NIC MEN'S BASKETBALL: Cardinals get defensive, handle Big Bend
JASON ELLIOTT/Press North Idaho College sophomore Kyle Karstetter attempts a jumper during the first half of Thursday's game against Big Bend in the Best Western Plus Coeur d'Alene Inn-vitational at Rolly Williams Court.
JASON ELLIOTT/Press North Idaho College sophomore guard Dante Sawyer attempts to throw a pass behind his back during the first half of Thursday's game against Big Bend at Rolly Williams Court.
COEUR d’ALENE — In an effort to get some intensity on defense, North Idaho College coach Corey Symons called to his past for some motivation.
Sparked by a pregame speech by former NIC and Idaho star B.J. Blake, the Cardinals limited Big Bend to 20 first-half points as the Cardinals ran away with a 77-47 win on the opening night of the Best Western Plus Coeur d’Alene Inn-vitational at Rolly Williams Court on Thursday.
“It was great for him to talk to the guys and let them know how intense you’ve got to be at this level,” said Symons, whose team returns to the NJCAA this year. “He got them riled up before the game and they came out and played with a lot of intensity.”
Bryce Henry, a freshman from Lakeland High, had 11 points for NIC (9-3), which faces Elite Prep tonight at 7.
“Bryce made some big plays for us tonight,” Symons said. “We played a lot of guys and did a good job on the defensive end. We were able to finish possessions and get some rebounds.”
Big Bend is 4-9.
Saturday’s game between NIC and Tacoma was moved up to 1 p.m.
BIG BEND
Wesley Roberts IV 0-1 1-2 1, Lareon Ginnis 4-14 4-5 12, Marki Ibrahim 1-6 0-0 3, Samurai Barnwell 2-5 0-0 4, Samaj Barnwell 0-4 0-0 0, Gil Gonzalez 1-7 0-0 2, Francois-Dony Baba 1-6 2-3 4, Diego Carrera 2-4 1-2 7, Gideon Harris 2-7 2-3 6, Alexandre Zambonetti 2-4 1-3 6, Seann-David Kadjo 1-4 0-2 2. Totals 16-62 11-20 47.
NORTH IDAHO
Terin Johnson 4-7 0-0 8, Cobi Campbell 4-7 2-2 13, Kyle Karstetter 2-3 0-0 5, Dante Sawyer 5-8 0-1 11, Jalen Skalskiy 4-7 2-4 11, Austin Johnson 1-7 1-3 3, Vaughn Weems 3-6 0-0 7, D’Andre Clermont 0-1 0-0 0, Tayshawn Colvin 0-1 6-7 6, Bryce Henry 3-6 3-4 11, Tanner Tollestrup 0-3 2-2 2. Totals 26-56 16-23 77.
Halftime — NIC 47-20. 3-point goals — BBCC 4-32 (Roberts 0-1, Ginnis 0-5, Ibrahim 1-5, Sama. Barnwell 0-3, Samaj Barnwell 0-3, Gonzalez 0-1, Baba 0-1, Carrera 2-4, Harris 0-3, Zambonetti 1-3, Kadjo 0-3), NIC 9-22 (Johnson 0-1, Campbell 3-5, Karstetter 1-1, Sawyer 1-2, Skalskiy 1-2, Johnson 0-5, Weems 1-1, Henry 2-3, Tollestrup 0-2). Rebounds — BBCC 26 (Zambonetti 6), NIC 38 (Skalskiy 7). Assists — BBCC 3 (Gonzalez 2), NIC 14 (Campbell, Karstetter 3). Team fouls — BBCC 21, NIC 16. Fouled out — Ginnis, Johnson, Harris.
JASON ELLIOTT/Press North Idaho College sophomore guard Dante Sawyer attempts to throw a pass behind his back during the first half of Thursday's game against Big Bend at Rolly Williams Court.