by United Tribes returned home to the Thunderdome for a weekend series against Miles Community College and Little Big Horn College in John Thunderhawk Classic. On Friday night the Thunderbirds faced off against Little Big Horn College. The teams met in the season opener with Tribes winning by 1. This time around things were different. Tribes jumped out to a 25 point lead at halftime and went on to cruise to a 135-97 victory. Rob McClain led a balanced attack with 20 points, 13 rebounds, and 7 steals. Also reaching double figures were Shayden Keplin (18), Montel Carlow (18), Xavier Norris (16), Jacob Martin (14), Sam Pendleton (12), and Bearpaw Mosley (10). Pendleton also had 10 assists.
Saturday afternoon the Thunderbirds faced the Pioneers of Miles Community College for the third time this year. It would be another close contest like the previous two. Tribes got off to a sluggish start and trailed by as many as 22 in the first half and went into the locker room down 50-34. The Thunderbirds caught fire in the second half and used 13 three pointers to outscore the Pioneers 67-46 and held on to win 101-95. Shayden Keplin nailed 6 three pointers and scored all 29 of his points in the second half. Bearpaw Mosley provided a huge spark off the bench and finished with 16 points and 7 rebounds. Xavier Norris and Montel Carlow each finished with 14 and Rob McClain continued to stuff the stat sheet with 10 points, 15 rebounds, and 8 assists.
The Thunderbirds finish 2017 with two home games this weekend. On Friday December 8 they face the only team to beat them this year for a third time. Gillette College brings their undefeated and nationally ranked team to the Thunderdome on Friday at 7pm and on Saturday Tribes faces off with the Nueta Hidatsa Sahnish College Storm at 12 and 2 pm.
