Injuries Limit Idaho College Teams

The college basketball season just tipped off, but some key injuries already have surfaced.

Freshman Jovann Johnson, averaging 17.7 points per game in North Idaho College’s three wins, has a partially torn anterior cruciate ligament in his knee and a completely torn posterior cruciate ligament.

Johnson might miss the remainder of the season.

University of Idaho junior forward Clifford Gray has a stress fracture in his shin. UI officially begins the season against Montana Tech tonight at 6 in Memorial Gym. He’ll see some action.

The best-case scenario for Johnson’s return is January; worst-case is the injury could be career-threatening.

“It’s pretty bad,” said coach Hugh Watson, whose Cardinals’ next action is at the Coeur d’Alene Resort Tournament on Nov. 28-29.

The 6-foot-2 Johnson injured his knee in a scrimmage against Whitworth on Tuesday. Surgery hasn’t been scheduled. “Everyone heals at a different rate,” NIC trainer Randy Boswell said. “Right now it’s a waiting game and we’ll see if the knee starts to stabilize a little bit.”

“We’re short-handed inside anyway and he could play inside or outside,” Watson said. “I felt he was one of our leaders.”

UI’s Gray played in half of an exhibition game against NBC Thunder, a Spokane-based touring team, on Monday. The 6-3 forward from Dodge City (Kansas) C.C. scored 13 points against Next Level Sports on Nov. 9.

“He has a warrior-type attitude, more than any of our kids right now,” coach Dave Farrar said. “You really feel with Clifford you’ll get 13 (points) and 9 (rebounds) right there.”

, DataTimes MEMO: Cut in Spokane Edition