Lady Bison Bring Home Championship Hardware!

For full story visit CharKoosta News Salish Kootenai College Women’s Basketball Team Crowned Division I AIEHC Champions

The Salish Kootenai College (SKC) Lady Bison women’s basketball team returned to win the AIHEC championship after a disappointing third-place finish last year. The AIHEC tournament is similar to the NCAA March Madness but for tribal colleges. This year, the SKC women’s team went 14-1 with their only loss being avenged the next day. They defeated all their opponents in pool play by double digits. In the bracket play, they dominated Little Bighorn College in the semifinals and Oglala Lakota College in the championship game to win the title. Lani Smartt was named MVP and Tamika Guardipee received All-AIHEC honors. With most players expected to return, the Lady Bison look to defend their title next season.

The Salish Kootenai College men’s basketball team, despite a small roster, fought hard at the AIHEC tournament. They won several games but fell short in the semifinals and finished a respectable fourth place. Coach Tiensvold expects most players to return next season and hopes to attract more local players to build a championship team.