Perfect Nic Beats Palomar To The Punch

The fight lasted roughly 30 seconds, which is about how long the basketball game was in doubt after the bout.

North Idaho College didn’t back down from a scrappy Palomar squad - heavy on the scrappy - cuffing the Comets 113-67 on Saturday night in the championship game of NIC’s Thanksgiving Classic at Christianson Gym. Community Colleges of Spokane edged Grant MacEwan 72-65 in the consolation game.

First, the undercard. It was a bit of a mismatch as wiry NIC guard Andre McKanstry tangled with Palomar’s sturdily built Tommie Blanks, a 6-foot-6 forward.

Depending on whom you believe, McKanstry either initiated the fight with an elbow or was merely an innocent victim. Clearly, McKanstry tried to stay away from the flailing Blanks after the brawl began. Blanks seemed to be contained by several teammates, but twice broke free and tossed some more punches at McKanstry.

Both were ejected for fighting. By rule, both will miss their next game and that’s especially costly for NIC. The Cards (6-0) entertain nationally ranked Utah Valley on Thursday to open the Scenic West Athletic Conference season without McKanstry, their best defensive player.

McKanstry had just made a layup and “as I went up he (Blanks) pushed me out of bounds,” McKanstry said. “I came back and tried to guard him and he threw an elbow. I tried to avoid all of it, but I couldn’t.”

Palomar coach Irv Leifer said McKanstry elbowed Blanks, precipitating the fight.

“It’s bad for both programs,” Leifer said. “I played most of my 7-12 players (afterward) because I didn’t want to have any more problems. I sacrificed a competitive game for principles.

“Some of my kids said things (on the bench) and I didn’t let them go into the game. I just don’t allow that in my program.”

Heck, even NIC coach Hugh Watson had a small bruise above his eye. Earlier on Saturday, he took on a true heavyweight - his grandson, Tyler. “He was acting like a coyote, and he was raising up to howl and he caught me right here,” a smiling Watson said, pointing to his eye.

The unfortunate game fight overshadowed NIC’s fairly seamless performance. The Cards led 9-7 when the punches started flying. Soon thereafter, NIC led 30-12 and 39-14.

At one point, Palomar (3-3), from San Marcos, Calif., had 26 points and 23 turnovers. Nearly every miscue fed NIC points at the other end.

“We’re playing really good together, passing the ball, and being very unselfish,” Watson said.

NIC’s Shawn Myrick hit 4 of 7 3-pointers and scored 25 points. Travis Houston had 16 and Todd Myles added 13 points and six assists.

Spokane 72, Grant MacEwan 65

Spokane (1-3) led by seven at half and by seven, 65-58, with 5 minutes left. The Griffins (7-5) rallied within 65-63 before freshman forward Kurt Long grabbed the first of two key offensive rebounds. Long converted two free throws, Jason Smith added a three-point play and Bob Strahl’s two free throws closed out the visiting Canadian club.

“It was good to win the way we did,” Spokane coach Sam Brasch said. “They came back on us and we did a nice job when we needed to.”

Kasey Ahrens and John Mammenga each scored 14 for Spokane. Rob DeBeaumont added 12 points and eight boards, the same rebounding total as Long. Grant MacEwan’s Pat Sasseville had 16 points.

, DataTimes