Cardinals rally, come up short after late basket by Chukars

ONTARIO, Ore. - John Fletcher scored the go-ahead basket with 13.1 seconds remaining as the Treasure Valley Chukars of the Northwest Athletic Association of Community Colleges edged the North Idaho College Cardinals 70-69 in a men's basketball game on Tuesday night.

NIC rallied from a 63-46 deficit to take a 69-68 lead with 40 seconds remaining after Braxton Tucker was credited with a basket on a goaltending call. Tucker missed a free throw, setting up the score by Fletcher.

"They're a really good team and the same team that beat us on our court last year," NIC coach Jared Phay said. "They're as talented as anyone in the NWAACC."

Treasure Valley, which beat NIC 90-84 at Rolly Williams Court on Dec. 29, has also beat Western Wyoming and lost to Sheridan in overtime this season.

Braxton Tucker scored 14 points for NIC (6-2), which hosts Williston State on Saturday at 5 p.m.

"We got better tonight, even in a loss," Phay said. "We just need to keep focusing and continue to get better and better."

NORTH IDAHO

Jason Wheelock 0-0 0-0 0, Braxton Tucker 6-12 2-4 14, Brad Wallace 3-4 0-0 8, Bryce Leavitt 5-5 1-1 11, Nathan Rathbun 2-5 1-1 5, Will Dorsey 1-4 1-2 3, Cole Kesler 5-11 0-0 12, Fuquan Niles 0-0 0-0 0, Tatafu Nuku 6-8 0-0 12, Jordon King 1-6 0-0 2, Ty Higbie 1-2 0-0 2. Totals 30-57 5-8 69.

TREASURE VALLEY

DeSean Mattox 3-8 1-2 9, Chris Willis 6-13 4-4 17, Joe Wynn 0-0 0-0 0, Thomas Hooper 7-12 1-1 15, John Fletcher 8-13 0-0 20, Thadius Galves 1-6 0-0 3, Victor Imonigie 0-0 0-0 0, Stevie McCloyn 0-0 0-0 0, Skyler Burgess 1-3 0-1 2, Drew McKie 2-4 0-0 4. Totals 28-59 6-8 70.

Halftime - NIC 37-34. 3-point goals - NIC 4-13 (Wallace 2-3, Dorsey 0-1, Kesler 2-7, King 0-2), TVCC (Mattox 2-6, Willis 1-4, Hooper 0-3, Fletcher 4-7, Galves 1-6, Burgess 0-1). Rebounds - NIC 34 (Tucker 8), TVCC 27 (Willis 7). Assists - NIC 13 (Dorsey 6), TVCC 10 (Mattox 4). Team fouls - NIC 9, TVCC 13. Fouled out - none.