The Maȟpíya Lúta Thabškátapi made the trek to Denver and represented their Thiwahe with pride, sending 10 teams ranging from 3rd grade to 12th grade to compete in the Spring Extravaganza – Mountain West. The results were nothing short of outstanding, with multiple championship runs and strong showings across nearly every division.
Girls Results
The 10u girls set the tone early, battling their way to the championship game and defeating Lightning, CO by 2 points to claim the title. It was a hard-fought victory that showcased the competitiveness and heart of this young group.
The 11u/12u girls division produced one of the most memorable moments of the tournament as Maȟpíya Lúta 11u and Maȟpíya Lúta 12u both fought their way to the championship game to face each other. In the end, the 12u squad came out on top, claiming their 3rd championship in a row. A remarkable achievement that speaks to the sustained excellence of this program.
The 13u/14u girls were simply dominant from start to finish, going a perfect 5-0 through the tournament and claiming the championship without dropping a game. Their performance was one of the most impressive of the entire weekend.
The high school girls, featuring many new faces at the varsity level, dropped their opening game by 8 points. Rather than folding, they responded with resilience and determination, fighting their way back through the bracket to reach the championship game, where they squared off with the same team that had beaten them in game one. This time the result was different. The Maȟpíya Lúta high school girls defeated Prime Time 303 in the championship by 5 points, capping off one of the most inspiring runs of the tournament. Their growth from game one to the final was a testament to their character and coaching.
Boys Results
The 11u boys were met with fierce competition throughout the weekend but battled hard and finished 6th place, gaining valuable experience along the way.
The 12u boys came out strong, going 2-0 in pool play before running into Denver Rain in the semi-finals, where they dropped a tough 2-point decision. They responded with determination, defeating Imprint Elite to claim 3rd place, a well-earned result for a team that competed with heart all weekend.
The 16u boys division featured a Maȟpíya Lúta squad made up primarily of 15-year-old players who more than held their own against older competition. They battled to a 2-point loss and a 4-point loss on Sunday, showing tremendous fight against a tough field.
One of the most thrilling highlights of the entire tournament came from Maȟpíya Lúta 17u, who claimed a championship with a 2-point victory over Team Evo in sudden-death overtime. What made the moment even sweeter is that both of their wins over Team Evo this tourney have gone to overtime, making this rivalry one for the memory books.
A Weekend to Remember
We are incredibly proud of every one of our teams and the way they represented Maȟpíya Lúta and their Thiwahe in Denver. A heartfelt thank you to all of the families who made the trek to support our student athletes. Your presence and encouragement made a difference both on and off the court!