Cardinals split vs. ranked foes

WRESTLING

COEUR d'ALENE - Former NIC wrestler and current Clackamas wrestler Rudi Burtschi earned a 10-4 decision over Caleb Rivera of North Idaho at 197 pounds to lead the top-ranked Clackamas Cougars to a 22-16 win over the sixth-ranked Cardinals on Saturday at Christianson Gym.

"It really could have gone either way," NIC coach Pat Whitcomb said. "(Justin) Korthuis was up in his match, but got turned and wound up getting pinned. (W.V.) had a close match and pinned his guy."

Clackamas won the first two bouts of the dual by 5-3 decisions.

"Those first two matches, I think we can turn it around there," Whitcomb said. "(Joaquin) Calderon has a hurt calf and should be OK after break. Overall, you always want to win. We'll get another shot at their place."

NIC will face Clackamas Jan. 20 in Oregon City, Ore.

Later, NIC beat 11th-ranked Southwestern Oregon 39-4.

NIC (4-3) returns to action at Yakima Valley Community College on Jan. 18.

CLACKAMAS 22, NORTH IDAHO 16

125 - Chris Ornelas, CC, d. Joaquin Calderon, 5-3. 133 - Martin Gonzalez, CC, d. Mike Carreon, 5-3. 141 - Jarrett Morill, NIC, d. Jordan O'Neal, 4-2. 149 - Eric Luna, CC, md. Connor Pelzel, 11-2. 157 - Ryan Zumwalt, NIC, md. Kaleb Cook, 13-3. 165 - W.V. Meyer, NIC, p. Eric Hensel, 2:05. 174 - Trent Noon, CC, d. Kyle Sweedman, 4-2. 184 - Austin Morehead, CC, p. Justin Korthuis, 4:05. 197 - Rudi Burtschi, CC, d. Caleb Rivera, 10-4. 285 - Matthew Foxworthy, NIC, d. Jacob Laden, 3-2.

NORTH IDAHO 39,

SOUTHWESTERN OREGON 4

125 - Joaquin Calderon, NIC, d. Robert Barton, 8-4. 133 - Mike Carreon, d. Skyler Prislac, 4-1. 14 - Jarrett Morrill, NIC, d. Jonny Campbell, 6-0. 149 - Nick Bendon, SO, md. Connor Pelzel, 14-5. 157 - Ryan Zumwalt, NIC, p. Craig Trask, 1:33. 165 - W.V. Meyer, NIC, by forfeit. 174 - Kyle Sweedman, NIC, by forfeit. 184 - Justin Korthuis, NIC, p. Trevor Davis, 2:40. 197 - Caleb Rivera, NIC, d. Louis Payne, 10-5. 285 - Matthew Foxworthy, NIC, d. Johnathon Hatch, 6-5.

MEN'S BASKETBALL

North Idaho 83

Big Bend 69

MOSES LAKE - Trailing 24-9, the visiting Cardinals closed the first half with a 32-6 run and never looked back in the nonconference game.

"We just stepped it up a lot defensively," said NIC coach Jared Phay, who praised the defense of reserve Kwame Bates, who created a few turnovers at the top of the press. "I think our energy level just picked up a lot."

Big Bend pulled within 69-63 late, but Connor White hit one of his three 3-pointers - all came in the second half - to help NIC (12-1) keep the hosts at bay.

Keon Lewis scored 20 points and seven assists, Antoine Hosley 17 points for NIC, and Michael Middlebrooks had 10 points and 10 rebounds.

Spencer Pingel, who played at Post Falls High, hit 3 of 9 3-pointers and finished with 14 points for Big Bend.

NIC returns to action Dec. 30 vs. Community Colleges of Spokane at West Valley High in Spokane.

NORTH IDAHO

Jordan McCloud 0-4 4-4 4, Antoine Hosley 7-13 1-2 17, Connor White 3-5 2-2 11, Kwame Bates 1-5 4-4 6, Casey Ward 0-0 0-0 0, Keon Lewis 6-10 7-8 20, Michael Middlebrooks 5-10 0-0 10, Edrico McGregor 3-3 3-4 9, Joel Underdahl 0-0 0-0 0, Kaj Sherman 1-1 4-4 6. Totals 26-51 25-28 83.

BIG BEND

Kevin James 4-7 3-6 11, Josh Loera 3-10 0-0 8, Spencer Pingel 4-12 3-5 14, DeAndre Johnson 0-0 0-0 0, Riley Bruneel 0-3 0-0 0, Cody Groth 0-1 0-0 0, Blake Skidmore 4-15 6-8 15, Antonio Snow 7-13 0-1 17, Kyle Nield 2-3 0-0 4. Totals 24-64 12-20 69.

Halftime - NIC 41-30. 3-point goals - NIC 6-16 (Hosley 2-6, White 3-4, Bates 0-4, K. Lewis 1-2), BB 9-32 (Loera 2-6, Pingel 3-9, Groth 0-1, Skidmore 1-9, Snow 3-7). Rebounds - NIC 36 (Middlebrooks 10), BB 35 (James 7). Assists - NIC 7 (K. Lewis 7), BB 15 (Skidmore 5). Fouled out - McCloud, K. Lewis, Skidmore. Total fouls - NIC 23, BB 22.