SKC Bison men win tenth AIHEC championship

The Salish Kootenai College men’s basketball team is on a role. Actually, they have been on a role for a long time. The Bison won their tenth AIHEC National Championship this past weekend. It was also their third straight. Under coach Zachary Conko-Camel, the Bison have excelled, and continued their tradition of excellence this past weekend in Washington.

The team played six games last week, two of which were pool play games and the rest of which were part of a single elimination tournament.

They lost their first pool play game against Stone Child before winning their next five. Most of their games were close, except for their 118-69 blowout win over Turtle Mountain. In the championship game, the Bison played Stone Child for a rematch of earlier in the week. In a high scoring game, the Bison took the game 103-93 for their third National Championship three-peat.

Throughout the tournament, the Bison averaged 84.5 points, almost 18 assists, 29 rebounds and nine three-pointers per game.

Zach Mills led the team in scoring during the competition, averaging 20 points per game. Aquino Brinson also had a great week, averaging over 16 points per game.

Results for the women’s tournament were not available.

Pool Play

SKC 46 Stone Child 51

Aquino Brinson 13, J’Von Smith 3, Lonnie Plainbull 2, Bradley Fryberg 4, Jalen Croff 5, Zach Mills 18.

SKC 68 Chief Dull Knife 52

Aquino Brinson 15, J’Von Smith 5, Isaac Camel 8, Lonnie Plainbull 4, Bradley Fryberg 5, Tisen Fryberg 8, Joe Bremner 4, Zach Mills 19.

First Round

SKC 61 Fort Berthold 46

Aquino Brinson 17, J’Von Smith 8, Isaac Camel 7, Bradley Fryberg 11, Tisen Fryberg 7, Joe Bremner 1, Zach Mills 10.

Quarterfinals

SKC 118 Turtle Mountain 69

Aquino Brinson 23, J’Von Smith 4, Isaac Camel 8, Lonnie Plainbull 30, Bradley Fryberg 6, Tisen Fryberg 9, Jalen Croff 8, Joe Bremner 11, Zach Mills 19.

Semifinals

SKC 91 Northwestern Indian Community College 84

Aquino Brinson 13, J’Von Smith 8, Isaac Camel 6, Lonnie Plainbull 3, Bradley Fryberg 7, Tisen Fryberg 11, Jalen Croff 9, Joe Bremner 8, Zach Mills 27.

Championship

SKC 103 Stone Child 93

Aquino Brinson 18, J’Von Smith 2, Isaac Camel 11, Lonnie Plainbull 11, Bradley Fryberg 3, Tisen Fryberg 8, Jalen Croff 18, Joe Bremner 5, Zach Mills 27.