The No. 1‑ranked Mahpiya Luta Lady Crusaders remained undefeated Thursday night, defending their home floor with a 43–18 win over the Spearfish Lady Spartans at the Sader Dome. Both teams finished well below their season scoring averages, but Mahpiya Luta’s defense proved overwhelming, holding Spearfish to single‑digit scoring in all four quarters. The Crusaders were led by Shania Ferguson with 11 points, while Adi Bouman paced Spearfish with 8, earning her the Superior Performance Award sponsored by Superior Auto Solutions of Spearfish.
The opening quarter set the tone for a defensive battle, with Mahpiya Luta holding a narrow 7–5 lead. From there, the Crusaders’ pressure intensified. Their full‑court press forced Spearfish into a series of turnovers—both forced and unforced—and Mahpiya Luta converted those mistakes into points, building a 26–10 halftime advantage. Spearfish struggled to advance the ball past half‑court, committing multiple five‑second violations and finishing with 12 turnovers.
Both teams’ top scorers were held well below their season norms. Mahpiya Luta senior Ashlan Carlow‑Blount, averaging 17.8 points per game, was limited to 8—all in the first half. Spearfish senior Kate Scharf, who entered averaging 16 per game, was held to just 4.
Spearfish’s offense never found traction in the second half, managing only eight total points over the final two quarters. Mahpiya Luta’s pressure disrupted the Spartans’ ability to set up their offense, and even when Spearfish generated looks, shots simply didn’t fall.
Despite the loss, Spearfish did accomplish something no other team has this season: holding Mahpiya Luta 27 points below its season scoring average. The Crusaders, typically a 34‑percent three‑point shooting team, were also limited to just 12 percent from beyond the arc. Still, Spearfish’s offensive struggles proved too much to overcome, and Mahpiya Luta improved to 11–0. The Crusaders will continue Black Hills Conference play Saturday on the road at Belle Fourche (3–9).
Spearfish drops to 4–3 overall and 0–2 on the road. The Spartans will look to secure their first road win Tuesday when they travel to face St. Thomas More (7–3). It wiil be live on KDSJ‑TV’s YouTube channel and Facebook.
Rewatch Thursday’s Game HERE: https://www.youtube.com/live/vV75iOoWuAQ?si=EPfj-NaRvI–AW6-
