Associated Press - November 28, 2009 11:15 AM ET

ETHETE, Wyo. (AP) - High school basketball is king on the Wind River Indian Reservation in central Wyoming.

The Chiefs have built 1 of Wyoming's most successful high school basketball teams and are the pride of a community beset by poverty, alcoholism and related social ills.

The team won the state 2A championship last March, its seventh state title.

Wyoming Indian head coach Craig Ferris says Native Americans are very community oriented, and basketball is just another reason for the community to come together.

Basketball is popular across Indian Country in North America.

For all of Wyoming Indian's success, there hasn't been commensurate collegiate opportunities.

Ferris says he's trying to change the mindset that college isn't something the players are capable of achieving.

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