NIC MEN'S BASKETBALL: Cards down Elite Prep

| December 3, 2021 1:10 AM

COEUR d’ALENE — After finding itself down at halftime, North Idaho College did a nice thing.

The Cardinals started sharing.

Freshman Taden King had 18 points, six rebounds and three assists for the Cardinals, who finished with 27 assists in a 79-68 win over Elite Prep of Issaquah, Wash., in the opening game of the Coeur d’Alene Inn-vitational on Thursday at Rolly Williams Court.

“We started to buy into what we wanted to do on the defensive side of the court,” NIC assistant coach Louie Vargas said. “Our energy changed after halftime and what we drew up, we were getting.”

Sophomore Julius Mims had 18 points, seven rebounds and six assists and freshman Trae Hugs six assists for NIC (2-3).

“The ball wasn’t going from sideline to sideline like we normally do,” Vargas said. “We didn’t have a good amount of continuity. But the guys started moving the ball really well and getting shots in the second half.”

Sophomore guard Cooper DeWitt missed the game due to suffering a concussion last weekend during the Arizona Western Tournament. He is expected to be back next weekend.

NIC faces Rexburg United tonight at 7:30.

Cobi Campbell scored 14 points for Elite Prep, which faces the Lilac City Legends tonight at 5:30.

NIC and Elite Prep will play again on Saturday at 7:30 p.m. after the Gonzaga club team pulled out of the tournament on Thursday.

ELITE PREP

Cobi Campbell 4-16 4-4 14, Jahbez Sellers 6-11 0-0 13, Jalen Barbee 3-15 5-6 13, Cole Haller 5-11 1-2 12, Derek Kramer 4-9 1-2 9, Chase Bennett 2-5 2-2 7, Jordan McCray 0-1 0-0 0. Totals 24-68 13-16 68.

NORTH IDAHO

Julius Mims 7-16 1-1 16, Daniel Santana 0-1 4-4 4, Taden King 6-11 2-2 18, Jalen Skalskiy 6-13 1-6 13, Gavin Gilstrap 3-6 0-0 6, Brendan Johnson 0-0 0-0 0, Jack Kiesbuy 4-8 0-0 11, Caden McLean 0-0 0-0 0, Trae Hugs 1-5 0-0 3, Xavier Bailey 3-9 0-0 8. Totals 30-69 8-13 79.

Halftime — EP 34-31. 3-point goals — EP 7-24 (Campbell 2-8, Seller 1-4, Barbee 2-8, Haller 1-1, Bennett 1-3), NIC 11-21 (Mims 1-2, King 4-7, Skalskiy 0-1, Kiesbuy 3-5, Hugs 1-4, Bailey 2-2). Rebounds — EP 28 (Sellers 8), NIC 35 (Skalskiy 8). Assists — EP 14 (Campbell 5), NIC 27 (Mims, Hugs 6). Team fouls — EP 9, NIC 11. Fouled out — none. Technical fouls — Barbee, NIC team.