Williams Proud Of Way Area Embraces Tourney
Former NIC men’s basketball coach Rolly Williams watched the evening session of the Region 18 Tournament on Wednesday night with a lot of pride.
Williams, who almost singlehandedly built the NIC program, said he’s proud of the community involvement in the tournament. It’s the first year the tournament has been held in Coeur d’Alene since 1984.
“It’s great basketball and I’m glad it’s in town so I can see it,” Williams said. “Every year we’ve hosted the tourney it’s been well-attended. It’s the hallmark of the region we live in that so many people show up.”
Williams also said he likes the exciting style of play on this year’s NIC team, but is enjoying his retirement.
Watson honored
First-year NIC men’s coach Hugh Watson, who succeeded Williams, was named coach of the year by the coaches of the Scenic West Athletic Conference.
“This award means a lot to me because it comes from my peers,” Watson said.
Ricks has following
Of all the teams at the Region 18 Tournament, Ricks College may have the best support. The Vikings brought fans, the pep band and a 22-member cheer squad. In fact, the cheer squad placed sixth in a national competition that makes them the highest-ranked team in the tournament.
Ritual draws ire
Few players draw the ire of the fans as often as the talented K’Zell Wesson of Eastern Utah. Wesson is emotive on the court, and has a freethrow ritual that involves putting the ball around his back and spinning it in his shooting hand that has gotten North Idaho fans fired up.
Wesson explained he isn’t showboating, but rather has done the ritual since high school and it has helped him make 78 percent of his free throws this season.
“They think I’m showboating, but making the shots is the bottom line,” Wesson said. “I don’t play for the fans.”
Notes
Utah Valley coach Jeff Reinert is being considered as a candidate for a coaching position at Brigham Young. .. Ricks coach Clyde Nelson said he is interested in signing Bonners Ferry High School standout Adam Hiatt to play next season.
Snow College players wore black bands on their uniforms in honor of former teammates David Liddiard and R.J. Staheli, who were killed in an auto accident before the season. … Dixie’s Aaron Henderson, the leading scorer in the SWAC in the regular season at 19.2 per game, was held to just sux points Wednesday afternoon on 2-of-10 shooting, an amazing stat considering he also led the league in shooting percentage at 62. … Utah Valley’s win over Dixie was the first win at Christianson Gym for a Reinert-coached team.
Quotable
“He was standing still … he’s too slow to move his feet,” Reinert, arguing a blocking foul called on his 6-foot-10 post Darius Beard.
xxxx TOURNAMENT SCHEDULE The schedule for the Region 18 women’s and men’s basketball tournament at NIC’s Christianson Gym: Women Today: Game 1: No. 4 Ricks vs. No. 5 Southern Idaho, noon; Game 2: No. 2 Utah Valley vs. No. 7 Snow, 2 p.m.; Game 3: No. 1 Salt Lake vs. No. 8 Eastern Utah, 6 p.m.; Game 4: No. 3 North Idaho vs. No. 6 Dixie, 8 p.m. Friday: Game 5: Winner of Game 1 vs. Winner of Game 3, noon; Game 6: Winner of Game 2 vs. Winner of Game 4, 6 p.m. Saturday: Championship, 5 p.m. Men Friday: Ricks vs. Eastern Utah, 2 p.m.; Game 6: North Idaho College vs. Utah Valley, 8 p.m.. Saturday: Championship, 7 p.m.