Nic Teams Reach Nationals

North Idaho College’s men’s basketball team, unbeaten at its Christianson Gym this season, defended every square inch of the court and ran College of Eastern Utah ragged Saturday in an 88-69 victory in the championship game of the Region 18 tournament.

Next stop: Hutchinson, Kan., site of the national tournament March 18-22.

The NIC women are headed for nationals too, having defeated Ricks 67-58 for the region championship. The women’s national tournament is March 18-22 in Tyler, Texas.

Teresa Viebrock, who averaged three points a game this season, scored 10 points in the stretch for the Cardinals.

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

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.

NIC’s Todd Myles was selected the men’s tournament MVP after an 11-point, 11-assist game.

The Cardinals (27-4) executed their game plan from the outset. They ran at every opportunity to try to wear down CEU, which uses only seven players. NIC scored numerous transition baskets, often fueled by Eastern Utah turnovers.

, DataTimes