NIC WOMEN'S BASKETBALL PREVIEW: Stronger, quicker, faster
In its final year as a member of the Scenic West Athletic Conference, the North Idaho College women’s basketball team isn’t going to be a team to be taken lightly in the 2015-16 season.
“The conference is getting better,” said NIC coach Chris Carlson, who opens his 11th season at the school tonight as the Cardinals face Sheridan College at 7:30 p.m. at Rolly Williams Court. “Utah State (Eastern) was really good last year, and Colorado Northwestern has put a couple of good wins together already. We’ve got everything it takes to compete for a championship. Conditioning, strength-wise, it’s among the one of the toughest teams we’ve had.”
Southern Idaho is ranked fourth and Salt Lake seventh in the NJCAA preseason poll released on Oct. 27.
Sophomore Monica Landdeck, a 5-foot-8 guard from Brewster High in Washington, 6-1 post Grace Varcoe from Queensland, Australia and 5-7 guard Maci Benedict from Leabanon (Ore.) return with starting experience for the Cardinals, who finished 19-13 last season.
Landdeck was a second team all conference selection last season.
Shelby Cloninger, a transfer from Utah State in 2014 before leaving the team due to personal issues, is also back.
“It’s big to get her back,” Carlson said. “Potentially, she could be a key contributor for us. We’ll need to keep bringing her along, but she’s showing signs of a high level of play.”
NIC lost seven players to graduation, but added Stormee Van Belle — a 6-0 transfer forward from Division II Merrimack in North Andover, Mass., — who played at Sunnyside Christian High near Yakima.
“She’ll start for us,” Carlson said. “She’s a nice, solid player. She’s strong, smart and will do a lot of good things for us.”
Gracie Roberts (5-9 guard from New Zealand), Ebony Norman (5-10 forward from Meridian) and Alyssa Case — a 5-7 guard from state 5A champion Mountain View High in Meridan — will also see time in the starting rotation.
“Gracie is a very dynamic guard,” Carlson said. “Ebony missed her senior year due to a knee injury, but she’s recovered and just getting back into the groove. She shows signs of playing a high level of basketball. Alyssa is going to start for us. She’s a really smart player and knows how to play the game. She’s a great team player and just an all-around good player.”
Clarissa Smith, the former Lake City High standout, will also see time for NIC this season.
“She’s a competitor,” Carlson said of Smith. “She’s strong, and just plays hard and is a tough kid. She’s been shooting the ball really well. She’ll give us some good depth and someone you can count on to go out and compete each night.”
Charity Marlett, a 6-1 forward from Cranbrook, British Columbia, will play at forward.
“She’s a strong post player,” Carlson said. “We’ve just got a nice, well-rounded team from top to bottom.”
After this season, NIC will move all its outdoor sports from the NJCAA to the Northwest Athletic Conference starting with the 2016-17 season.
“We just had to be upfront about switching leagues,” Carlson said. “The second year, if those freshmen want to stay, their scholarship money is going to change. Nobody that we signed didn’t know that ahead of time. That way, they understand what they’re getting to. Most of the players that come here wish we were a four-year school. I wouldn’t be surprised that most that can return will next year. If they’ve got a chance to go to a four-year school, we’re all for it and we’ll help them go.”
NIC will get a taste of the NWAC with tournaments at Bellevue Dec. 4-6, as well as playing in the Lower Columbia College Holiday tournament in Longview, Wash.
“We might get to see 9 or 10 NWAC teams by the end of the season,” Carlson said. “My first head coaching job was at Big Bend, so it will seem like going back home.”
NIC opens conference play at home against Southern Idaho on Dec. 12.
The Region 18 tournament is scheduled for Feb. 25-27 in Twin Falls.