SKC Men crowned champions

By Marianne Addison

The SKC Men’s team come away as tournament Champions in the 4th Annual SKC tournament. Pictured L-R: Head Coach: Zack Camel, Gabe Caye, TJ Evans, Delbert Trombley, Pius Takes Horse, Ed Running Rabbit, Justin Tonasket, Howard Walker, Joe Chartraw. (Vaughn James Photo)

RONAN — The Salish Kootenai College men's team faced the Blackfeet Warriors in an intense championship game. Players like Delbert Trombley from SKC and CJ Aimsback, Carl Aimsback, Narsis Reevis, Aaron McLean, and Alden Spoonhunter from Blackfeet Warriors are no strangers to winning as they played with Browning or Heart Butte and were on state championship teams in high school.

For the first few minutes, there was little scoring because the defensive pressure was tight. Blackfeet Warriors employed an in your face, man-to-man defense that limited scoring opportunities for the Bison. With four minutes in the game passed, the score stood at 6-4 with SKC in the lead. About thirty seconds later, SKC began to roll as Pius Takes Horse found Howard Walker on the three point line to take a 9-4 lead.

The Blackfeet Warriors' Carl Aimsback missed two free throws and Howard Walker was able to connect on another three for SKC to take a 12-4 lead. A Takes Horse jumper saw the Bison up by 10. SKC's Howard Walker kept on plowing over the Blackfeet Warriors in a number of ways. A sweet pass to Ed Running Rabbit from Howard Walker gave the Bison a 16-7 lead. Takes Horse snapped a three, Ed Running Rabbit scored two and also fed Justin Tonasket as he drove the lane to make a three-point play.

The Men's MVP of the tournament, Ed Running Rabbit making strong moves to the rack against a tough Browning team, displaying why he was named MVP of the tournament. (Vaughn James Photo)

Meanwhile, the Blackfeet Warriors used three-pointers to try to stay in the game as three players swished in one a piece. Then, Carl Aimsback hit a jumper in traffic and later grabbed an offensive rebound, which led to Alden Spoonhunter's behind the head pass to Aimsback for a lay-in. SKC's double digit lead was diminished to single digits.

On a Running Rabbit turnover, Narsis Reevis went coast to coast for a lay-in to cut the lead to seven. A Walker turnover lead to a Reevis steal and assist to Alden Spoonhunter to cut the lead. Costly fouls caused the tide to turn for the Blackfeet Warriors at the end of the first half as SKC players converted on 8 of 8 free throws to lead by six at the half, 40-34.

SKC began the second half with a 7-0 run. A long jumper by Reevis ended the scoring drought. The Blackfeet Warriors began a furious 7-0 run to bring the score to 47-42. Pius Takes Horse traded baskets with the Warriors as he scored eight points to the Warriors eight points. Free throws and fouls became the determining factors in the game.

Narsis Reevis, a key contributer for the Warriors fouled out with 8:14 on the clock. Ed Running Rabbit attacking the basket and drawing fouls then converting on six of eight free throws in the last minutes of the game lead SKC to victory.

All-stars for the men's tournament were Thomas Spotted Eagle of Hillside Ballers, Derrick Hilbert of G & L, Shane Morigeau of Soup D'Jour, Alden Spoonhunter and Aaron McLean from Blackfeet Warriors, Howard Walker, Delbert Trombley, Pius Takes Horse, and Joe Chartraw of SKC. Most Valuable Player went to Ed Running Rabbit.

See also Lady Bison take second