Red Cloud Crusaders' head coach, Matt Rama, reacts to a call against his team. (Toby Brusseau/Rapid City Journal)

But Red Cloud school superintendent Robert Brave Heart Sr. says it could have been closer, and he’s going to file a complaint over what he says was unfair officiating during Tuesday night’s game.

“The sentiment of a lot of people, including myself, is that the officiating wasn’t good,” Brave Heart tells the Rapid City (S.D.) Journal, here.

And, he says, “There’s comments using the term racism. That’s what people are saying. This has nothing to do with St. Thomas More. We’re not being sore losers. The issue is with the officiating.”

As the Journal’s Jim Holland reports:

Red Cloud was whistled for 21 fouls, including the two technicals, with More capitalizing on 21-of-26 free-throw attempts.

The Cavaliers were called for eight infractions, with Red Cloud hitting on 7-of-9 from the stripe….

Red Cloud head coach Matt Rama and some of his players had to restrain some of those on his bench following the technical fouls, but it didn’t stop fans behind the Red Cloud bench from throwing garbage toward the court in the fourth quarter Tuesday night.

Wayne Carney, who heads the state High School Activities Association, says the complaint will be investigated, but that there’s no timeline.

Similar allegations were made about a 2007 Class A boys championship game between St. Thomas More and Little Wound School, also on the Pine Ridge Reservation

” I don’t know if (a complaint) is going to do anything,” Brave Heart says, “but at least I want my voice being heard.”

Gwen Florio

Tags: buffalo post, Gwen Florio, High school basketball, Little Wound School, Native American news, Pine Ridge Indian Reservation, Rapid City, Red Cloud Indian School, S.D., South Dakota High School Activities Association, St. Thomas More High School