Winnebago’s David Wingett (50) demonstrates why he was selected as Most Valuable Player at the Lakota Nation Invitational. Photo by Native Sun News

Their jerseys read 'BAGO'
By James Giago Davies
Native Sun News Correspondent

RAPID CITY— Lakota Nation Invitational fans won’t soon forget the letters “BAGO” across the front of a blue jersey. Winnebago used the same strategy it has used all tournament in easily dispatching the defending LNI champs, the White River Tigers, 74-41, to capture the Indians’ first LNI title.

“We came in here thinking we can’t take anything lightly,” tournament MVP David Wingett said. “We did everything, we played defense, we ran the floor, everything.”

Wingett explained why he put on such a slam-dunking MVP performance for four games: “I try to work hard and get my team involved as much as I can, and then work my butt off to get back and play defense.”

Besides winning the MVP, the game was also stopped so Wingett could be honored for scoring his 1000 career point. The Winnebago team also won the boys sportsmanship award. Head Coach Jeff Berridge, in his fifth year, had a difficult time getting a spot in the 16 man field these past four years, and once he got here, while his team was on the court, their locker room was ransacked, and they lost a lot of personal items.       

But nothing seemed able to get the Winnebago kids off their game.

“(It was a) big stage, lot of people, they just worked hard. I expected we would come up here and play our game, and make everybody play our game, and that’s what we did," Berridge said.

The Indians may have been new to the venue, but not many of the opposing players.

“A lot of these players travel during the summer,” Berridge said. “So, we see ‘em, but what it comes down to is we just gotta go out and play our game.”

Beyond dribbling and shooting, Berridge has an idea why his team excels: “What we bring to the table is defense, we thrive on defense.”

Read the rest of the story on the all new Native Sun News website: Their jerseys read 'BAGO'

(James Giago Davies can be reached at skindiesel@msn.com)

Copyright permission Native Sun News

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