KIPI Sports was live from Timber Lake High School, Thursday January 11, 2024. The Tiospaye Topa Thunder Hawks travelled to Timber Lake for a Region 8-B conference match-up. The last time these two teams met up was last March when Kristapher Meeter and the Thunder Hawks ended the Panthers season before coming up short to the Faith Longhorns in the So.Dak 16 qualifier game. Tonight’s contest would have a whole different outcome as Kristapher Meeter transferred to Marty, and departing senior class of Ivis Lee, Jorge Hawk Jr, and Dennis Sand III would have the Thunder Hawks lacking strengths on each end of the court.
The Panthers came out of the gate with their smothering full-court defense which had a tremendous effect on the Thunder Hawks offense. Panther Freshman #24 Kanton Hunt and Senior PG #11 Tristan Dupris (KIPI Radio POTG) would each pick up 15pts and 3 stl. on the night. Senior Cole Ducheneaux added 12 and Senior PG #2 Kyler Bollinger added 7.
Thunder Hawks #10 Kaden Rousseau would have a game-high 20pts of the Thunder Hawks 26 total points. Freshman Laken Traversie would add 3 and Sophomore #11 Jokolby Rousseau would also add 3 pts. Falling to 2-8 on the season and their 2nd loss in a row, the Thunder Hawks will face the (2-4) Marty Braves in their first-round match-up at the 2024 Dakota Oyate Challenge Thursday Jan. 25 at the Corn Palace in Mitchell, SD. If the Thunder Hawks could win it would be an upset for the ages, but they will have to stop scoring machine for the Marty Braves, Jr SG Kristapher Meeter. Meeter is on a course to hit 2,000 career points in his senior season.
The Timber Lake Panthers next game is Tuesday Jan. 16 in a Double Header as they host Sully Buttes in Timber Lake.
After that the Panthers Boys Basketball team will host Kadoka Area on Tuesday Jan. 23rd and the girls will start their first round of the Little Moreau Conference Girls Tournament beginning Thursday Jan. 18-20, TBD