NIC BASKETBALL: Cardinal men clamp down defense, roll past Columbia Basin

• MEN

COEUR d’ALENE — After losing starting point guard Cobi Campbell after an injury in shootaround earlier on Wednesday, someone had to step up for North Idaho College in the conference opener.

Fortunately, the Cardinals have dudes.

Sophomore Taden King was 11-of-14 for 29 points for top-ranked North Idaho College in a 104-74 win over second-ranked Columbia Basin in the Northwest Athletic Conference opener for both schools at Rolly Williams Court on Wednesday.

“I told our guys that if you can’t get up for that game, we should find something else to do,” NIC coach Corey Symons said. “Both teams are playing well, having a great season and came in unbeaten.”

Sophomore Kyle Karstetter, a transfer from Idaho State, had 18 points for NIC in his first game of the season.

“Taden really stepped up to the challenge and shot the ball really well,” Symons said. “Kyle finally got healthy and gave us some valuable minutes.”

NIC (13-0) outscored Columbia Basin (10-1) 53-26 in the second half.

Sophomore Julius Mims had 15 points for NIC, which hosts Treasure Valley on Saturday at 4 p.m.

Teagen Hoard scored 13 points for Columbia Basin.

COLUMBIA BASIN

Malakai Munoz 2-2 0-0 6, Bobby Siebers 3-9 1-2 9, Amar Rivers 3-6 2-2 9, Jayden Martinez 1-4 0-0 3, Latrell Barker 4-9 2-3 10, Gabriel Wigginton 2-5 0-0 5, Javon Handcox 2-5 0-0 4, Ta’Veus Randle 3-7 1-1 7, Lawson Vella 2-3 0-0 6, Teagen Hoard 6-10 0-0 13, Christian Cross 1-2 0-0 2, Zane Goodwin 0-0 0-0 0, Savien Linnear 0-0 0-0 0. Totals 29-62 6-8 74.

NORTH IDAHO

Julius Mims 5-7 3-6 15, Xavier Bailey 4-6 2-2 11, Brendan Johnson 5-9 3-4 13, Kamryn Thomas 2-10 2-2 7, Taden King 11-14 0-0 28, Vanti Erving 1-1 0-0 3, Jeremiah Sibley 4-9 0-0 9, Michael Durkin 0-0 0-0, Phil Holmes 0-0 0-0 0, Kyle Karstetter 6-10 2-2 18. Totals 38-66 12-16 104.

Halftime — NIC 51-48. 3-point goals — CBC 10-24 (Munoz 2-2, Siebers 2-4, Rivers 1-1, Martinez 1-3, Barker 0-1, Wigginton 1-4, Handcox 0-2, Randle 0-3, Vella 2-2, Hoard 1-1, Cross 0-1), NIC 16-29 (Mims 2-4, Bailey 1-2, Johnson 0-2, Thomas 1-3, King 6-7, Erving 1-1, Sibley 1-3, Karstetter 4-7). Rebounds — CBC 21 (Barker 5), NIC 35 (Bailey 8). Assists — CBC 7 (Munoz, Randle, Vella 2), NIC 21 (Bailey 10). Team fouls — CBC 15, NIC 7. Fouled out — none. Technical fouls — North Idaho College.

• WOMEN

North Idaho 62

Columbia Basin 46

COEUR d’ALENE — Freshman Solei Elletson scored 14 points for the Cardinals, who outscored the Hawks of Pasco, Wash., 21-7 in the second quarter on the way to a win at Rolly Williams Court in the Northwest Athletic Conference opener for both schools.

Addie Kiefer, a freshman from Lakeland High, had seven points and 12 rebounds for NIC (7-5), which limited Columbia Basin to 17-of-51 shooting.

Trinidie Nichols, a freshman from Post Falls High, had nine points and seven rebounds for Columbia Basin (7-3).

North Idaho hosts Treasure Valley on Saturday at 2 p.m.

COLUMBIA BASIN

Ali May 3-7 2-2 10, Lexie Heath 2-16 2-2 7, Trinidie Nichols 4-10 1-2 9, Makenna Brandner 2-3 0-2 4, Kenzi Pedersen 2-6 2-5 10, Mickayla Robertson 1-3 0-0 2, Erin Morgan 0-1 0-0 0, Emma Maxwell 1-4 0-0 3, Ella Osborne 0-1 1-2 1. Totals 17-51 8-15 46.

NORTH IDAHO

Katie Blume 2-5 3-4 8, Solei Elletson 6-12 1-2 14, Addie Kiefer 2-10 3-4 7, Paige Beem 3-6 7-8 13, Kaylee Banks 0-5 0-0 0, Laney Smith 4-9 0-0 9, Sorrell Aldendorf 1-3 1-1 3, Adior Juang 0-2 1-4 1, Meghan Calley 2-5 2-2 7. Totals 20-57 18-25 62.

Columbia Basin 17 7 10 12 — 46

North Idaho 9 21 16 16 — 62

3-point goals — CBC 4-18 (May 2-4, Heath 1-5, Nichols 0-2, Brandner 0-1, Robertson 0-2, Maxwell 1-4), NIC 4-15 (Blume 1-1, Elletson 1-3, Banks 0-2, Smith 1-4, Aldendorf 0-2, Calley 1-3). Rebounds — CBC 28 (Nichols, Bradner 7), NIC 37 (Kiefer 12). Assists — CBC 4 (Brandner 3), NIC 6 (Elletson, Banks 2). Team fouls — CBC 20, NIC 14. Fouled out — none.