharing the basketball.
The victory improves Maȟpíya Lúta’s record to 17-3 and extends their winning streak to three games. Over that stretch, they have averaged more than 72 points per contest. Hot Springs drops to 6-13 with the loss.
With the regular season complete, Maȟpíya Lúta finishes as the No. 1 seed in the region and will receive a first-round bye in next week’s regional playoffs. The team now turns its attention to postseason play, carrying momentum and confidence into the next stage of the season.