The Front Row with JASON ELLIOTT March 6, 2013
If last weekend's games in the Region 18 men's and women's basketball tournament were the final games of the season for the host North Idaho College basketball teams, I'd be shocked.
Not that I've got any inside information, or will be on the other end of a conference call next Tuesday stating my case for both Cardinal teams to get into the NJCAA tournament - but if that's what it takes, here we go.
FOR THE women's team, which finished the regular season 28-4, the case shouldn't be that tough.
They've been ranked in the top 10 of the NJCAA poll for most of the season, even spending a few weeks at No. 1 and are sixth in the most recent poll released last week.
NIC beat Salt Lake 57-33 in the semifinals last Friday, then was tripped up 57-55 in the championship game on Saturday by the College of Southern Idaho.
Three of NIC's four losses came to Southern Idaho, with another coming at Salt Lake in early January.
NIC won at Williston (N.D.) State 58-46 on Nov. 8 and also has wins against No. 25 Gillette (Wyo.) and Sheridan (Wyo.) College - all who are expected to contend for national bids at their regional tournament this week.
In the case of the NIC women, the idea of the at-large bids were created for them - a team that has a strong regular season, but is tripped up in its regional tournament.
The Cardinals had advanced to the previous three NJCAA tournaments - winning in 2011 - before losing to Salt Lake in the Region 18 semifinals in 2012 in Salt Lake City.
Just a guess, but they won't have to wait very much longer to go again.
THE MEN'S team, which lost in the semifinals to Snow College 77-72 on Friday, might have to stress about it a few more days.
When the Cardinals lost to drop to 26-5 this season, it appeared the chances of them advancing to the NJCAA tournament were over, but it might be too soon to tell.
Had No. 3 seeded Snow also upset top-seeded Salt Lake in the championship game on Saturday, chances are that any at-large bid out of the Scenic West Athletic Conference might be limited to just Salt Lake — if the Bruins lose to Central Arizona on Saturday in a play-in game in Coolidge, Ariz.
In addition to two losses to Salt Lake, NIC also lost twice in nonconference play at Williston State 71-64 and to NWAACC school Treasure Valley 90-84 in Coeur d’Alene.
Keep in mind, they went 13-2 in the SWAC, which is one of the toughest conferences to advance to nationals from — or at least that’s what I’ve been told.
Williston State (25-8) could advance to nationals with a win in a play-in game against Iowa Western, which is 30-2.
As far as the Cardinal men’s team goes, with wins by Williston State and Salt Lake in the play-in games, NIC should be on the way to Kansas for the first time since 1997.
But for now, both teams just have to sit back and wait, be patient and just hope for the best.
For most of the season, they’ve played with the best.
Hopefully, they’ll get to chance to play with the rest.
Jason Elliott is a sports writer for the Coeur d’Alene Press. He can be reached by telephone at 664-8176, Ext. 2020 or via email at [email protected].