Cards Pack Bags For Nationals Viebrock Ensures Women’s Trip To Texas

North Idaho College women’s basketball coach Greg Crimp has spent the last two years wondering when the real Teresa Viebrock would stand up.

He got his answer Saturday night in a second-half span of 10 minutes that neither coach nor player will forget.

Viebrock, who averaged three points a game this season, scored 10 points in the stretch to lead NIC to a 67-58 win over Ricks in the championship game of the Region 18 Tournament. The win qualified NIC for the NJCAA women’s national tournament March 18-22 in Tyler, Texas.

“I don’t know if I’ve ever seen anything like it,” said Crimp. “We were almost dead and she rose us out of the grave.”

Almost dead indeed. Ricks dominated the first half, including a late 16-5 run to take a 32-21 halftime lead.

The second-seeded Cardinals could get nothing going on offense, shooting just 7 of 27 from the field while playing uninspired. After an emotional semifinal win over Utah Valley the night before, it looked as though the Cardinals had nothing to give in the championship. No. 3 seed Ricks shot just 32 percent from the field, but dominated defensively.

“We really played well in the first half and did some great things,” Ricks coach Trent Shippen said.

Viebrock watched uncomfortably from the bench, where she spent the semifinal. Crimp needed something to happen in the second half, so in came Viebrock with Tammy Goyne and Erin Dowhy, just a minute into the half. All three scored within 2 minutes, and the comeback began.

“At that point in the game I didn’t feel nervous putting anyone in,” said Crimp.

With just over 11 minutes to play, Viebrock took over. The Lakeland High graduate scored eight points in less than 2 minutes to cut the Ricks lead to 44-43. Freshman Barrie Jensen subbed for Viebrock and hit a 3-pointer to give NIC a 46-44 lead. The Cardinals never trailed again.

“We were in a slump and I needed to step up because I wanted to go to Texas so bad,” Viebrock said while clutching a piece of the championship net. “I was nervous, but I had to go 100 percent to prove to myself I could play at this level.”

The Cardinals (27-4 overall), who last went to nationals in 1989, outscored Ricks 46-26 in the second half. Crimp said he told his players at halftime that they seemed down, and weren’t doing what they do best. He told them to get rebounds and get aggressive.

“I can’t remember coaching a group of girls that I’m more proud of,” Crimp said.

Ricks (19-12) had a scoreless stretch that lasted almost 5 minutes late in the second half. The Vikings were led by 17 points from Kaly Gillette.

“We made a couple of mental errors in the second half and had some problems taking care of the ball,” Shippen said. “Then the crowd got into it and we got a little rushed.”

NIC post Shawna Rainer was named the MVP of the tournament.

She said she’s ready to prepare for nationals.

“We have a good chance down there, but it’s like a whole new season so we’ll have to work hard,” Rainer said.

Jana Nearing, who was an imposing force throughout the tournament and led the Cardinals with 18 points and 10 rebounds in the championship, has her own agenda.

“I’m gonna get a real tan,” Nearing said.

Whatever the motivation, NIC, which has been ranked in the top 20 for most of the season, will be a team to watch in Texas.

Region 18 Women’s All-Tournament Team

Sunny Myers, Dixie; Cady Williams, Ricks; Angie Dickson, North Idaho; Mary Hunter, Utah Valley; Katie Welsh, Salt Lake. Tournament MVP: Shawna Rainer, North Idaho.

North Idaho 67, Ricks 58

Ricks (19-12) - Shumway 1-3 0-0 2, Anderson 1-2 2-2 4, Pike 3-11 0-0 6, Freeze 3-12 0-0 6, Gillette 2-9 12-13 17, Gneiting 1-2 0-0 2, Jones 3-4 0-0 6, Goodell 0-5 0-0 0, Williams 4-11 6-7 15. Totals 18-59 20-22 58.

North Idaho (27-4) - Goyne 3-9 7-10 14, Jacques 2-5 2-4 7, Richards 0-3 0-0 0, Dickson 0-3 0-0 0, Viebrock 3-4 4-5 10, Nearing 8-15 2-2 18, Rainer 0-4 4-6 4, Shepard 0-0 0-1 0, Jensen 3-6 0-0 8, Dowhy 2-3 2-3 6. Totals 21-52 21-31 67.

Half - Ricks 32, NIC 21. 3-point goals - Ricks 2-16 (Pike 0-5, Freeze 0-4, Gillette 1-2, Gneiting 0-1, Williams 1-4), NIC 4-11 (Goyne 1-4, Jacques 1-1, Dickson 0-1, Jensen 2-5). Total fouls - Ricks 25, NIC 19. Fouled out - Pike. Technical fouls - none. Rebounds - Ricks 36 (Goodell and Williams each 8), NIC 40 (Nearing 10). Assists - Ricks 9 (Gneitting 6), NIC 13 (Goyne 7). Att. - 1150 (est.).

MEMO: See related story with same headline.