Suspense ran high in match against Yakima
NIC remains undefeated, 9-0, as of Saturday, from a 80-73 victory over Yakima Valley Community College (YVCC) in Game 2 of the Bigfoot Cardinal Classic.
The game stayed unpredictable as the lead changed 12 times throughout the game with eight ties. NIC tipped the scale by completing 23 points from free throws compared to YVCC’s 15.
“I thought we played well even though we didn’t shoot very well,” said head coach Jared Phay. “We were struggling a little bit offensively. Yakima Valley defended us really well, and I have to give them a lot of credit.”
Freshmen Keon Lewis and Michael Middlebrooks scored 15 points apiece for the Cardinals.
“At times I felt that we got frustrated,” Lewis said. “But we overcame that and buckled down to play defense.”
Jordan McCloud hit four out of six free throws, scoring 12 points and jumping for nine rebounds in the game. Kaj Sherman came off the bench and scored 12 points.
“We learned a lot of things about how to win a close game and come from behind,” Phay said.
Sherman said that the team has come together well since the start of the season.
“It all started early on in practice,” Sherman said. “We didn’t play as well as we wanted to tonight, but we hit some tough shots and came together to get the win, so that’s what counts.”
NIC led YVCC, 31-30, at the half and proceeded to outscore them 49-43 in the second half.
Sophomore Petar Joksimovic scored six points and hit four out of five free throws. Freshman Kwame Bates added on seven points and Conner White scored three.
“Tyrell came off the bench at the end for us and really broke down to get some steals and create turnovers,” Phay said. “It’s tough to sit on the bench for almost the whole game and then come in and step up, but Tyrell did that.”
Middlebrooks continued to dominate the board with 11 rebounds and 14 points in an 83-70 victory over Green River Community College on Dec 2.
The bench for the Cards combined for 33 points in the game. Lewis scored 13 points and had four assists. Antoine Hosley went five out of 11 from the field and scored 12 points. McCloud and Joksimovic each scored 11 points.
Middlebrooks totaled 16 points and 19 rebounds as the men’s team earned a 103-72 win over Peninsula College on Nov. 27.
Team effort had the men’s basketball team playing well early in the season. Joksimovic led the Cardinals in scoring with 21 points as NIC outscored Peninsula College, 53-36, in the first half and 50 to 36 in the second half. Middlebrooks scored 16 points and Lewis scored 16 also.
McCloud scored 14 points and freshman Hosely followed with 13. Edrico McGregor added to the score with eight points shooting four for four from the field.
On Nov. 26 at home court, NIC beat the Williston State College Tetons 86-70, in the NIC Thanksgiving Classic. Lewis scored a team-high 23 points by shooting five out of 11 from the field and 13 for 13 from the free throw line
“They pressed us a lot tonight,” Phay said. “Keon had to do a little bit of everything tonight, but he handled it well.”
Lewis, a 6-foot-2 guard from Chief Sealth High in Seattle, also had seven rebounds and three steals. NIC out-rebounded Williston State, 36-20.
“We had a definite size advantage, and we were able to take advantage of it,” Phay said. “Williston plays hard and this was a quality win for us.”
Phay said Middlebrooks has elevated his game since the loss of Cole Luckett to a torn ACL earlier this month.
“He’s been playing huge,” Phay said. “He’s been running the court on both sides. The sky is really the limit for him.”
