BISMARCK United Tribes Technical College in Bis marck, N. Dak. hosted the John Thunderhawk Classic this past weekend as Bismarck State and United Tribes won all of their men’s and women’s games against Oglala Lakota College and Jamestown College JV.

above)United Tribes forward Shayne Alcon(55) drives through the OLC defense of Michael Apple(50) and Morgan Weston(52) during the Thunderbirds 108-68 win Friday in Bismarck; photo courtesy of Dennis J. Neumann, United Tribes News. United Tribes Thunderbirds knocked off the OLC Braveheart men 108 68 Friday night and the UT women scored a 87 42 win over the OLC women. Lisa Bear Robe who played for Bismarck State last year led OLC with 20 points while Lacy Weston playing her first game for OLC scored 12 points and pulled down a team high eight rebounds. Jen Morrisette helped with seven points and seven rebounds.

On Saturday, Bismarck State rolled over OLC men 115 68, Braveheart’s Michael Apple scored 27 points in the loss and pulled down 18 rebounds with five as sists. Newcomer, Morgan Weston hit 18 points with nine boards and five assists while Tanoa Big Crow helped out with 10 points and eight rebounds. Bis marck State made it a sweep as the Lady Mystics zipped by OLC 90 44. Red Cloud graduate, Ida Clarke in her second year at BSC hit all five of her three point attempts for 19 points with three steals in only 11 minutes on the floor.

“We’re working really hard to build a program,” said Mary Tobacco, in her second year as athletic director at Oglala Lakota College and third year as women’s coach, “we are playing colleges that have been estab lished for many years and I know its hard for our play ers as we travel with 5 7 players on each team playing teams with 10 12 players, many on scholarships. Our new facility is going up fast it’s exciting to look ahead to home games and building more continuity and sta bility its just going to take time but we’ll get there.”

OLC men are 3 8 on the season with wins over SIPI, Institute of American Indian Arts and New Mexico Job Corps and losses to Little Big Horn, Sheridan Col lege, Gillette College, Bismarck State, United Tribes, Colorado Stars and Northwest Trappers. The OLC women are 2 6 with wins over IAIA and SIPI and losses to BSC, UT, Little Big Horn, Gillette College, Sheridan College and the UNM club team.

“Our requirements to play include enrolling for 12 credits per semester and maintaining a 2.0 grade point average,” said Tobacco, “It’s a great opportunity for young men and women to play a college sport and get an education.”

OLC travels to Bellingham, Washington this week end for games with Northwest Indian College. The teams will be in Rapid City December 18 for a double header with Nebraska College of Technical Agricul ture at the NAU gym at 12 noon and 2pm.