North Idaho routs CSI to remain undefeated

For North Idaho College head coach Corey Symons, it wasn’t hot shooting or tenacious defense that paced the third-ranked Cardinals’ 91-74 thrashing of archrival College of Southern Idaho at Rolly Williams Court on Saturday.

Rather, it was NIC’s ability to share the ball. The Cardinals finished with 22 assists, with Lucas Antunez and Braian Angola Rodas leading the way with eight apiece.

“This isn’t JuCo basketball,” Symons said. “In JuCo basketball you don’t share the ball like that and appreciate each other’s successes.”

This unselfishness was evident in the second half, as 15 of the Cardinals’ assists were after halftime, allowing NIC (26-0, 11-0 Scenic West Athletic Conference) to erupt for 57 points and shoot 47.1 percent from behind the arc.

Brayon Blake, who leads the SWAC in scoring at 22.7 points per game, scored a game-high 28 points on 12-of-23 shooting from the floor. Antunez added 20 points and Trey Burch-Manning chipped in 13 points and eight rebounds.

Angola Rodas, who was held in check in the first half with three points and two assists, was a force for NIC to start the second half. The sophomore guard scored the Cardinals’ first eight points to put them up 42-33.

There was a brief scare for Angolas Rodas with 15:50 remaining in the game, as he was fouled hard by CSI guard Pape Diatta and landed awkwardly on his left shoulder. He left the game in noticeable pain but checked back in minutes later and finished with 15 points and eight rebounds.

“I think he was a little more scared than he was hurt there,” Symons said.

CSI (19-7, 7-4) made its biggest run after Angola Rodas’ brief departure, as Ar’Mond Davis drilled a pair of contested shots from outside the arc and Shaq Carr scored in transition to cut NIC’s lead to 47-43.

Kyle Guice ended the Golden Eagles’ 8-0 run with a 3-pointer, sparking a 19-10 Cardinals run.

Burch-Manning, at 6-foot-6, was a force in the paint. The sophomore guard scored 13 points, all in the paint or from the foul line after being fouled inside. All of his 13 points came after the halfway point of the second half.

Stellar performances from players such as Burch-Manning are what make this NIC team so special, Symons said.

“We have two of the top scorers in the country with Brayon and Braian,” he said. “But we always have one of those guys on the outskirts that plays huge for us and that’s what makes us pretty dang good.”

Davis and Boyce scored 17 points apiece to lead CSI. Diatta and Davis’ 10 rebounds were both game highs.

NIC travels to Colorado Northwestern Community College in its next contest.

Despite being undefeated, Burch-Manning said the Cardinals don’t let the hype get to them.

“We think the next game, ‘Let’s go 1-0,’” Burch-Manning said. “We just take it one at a time and value everything that’s going on.”

CCS 89, Wenatchee Valley 76: Jake Love led five players in double figures with 23 points and the Sasquatch (21-3, 7-1) forced 23 turnovers in a Northwest Athletic Conference win over the Knights (5-16, 2-6) in Wenatchee.

Race Martin and Levi Taylor added 13 points apiece for CCS, which had a 30-0 advantage in points off turnovers.