Over the past couple weeks the boys and girls basketball teams have battled their hardest to snag spots in the State Tournament. After the regular season ended, practice continued in preparation for the District Tournament and State Tournament.

On Tuesday, Feb. 28, the boys took on WHS for their first game. The game kicked off at 7 p.m. and fans raged in the stands. Throughout the game, the score was neck and neck and both teams had a hard time getting a clear lead. As the game went on, the fouls got more and more scrappy and the head coach for WHS received a technical, which then put LHS up by two. At the end of the game, with a couple good shots and free throws from LHS, the boys were up by five points. That was until WHS senior Jack Talley scored a last second three pointer which lead WHS to still lack by two points. The final score was 62 to 60 LHS. Dillion Barrow scored 18 points, Diang Gatluak 16 points, Christophe Bwanya 11 points and Alex Glanzer 10 points.

On Thursday, March 2, the girls also took on crosstown rival WHS for their first game in the District Tournament. As the game went on, the score tipped back and forth between the two teams as each battled to stay afloat. At the end of the game, as the shot clock ran out, the score was close, but LHS prevailed with a score of 64 points to WHS score of 58 points. Anna Brecht had 19 points and eight rebounds, Sydney Rosinsky had 12 points, Courtney Klatt had ten points and Brooke Luitjens had eight points and eight rebounds.

On Friday, Mar. 3, the boys team hosted Harrisburg for a chance to win the District Championship game. After the game tipped off, both teams battled to keep the close lead. At half, the Pats had a leading score of 20 to 19. With only a little over one minute left in regulation, the Tigers led the Pats 43-41. At the end of the game, Simon Higgason scored an essential three point shot to put the Pats over the edge to victory. The final score was LHS with 45 points and Harrisburg with 41 points. Barrow had 15 points, Gatluak had 13 points and with a District Championship under their belts, the seniors could lead their team to one last rally at state.

On Monday, March 6, the girls battled RHS for a spot in the State Tournament. In a game that meant do or die, each team was out to win. The lead went back and forth between the Lady Pats and the Rough Riders and both fought their hardest to keep the score in their favor. As the game clock ran out, LHS was down by two points and had an opportunity to score a three pointer, but unfortunately it did not go in. The final score was LHS with 36 points and RHS with 38 points. Brecht had 13 points, Rosinsky had 11 points and Luitjens had six points. After a hard fought and dedicated game, the girls season ended before they could make it to the State Tournament.

The State Basketball Tournament will take place Thursday, March 16 – Saturday, March 18 at the Rushmore Plaza Civic Center in Rapid City. The LHS boys have won the class AA state title in 2015 and 2016 and are planning on taking home first this upcoming tournament.