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The explosive Shilo Tallman (24) fronted by Lemans Little Eagle of the Patriots. Trailingplay: Jeremiah Hopkins (12), Robert Shangreaux (54). Photos by James Giago Davies

The explosive Shilo Tallman (24) fronted by Lemans Little Eagle of the Patriots. Trailingplay: Jeremiah Hopkins (12), Robert Shangreaux (54). Photos by James Giago Davies

KYLE—“Everybody knows their role,” Little Wound Head Coach Jay Jacobs said after Friday night’s 86-67 home court romp over the Class AA Douglas Patriots. “To get to that state level we need to have everybody.”

Reinforcements arrived to help complete the team effort against Douglas: Michael Brave, Tolin Gregg, Ethan Clifford. They played well, and they helped rotate people to the bench to keep fresh legs hammering the Patriots.

Jeremiah Hopkins (12) lofts a floater over defender Austin Gooden (5).

Jeremiah Hopkins (12) lofts a floater over defender Austin Gooden (5).

The freshest of those legs belonged to 5-11 senior Shilo Tallman, whose explosive athleticism on offense and defense gave the Patriots fits, particularly 5-11 junior Lemans Little Eagle, a pretty good player, but Tallman kept him scrambling off balance all night, unable to set up the Patriot offense. On offense, Tallman nailed threes, and drove the paint with authority.

Many consider Tallman the most athletic guard in the state. “I would agree,” Jacobs said. “I’ve been saying the same thing for two years.” Tallman hadn’t been starting for the Mustangs past two games, due to injury, and despite his outstanding play Friday night, Jacobs says, “I would say he was only at 90%.”

Like most guys with huge spring in their step, Tallman’s ankles can be turned, but when those ankles are healthy, he can be a catalyst that ignites his team.

The other big factor in Friday night’s win was the two big men, 6-5 senior Jeremiah Hopkins, and 6-6 freshman center Tex Janis. Nullified and unproductive in the huge loss to Red Cloud the week before, they controlled the inside game for Little Wound.

Jacobs says, “These two bring length and strength.” Hopkins is the team leader, and he does more than just rebound: “Jeremiah does everything.” Hopkins is a steady presence that anchors down his team, and Jacobs says that team play, understanding their roles, opens Janis up to play his game: “His teammates pressure allows (Janis) to continually crash the boards.”

With 5:21 remaining in the first quarter, Tallman rifled a pass to Darrell Looks Twice, who scored inside to make it 12-6, Little Wound. Douglas called a time out. It didn’t help, because two minutes later newly activated Michael Brave hit a three and it was 21-12. Then newly activated Tolin Gregg made it 23-12. The bench was doing what it could not do against Red Cloud, carrying the team at critical moments. Douglas called another time out, but Janis ended the half with an easy two, and Little Wound led 25-14.

The Patriots have a terrific 6-0 senior guard, Torren Rogers, who wears the number zero, but plays like anything but. He displayed excellent ball handling skills, and proved he could score inside and outside, but even when his three made it 25-17, and after Tallman was fouled and missed both free throws, little Ash Featherman snatched the offensive rebound from the big boys and made it 27-17. Then Featherman stole the ball and made it 29-17. Rogers hit a three for Douglas, and it was 29-20, before Featherman contributed a three, 32-20, Little Wound.

Featherman capped his one man show by missing a jumper, which Brave snatched and put up-and-in to make it 35-20.

With 4:00 left in the half, a terrific pass from Tallman to Janis, made it 37-22. Janis was fouled on the play and made it 38-22. Later Hopkins attempted to end the half with an emphatic three, but as it glanced off the rim, always hustling 6-3 junior Robert Shangreaux tipped the ball in at the buzzer, and the half ended with Little Wound on top, 44-28.

Tallman opened the second half by stripping Little Eagle and scoring an uncontested lay-up. Two possessions later Tallman netted a three, forcing a Douglas timeout, Little Wound leading 49-32. The Patriots have a tough inside power forward in 6-2 senior Austin Gooden, he converted an offensive rebound, was fouled and made it 49-35. Tallman threaded another pass to Janis, 51-35. Tallman then swished a three, 54-35, and after Hopkins hit two free throws to make it 56-38, Rogers and Tallman went on a back-and-forth tear, that did not end until Tallman put Little Wound up 61-43, with a three. Just before the buzzer Ethan Mills scored a bucket to put Little Wound up 70-47.

Brave, Featherman, Tallman and Janis continued to pour it on in the final quarter, and they needed to, because Douglas fought hard, outscoring Little Wound 20-16. But in the end it was 86-61, and Little Wound had shown West River basketball just how dominant they can be when they are healthy and have a bench to maintain the pace.

Janis had 19 points for Little Wound, Tallman had 16, Brave 13, and Featherman 11. In a losing cause, Rogers proved the top performer of the night, with 20 points, including 6 threes. Gooden added 13 hard-earned inside points.

Jacobs was happy with the victory, but stressed Eagle Butte would be dropping by the very next night, with the Pine Ridge game to follow on Tuesday: “Rivalry games are always tough no matter what. (Pine Ridge) will play a solid game.”

On Saturday night The Mustangs defeated Cheyenne-Eagle Butte 88-70, impressive considering C-EB has a deep bench, and had a 7-3 record, and were scoring 70.5 points per game. 

Douglas                14     14     19     20  —  61

Little Wound        25     19     26     16  —  86

DHS: T. Rogers 20 (6 threes), A. Gooden 13, L. Little Eagle 7

LW: T. Janis 19, S. Tallman 16, M. Brave 13, A. Featherman 11.

(James Giago Davies can be reached at skindiesel@msn.com)


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