RAPID CITY, S.D. — The Salish-Kootenai College Bison fell just short in their quest for a fourth-consecutive AIHEC title when they were downed by Northwest Indian College 99-83 in the championship game.

“The two best teams were in the championship and that’s how it should be,” Bison head coach Zack Conko-Camel said.

The Eagles upended the Bison, who had defeated NWIC the previous two seasons to win it all, after a thrilling run that saw SKC win five games at the tournament.

The run began with an 83-58 victory over Sinte Gleska University. Senior Sonny Eppinette led the way with 20 points, Kevin Wroblewski added 13 and DJ Fish 12 for the Bison.

In their next game, SKC squeaked by Turtle Mountain Community College 48-47. While it was a defensive battle, Fish had little trouble, scoring 20 in the win.

The Bison concluded pool play with a 73-53 victory over Oglala Lakota College. Eppinette went for 18, Fish 12 and DJ Kemmer 11 in the win.

With the stakes raised in bracket play, SKC exploded for 113 points in a 113-87 win over Chief Dull Knife College thanks to 28 points from Josh Finn, 19 from Epinette and 18 from Kemmer. The Bison then knocked off Tohono O’odham CC in the semifinals 86-63 behind 21 points from James Bible.

Against NWIC in the title game, SKC fell behind by 15 points at halftime, but wouldn’t go away quietly.

“We made a big run out of halftime to cut it to three and that’s when we normally make our run,” Camel said.

Unfortunately, that’s as close as they’d get, as the Eagles pulled away late to end SKC’s run of dominance.

“We played good defense,” Camel said. “There were a couple of breakdowns but overall we played well and played like a team.

“I was really pulling for the kids,” Camel added. “They do all the right things on and off the court.”

Despite the loss, Camel was proud of his team, saying that over the last few years, they’ve handled their position as one of the best very admirably.

“We played well,” Camel said. “It’s hard to have a target on your back because you get everybody’s best game. Our young men took care of business over the last three years.”

It was a sad end for Camel, parting ways with Eppinette after four fantastic years with SKC.

“It was tough on Sonny,” Camel said. “He had never lost a game at AIHEC. He had a lot on his mind and heart with that last run, going for a perfect career. He gave everything he had.”

The championship game also marked the end of a season the Bison played with heavy hearts. On Aug. 4, less than five months following their 2011 championship, tournament MVP Marvin Hudson-Lewis drowned while swimming in the Pactola Reservoir in South Dakota.

“It was an emotional rollercoaster all year,” Camel said. “We went to the lake where Marvin passed and had a ceremony. That’s hard and the veterans who knew him, it was emotional for them. It was emotional for me too.”

Looking ahead to next season, Camel is excited to get back on the court and pointed to Fish as the guy who could fill Eppinette’s shoes as the glue for the team.

“DJ Fish was a leader and the torch has been passed to him,” Camel said.

“I look forward to next year, getting refocused and getting our belt back,” Camel added. “It was a great experience.”