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Whatever it takes to get on a roll

| February 7, 2018 12:00 AM

Sometimes, the light just goes off for a team and it gets on a roll.

Whether that comes from returning to full health, or actually listening to a coach, it can often be the difference between playing for a championship and watching on television.

IN CASE you’ve missed it, the North Idaho College men’s basketball team holds the longest current winning streak in the East Region, winning its last four games heading into tonight’s matchup at Columbia Basin College in Pasco.

The Cardinals are tied with Walla Walla for the conference lead at 7-2. The top four teams in each region advance to the Northwest Athletic Conference basketball championships March 8-11 at Everett Community College.

“We’ve really been talking about just how talented we are,” NIC coach Corey Symons said. “We’ve shortened the rotation a little bit, been sharing the ball a little bit. When we do that, we’re tough to beat.”

NIC finished with nine assists as a team, led by three from Jalen Burkett in Saturday’s 100-81 win over visiting Yakima Valley.

“The guys are starting to buy into what we’re telling them,” Symons said. “Sharing the ball has been really big and we’re playing really strong, team basketball.”

Symons, in his fourth year as coach, could reach 100 wins with in the team’s next two games, tonight at Columbia Basin and at home on Saturday against Big Bend Community College of Moses Lake.

MEANWHILE THE regular season begins to wind down, and did for the Lake City wrestling team with a fourth-place finish at the Bonners Ferry Invitational on Saturday.

“We had a good tournament,” Lake City coach Corey Owen said. “We had five in the finals and five in the third/fourth-place matches.”

Lake City finished with five runner-up and five fourth-place finishers. They were able to compete in the tournament after having a trip to the Rocky Mountain Classic at Sentinel High in Missoula canceled due to snow.

“When we lost that date in Missoula, it really turned out beneficial for us,” Owen said. “I think it will be a good confidence booster going into districts for our guys.”

The top three wrestlers in each weight class advance to the state tournament Feb. 23-24 at Holt Arena in Pocatello.

YOU NEVER know what might spark a team at this point of the season.

Maybe it’s a few setbacks that finally wake up a group that is falling a little short of its goals, or been cruising along without a challenge.

In Sunday’s Super Bowl, it seemed as if all the confidence that was needed was on a trick play by Philadelphia right before halftime.

That confidence took the Eagles to a world championship over a team that has been at the top of its game since 2001.

It only took once to find a way for Philadelphia.

That can work just as well for anyone else if they put enough effort into it.

Jason Elliott is a sports writer for the Coeur d’Alene Press. He can be reached by telephone at (208) 664-8176, Ext. 2020 or via email at jelliott@cdapress.com. Follow him on Twitter @JECdAPress.