PHOENIX, Ariz. - Five South Dakota basketball teams are in Arizona, participating in the sixth annual Native American Basketball Invitational tournament.
Since its inception, NABI has created numerous college scholarship opportunities for Native American athletes and has become one of the biggest all Native tournaments in North America.
The South Dakota B-ball Divas, from Pine Ridge, are 1-1 through Tuesday's games. The Divas, which are affiliated with the Oglala Lakota tribe, beat RP Hoops, of Rock Point, Ariz., 69-50, on Monday but dropped a 60-57 decision to Colville Tribes, of Coulee Dam, Wash., on Tuesday. The Divas were scheduled to face Ak-Chin, of Maricopa, Ariz., on Wednesday evening.
Four area South Dakota boys teams are in action at the Phoenix tournament. Lakota/Dakota Sioux was 2-0 through Wednesday's action. The team, which is from McLaughlin, beat St. Michael Cardinals, of Fort Defiance, Ariz., 1-0, on Monday and then beat Iroqouis A.C., of Perrysburg, N.Y., 72-53, on Wednesday. Results from a Tuesday game with Ak-Chin, of Maricopa, Ariz., was not available.
Oglala Nation, of Pine Ridge, finished Wednesday's action with a 0-3 mark, after dropping a 67-58 decision to Team Yakama, of Wapato, Wash., on Monday, a 81-59 loss to Kiowa Motion, Anadarko, Okla., on Tuesday, and a 92-55 loss to Native Boyz, of Sanders, Ariz.
Same Day Express I, from Porcupine, was 2-0 entering Wednesday's games. The Express thumped All Nations, from Florence, Ariz., 111-63, on Monday, then knocked off Wildcatz, of St. Michaels, Ariz., 107-64 on Tuesday.
Same Day Express II, also from Porcupine, is 2-1 after Wednesday. The Express knocked off the Salt River Warriors, of Scottsdale, Ariz., 81-76, on Monday, before dropping a 71-69 decision to N8V Magic, Crownpoint, N.M., on Tuesday. The Express II rebounded Wednesday to post a 94-58 win over Hualapai Nation, of Peach Springs, Ariz., on Wednesday.
The South Dakota teams are among 80 boys and girls teams competing in the annual event. Started in 2003 with 24 boys and girls teams from Arizona, NABI has blossomed into an 80-team event with championship games.
