Sanchez Almost Does It All To Help Nic Win Another

Eric Sanchez is in the North Idaho College men’s basketball lineup because he is a suffocating defender, a relentless rebounder and he plays the game with the throttle floored.

He did all those things on Thursday night - and added a career-high 24 points as NIC destroyed Colorado Northwestern 91-54 at Christianson Gym.

“That’s something nice to do once in a while,” a smiling Sanchez said following his rare offensive outburst.

NIC, 17-1 overall, hiked its Scenic West Athletic Conference-leading record to 6-1. The Cardinals should face a stern challenge when College of Eastern Utah (14-3 prior to its Thursday game) visits Saturday night at 7:30.

CNCC dropped to 5-9 and 1-5.

This one was over early, perhaps as early as pregame. That’s when Colorado Northwestern forward Heath Jolley sidled over to coach Paul Conrad and said, ‘They (CNCC players) aren’t into it. We can’t even run a layup drill.”’

Not exactly a good sign.

NIC bolted on top 24-9 with Sanchez scoring 10 quick points. It was 47-27 at half and the score would have been more lopsided had the Cardinals connected on a bevy of close-range misses. NIC’s advantage snowballed throughout the final half.

“We knew they could play,” said Sanchez, who snatched 10 rebounds and harassed CNCC’s Jolley into a 2-of-15 shooting night. “We took control early and played our game and the scoreboard tells the rest.”

Actually, CNCC’s 54 points was the most telling. The Spartans’ top three scorers, Jolley, Adam Apodaca and James Barnett, usually account for 51 points. The trio shot 7 of 45 and scored a combined 20 points.

“We didn’t play hard,” Conrad said. “It usually takes us a couple of weeks after (holiday) break to get going again.”

NIC coach Rolly Williams always enters a game with Colorado Northwestern with trepidation. The Spartans led SWAC powers Southern Idaho and Dixie in prior games.

“I was pleased with our defense,” Williams said. “When they get on a roll, they can create problems trouble. You can’t let them get started.”

NIC’s Troy Thompson pitched in 14 points and Gabriel Rapier and Roy Kruiswyk each had 12.

Williams wasn’t happy with the Cardinals’ rebounding, but NIC won that category, too, 55-42.

Mike Geiger’s 11 points topped CNCC.

NIC 91, Colorado Northwestern 54

Colorado Northwestern - (5-9, 1-5)Barnett 2-11 0-0 4, Banks 4-8 0-0 10, Apodaca 3-19 2-2 9, Taylor 1-2 0-0 2, Eliely 3-7 0-0 6, Sackolwitz 1-8 0-0 2, Jolley 2-15 3-4 7, Geiger 5-8 1-2 11, Schlosser 0-0 1-2 1, Hart 1-4 0-0 2. Totals 22-82 7-10 54.

North Idaho (17-1, 6-1) - Hall 3-5 2-2 8, Dial 0-3 0-0 0, Schultz 0-0 0-0 0, Helm 1-8 0-0 2, Cunningham 2-7 0-0 5, Stack 0-0 0-0 0, Thompson 5-13 4-4 14, Allen 2-4 0-0 4, Rapier 4-6 4-5 12, McCoy 1-5 0-0 2, Byrne 0-3 0-0 0, Barth 1-2 0-0 3, Robertson 1-5 3-4 5, Kruiswyk 5-12 2-2 12, Sanchez 9-14 3-4 24. Totals 34-87 18-21 91.

Halftime-NIC 47, CNCC 27. 3-point goals-CNCC 3-17 (Banks 2-5, Apodaca 1-6, Sackolwitz 0-3, Barnett 0-1, Jolley 0-2), NIC 5-18 (Sanchez 3-4, Barth 1-2, Cunningham 1-4, McCoy 0-3, Thompson 0-2, Helm 0-1, Dial 0-1, Hall 0-1). Fouled out-none. Technical fouls-none. Rebounds-CNCC 42 (Geiger 9), NIC 55 (Sanchez 10). Assists-CNCC 15 (Banks, Apodaca, Jolley each 4), NIC 24 (Helm 7). Total fouls-CNCC 14, NIC 9.

, DataTimes