NIC coach will mix big games, big day
North Idaho College men’s basketball coach Jared Phay took a break from preparations for sixth-ranked College of Southern Idaho this week to take care of something that will become his No. 1 priority next week and beyond.
“We got our marriage license Tuesday,” Phay said. “Can’t forget that, I guess.”
Phay will maintain an interesting schedule the next few weeks. First up is CSI (8-0), Friday and Saturday at Christianson Gym at 7:30. The rivals shared the Scenic West Athletic Conference title last season.
The NIC women (6-2) face No. 13 CSI (7-1) at 5:30 both nights.
The Cardinals men (6-2) will play Community Colleges of Spokane at 7 p.m. Monday at the McCarthey Athletic Center on the Gonzaga University campus.
On Dec. 15, with assistant coaches Marsell Colbert and Corey Symons as groomsmen and Cardinals players in attendance, Phay will marry Tami Olsen. The couple will squeeze in a honeymoon in Cancun prior to Christmas.
They met through mutual friends after NIC lost to Highline last December in Christianson Gym.
“We lost the game, but actually what impressed her was that I was still cordial after the loss,” Phay said. “I told the Highline head coach he should have been in my wedding.”
Phay’s immediate concern is CSI’s eye-popping scores: 154-109, 115-72, 106-97, 156-55, 125-87, 103-58, 123-58, 141-88. The Golden Eagles are averaging 127.9 points and their average margin of victory is 49.9 points.
“They’re struggling offensively,” Phay wisecracked. “They scored 154 the first night and I thought, ‘Wow,’ but they played an All-Star team and there was probably no defense. But they’ve kept doing that.”
CSI has six players averaging double figures and six others averaging more than 7.8 points. New Mexico State transfer Kevin Ford, who played with NIC’s Brian Morris at Portland’s Jefferson High, averages 11.9 points and nine rebounds. Freshman wing Brad Garrett averages a team-high 17.5 points and freshman forward Juan Pattillo checks in at 17 points and seven boards.
“They’ve been playing 10-11 guys and every one is very athletic,” Phay said. “They just wear you down. They press and come in with guy after guy and there’s really not any drop off.”
NIC has won four straight but is battling injuries. Scott Stockwell has a torn ligament in his foot and Shawn Henderson and Zach Parks are dealing with ankle injuries.
The Cardinals women played at CSI’s tournament in early November, but they didn’t face the Golden Eagles.
“They’ve been starting five sophomores,” NIC coach Chris Carlson said. “They shoot the ball really well, they have a couple of good kids coming off the bench and (guard) Maria Moore is an All-American.”
Like the men, NIC is fighting the injury bug. Carlson hopes Simone Jordan and Niki Scott, both bothered by lower back problems, will be available.
NIC won the SWAC title last year by one game over CSI.