NIC ROUNDUP: Cardinals rally past CC Spokane

By JASON ELLIOTT

Sports writer

MEN'S BASKETBALL

COEUR d’ALENE — The phrase ‘better late than never’ took on two meanings in the spring season opener for the North Idaho College men’s basketball team on Tuesday.

First, it was the first time on Rolly Williams Court in well over a year for the Cardinals after the COVID-19 pandemic pushed the season to an April start.

And defensively, a shutdown span of 2:18 in the second half proved to be just enough on the court.

Julius Mims scored 20 points for NIC (2-0, 2-0 NWAC), which rallied from a 44-37 deficit at halftime to beat the Community Colleges of Spokane 83-75 in Northwest Athletic Conference play.

“We just worried about the defensive end,” NIC coach Corey Symons said. “We’re so talented offensively, running sets, so we let them play. And we did a good job down the stretch taking care of the ball and doing those things.”

Delvion Jackson, a sophomore transfer from Northwest Nazarene, had 10 of his 16 points in the second half as the Cardinals went on a 9-0 run in the final five minutes to take a 78-70 lead. Tanner McCliment-Call, a redshirt sophomore from Post Falls, ended the run with a jumper for Spokane to cut the deficit to 78-72. McCliment-Call, who tore his left ACL midway through the 2019-20 season, finished with 18 points.

“He would have been fine late in the season, but wouldn’t have started on time,” Community Colleges of Spokane coach Jeremy Groth said of McCliment-Call. “This probably benefited him the most because he was able to get to full strength by the time we started playing. He’s a little more ready and healed up.”

Both teams played last Thursday for the first time since March of 2020 due to the pandemic.

“It’s been good,” Jackson said. “We’ve been coming in and working each day and putting in the extra work. Despite the things we can’t control, we’re here putting in the work and moving forward from there.”

“It’s been really weird,” Symons said. “Not only COVID weird, but we’re the only ones playing right now. Everyone is over but us, and it’s weird for us to be focusing on games when nobody else in the country is focusing on games. It’s hard for our guys, and our staff because we’re usually out recruiting right now instead of focusing on winning games.”

“We’re very glad to be playing this game right now,” Groth said. “We’re thankful for the opportunity, just like those other guys to be playing and keep going. We’re glad to be playing, but it’s better late than never.”

NIC travels to Blue Mountain on Friday.

“It’s the difference in the two styles of play,” Symons said. “Jeremy does a great job with those kids and they run their stuff and execute. And they make you pay when you make mistakes, and they did that in the first half.”

Spokane (0-2, 0-2) hosts Yakima Valley on Friday at Spokane Falls Community College.

“It was a good college basketball game for two games into the season,” Groth said. “We don’t have much experience yet, but we’re gaining. Credit to North Idaho, they really converted the basketball and got to the basket. I’m proud of our effort, but it wasn’t quite enough. We just couldn’t convert enough plays.”

Complete box score not available.

COMMUNITY COLLEGES OF SPOKANE — Caleb Harris 0, Jaron Williams 17, Noah Sanders 15, Jay Gilson 3, Paul Terry 10, Kaeleb Johnson 3, Tanner McCliment-Call 18, Bret Michaels 1, Kobe Reese 6, Griffin Sharkey 0, Josiah Haaland 0.

NORTH IDAHO COLLEGE — Julius Mims 20, Peter Erickson 8, Brendon Thompson 16, Gavin Thompson 4, Cooper DeWitt 3, Griff Effenberger 10, DaMarius Brown 5, Aaron Von Bruck 0, Delvion Jackson 16, Akeyse Rice 0.

COMMUNITY COLLEGES OF SPOKANE

NORTH IDAHO COLLEGE

VOLLEYBALL

CCS sweeps

North Idaho

SPOKANE — Community Colleges of Spokane (2-2, 2-2 NWAC) beat NIC (4-2, 4-2) 25-19, 25-17 in the first match and 25-21, 25-21 in the second match Tuesday at Spokane Falls Community College.

NIC plays host to Blue Mountain on Friday in a best-2-of-3 doubleheader.

SOFTBALL

North Idaho 14-12

Walla Walla 12-9

COEUR d'ALENE — Further information was not available.