Cardinals want extra

North Idaho College basketball coaches Jared Phay and Chris Carlson are coming off conference championship seasons. Both were honored as Scenic West Athletic Conference coaches of the year. Both were left wanting more.

Phay’s men shared the SWAC regular-season title with College of Southern Idaho but were upset on their home floor by fourth-place Dixie in the semifinals of the Region 18 Tournament.

“The guys remember the success we had as a whole,” Phay said. “At the same time, we do have a sour taste getting upset at our tournament.”

Carlson’s women’s team won the SWAC crown, which brought the men’s and women’s Region 18 tournaments to Coeur d’Alene. NIC was upset by third-seeded Salt Lake in the championship game.

“We want to get ourselves in position to have another shot at going to nationals,” Carlson said.

Both teams have reloaded to make another run, but much has changed since last March. The SWAC suffered another defection, with perennial men’s and women’s contender Dixie jumping to NCAA Division II. The SWAC is down to six teams with previous exits by Utah Valley after the 2002-03 season, and Ricks and Treasure Valley following 2001-02.

Teams will play a 20-game SWAC schedule with the same foes squaring off on Friday and Saturday nights. The Region 18 women’s champion automatically advances to the national tournament while the men’s winner faces a play-in game against Region I (Arizona).

NIC’s men and women open at the Williston State College tournaments in North Dakota on Friday.

Men

The Cardinals lost guard Mac Hopson to Washington State, but Hopson didn’t leave NIC empty-handed. He referred buddy Brian Morris to NIC’s staff. Morris is a 6-foot-8 transfer from SMU, where he averaged 7.2 points and 5.2 rebounds.

“He knows how to score around the hoop and he’s a great passer,” said Phay, who is entering his third season at NIC.

Nick Livi, who left Eastern Washington University’s team last December, will take over at point guard. He’s complemented by Australian Kerry Williams.

Shooting guard Scott Stockwell (5.2 ppg) and post Zach Parks (2.4 ppg, 2.1 rebounds) lead the returning players. Guard Jordan Sutton, who saw considerable time last season, will redshirt.

Freshman Shawn Henderson, a 6-3 combination guard, is challenging for a starting job. Freshman Jeremiah Fort and 2005-06 redshirts Steven Wesley, a Medical Lake High product, and Jamaal Rolle should see time. Marice Tolliver, a 6-6 freshman forward who was prominent in NIC’s rotation, has been dismissed from the team, Phay said.

Phay is worried about the depth on the interior behind Parks and Moore.

That wasn’t a concern until doctors found a non-cancerous tumor in 6-10, 350-pound Shawntell Norman’s leg two weeks before school started. Norman had surgery and Phay hopes he’ll join the team at semester.

Women

The Cardinals had six players move on to four-year schools, but they have a strong nucleus with returners Kay Hill, Paige McGowan and Niki Scott, and newcomers Chelsea Mykines, Cassie Pilkinton, Jessica Thielen, Brittany Duerr and Simone Jordan, who originally signed with Gonzaga.

Hill, Mykines and possibly Jordan will see time at point. Jordan is an inside-outside scoring threat. McGowan and Scott will work the interior. Pilkinton can play wing or forward, but she’s probably out until Thanksgiving with mononucleosis. Lakeland High graduate Brigitte Boucher is out for the year with a torn ACL.

“If we could just get healthy, we want to get the ball up the floor and attack and I think we have the players that can do that,” Carlson said. “We’ve got some speed and I think we’re pretty talented.”