Cards earn respect, face challenge

The North Idaho College men’s basketball team is ranked, apparently for the first time since 1998. Count coach Jared Phay among the surprised.

“I’m kind of shocked, to be honest,” said Phay after learning the Cardinals are ranked No. 19 in the NJCAA poll, the lone Scenic West Athletic Conference team in the ratings. “Nobody was expecting much from us. I wasn’t expecting that to happen this early. It’s nice to get a little respect.”

Phay didn’t have time to do cartwheels at the news, mainly because his 6-0 Cardinals have a pair of tough assignments at the Verizon Yellow Pages Cardinal Classic this weekend at Christianson Gym. NIC opens against Peninsula College, of Port Angeles, Wash., at 7:30 p.m. Friday. Williston State College takes on NIC at 7:30 Saturday.

In the women’s tournament, NIC faces the Idaho All-Stars, an impressive collection of former area college standouts, on Friday and Williston State on Saturday. Both games tip at 5:30.

Peninsula lost to SWAC power College of Southern Idaho by 12 in Twin Falls earlier this season. Williston State, which defeated NIC 79-68 last year in North Dakota, returns Matt Goodwin, a third-team All-NJCAA preseason pick, and Harry Boyce, a 6-5 point guard. The two combined for 39 points in last year’s contest.

“Peninsula has a couple of Division I post prospects,” said Phay, whose team has played five straight road games. “Williston’s guards took it to us last year.”

NIC’s women (5-2) have rebounded after losing twice to No. 1-ranked Central Arizona to open the season. According to a roster sent out by NIC, the Idaho All-Stars have former WNBA player Stacy Clinesmith, former Post Falls High and Eastern Washington University multi-sport standout Janelle Ruen, ex-Lake City High and Utah star Lindsey Herbert and NIC alums Mandy Jacques, Sheena Hinkle, Tammy Goyne and Jana Nearing.