Griffitts pushes Cardinals into title game
SALINA, Kan. — Kama Griffitts scored a game-high 28 points to go along with eight rebounds, Tugce Canitez added 24 points and 11 boards and the fifth-seeded North Idaho College Cardinals dusted off previously unbeaten and top-seeded Pensacola State College 90-75 in a semifinals game at the NJCAA tournament Friday at the Bicentennial Center.
Griffitts, a former Coeur d’Alene High standout, made 8 of her 10 free throws while Canitez missed just one of her 11 attempts.
With the win, NIC (31-3) advances to face Trinity Valley (34-2) from Athens, Texas, in today’s championship game at 5 p.m. PST.
“It was an unbelieveable game,” NIC coach Chris Carlson said. “We got off to a great start and took it right at them.”
Carlson said he was very proud of the team’s resilience throughout the tourney so far.
“Kama and Tugce had big games tonight, but the effort off the bench was just what we wanted. It really was a great team effort and we did just what we wanted to do — and we are not done yet.”
The Cardinals hit 24 of 31 free throws and 8 of their 16 3-point shots. Pensacola held a 31-18 edge in bench scoring.
Camille Reynolds, a former Lakeland High standout, finished with 14 points, going 4 for 4 from the line, and Chantel Divilbiss hit all three of her 3-point attempts for her nine points.
North Idaho, which held a 44-31 halftime lead, shot 50 percent from the field in each half. Pensacola improved from 38 percent before the break to 48 percent in the second half.
Carlson thinks the Cardinals match up well with Trinity Valley. “We played them two years ago in the opening game of the (NJCAA tournament), but this is a whole different year. They are an explosive team— just like the teams we have been playing.”
Ashley Olvera led the Pirates with 15 points.
PENSACOLA
Brandy Broome 3-11 4-5 10, Meghan Perkins 6-15 2-2 14, Jessica Merritt 3-5 2-2 11, Ashley Olvera 2-4 2-2 15, Natalie Burke 0-0 0-0 0, Tawanna Lee 0-1 1-2 1, Najat Ovardad 4-8 1-2 12, Patricia Bright 1-1 0-0 2, Darnisha Hamilton 0-1 1-2 1, Jenisha Jackson 0-2 0-0 3, Karneisha Garrett 3-4 0-2 6. Totals 22-52 13-19 75.
NORTH IDAHO
Kamma Griffitts 7-10 8-10 28, Chantel Divilbiss 3-3 0- 0 9, Camille Reynolds 4-10 3-3 14, Timena Shebala 0-0 0-0 0, Tugce Canitez 7-11 10-11 24, Amy Warbrick 1-2 0-0 3, Korina Baker 1-1 1-3 4, Kiki Edwards-Teasley 1-4 2-4 4, Julia Salmio 0-0 0-0 0, Amanda Carlton 0-1 0-0 0, Deanna Dotts 2-4 0-0 4. Totals 21-41 24-31 90.
Halftime — North Idaho 44-31. 3-point goals — NIC 8-16 (Griffitts 2,-6, Divilbiss 3-3, Reynolds 1-3, Warbrick 1-2, Baker 1-1, Carlton 0-1). Pens — Broome 0-3, Perkins 0-1, Merritt 1-3, Olvera 3-7, Lee 0-1, Ovardad 1-4, Bright 0-1, Hamilton 0-5, Jackson 1-4, Garrett 0-1). Rebounds — NIC 49 (Canitez 11). Pens 47 Perkins 10). Assists — NIC 19 (Baker 8). Pens Broome 5). Team fouls — NIC 19, Pens 28. Fouled out — NIC, none. Pens Broome, Ovardad.