LODGE GRASS -- Elvis Old Bull Day did not disappoint.
Lodge Grass honored the basketball legend on Thursday night between the varsity girls and boys games against rival Hardin. After a Hardin blowout in the girls game, the boys game provided plenty of fireworks.
Hardin raced out to a 32-23 lead after the first quarter and led 61-51 by halftime. A quartet of corner 3s by Damon Gros Ventre kept Lodge Grass close in the first half.
Hardin would open the second half on an 11-6 spurt to grab a 15-point advantage, and the Bulldogs would hold the same advantage through three quarters. Hardin put it away in the fourth quarter, though, as it scored another 23 points to finish the evening with a 112-92 victory.
Famous Lefthand led Hardin with 35 points, but he was outdone by the Lodge Grass super sophomore Gros Ventre, who finished with 37 points and seven 3-pointers.
For Lefthand, who wears No. 52 in homage to the late Old Bull, and Gros Ventre, it was a special night regardless of result.
"It means a lot. Elvis was a part of Crow Nation, and that's what we are, too. We're all one big community," Lefthand said.
"Those guys on that side, they're our relatives and everything. We're pretty close, so all these fans bring a great atmosphere to this game. It's just an amazing feeling," Gros Ventre said.
The Hardin girls made quick work of Lodge Grass. The Bulldogs led by nearly 20 at halftime and extended that to 62-33 by the end of the third quarter. Hardin ran away for an 81-45 win over its Class B rivals.
