PABLO — D.J. Fish got one heck of a birthday present last Tuesday, but it wasn’t enough to push the Salish Kootenai College men’s basketball team over visiting North Idaho College.

The Coeur d’Alene-based junior college ousted SKC, 90-82, in the Bison’s first home contest of the 2013-2014 season.

Fish, who hails from Browning, tallied team highs in points (29) and rebounds (7) on his 24th birthday.

“It was a good birthday present,” Fish said. “We battled.”

The Bison did battle. Trailing by 23 points early in the second half, Fish’s ability to get to the free-throw line and some clutch 3-pointers from Gene Heavy Runner and Rocky Lewis brought SKC back within striking distance.

Heavy Runner finished with 17 points and Lewis tacked on 12. Mickey Sangrey added 10 points for the Bison.

Bison coach Zachary Camel was happy with the performance, noting that it was only the second time in his tenure at SKC that they were able to play the Cardinals to a single-digit deficit.

 “We don’t get too excited about losses, but we get excited about doing things right for a certain period of time,” Camel said.

Fish, one of the few returners for the Bison, is keeping his eye on the ultimate goal—the American Indian Higher Education Consortium national championship, which the Bison will host in early 2014.

“When we run into our league games and everything, we’re going to be ready to play,” Fish said. “The big part is the national championship—the AIHEC tournament—so that’s what we’re going to be playing for.”

Camel said early season mistakes, such as missed free throws and not knowing the plays, need to be addressed in practice.

“It’s about winning the championship, so along the way we’re going to get building blocks to get us there,” Camel said. “Once we build all these little things, it will make something big happen for us at the end. … In five months, they’ll be a well-oiled machine.”

Fish said he knows the team will gel because he knows the program’s newcomers can play the game.

“I know them from the past so I know they can play,” Fish said. “It’s a little new, but we’re able to gel so well because we play hard and we believe in each other.”

on Friday, Nov. 8

SKC 85, Oglala Lakota 45

NEW TOWN, N.D. — Stan Gopher led the Bison with 15 points. SKC was hot from beyond the arc, nailing 14 3-pointers as a team.

on Saturday, Nov. 9

SKC 129, Fort Berthold 77

NEW TOWN, N.D. — The Bison again found themselves shooting well, this time collecting 16 team 3-pointers. They also dominated the glass. Rocky Lewis had a game-high 27 points.

on Sunday, Nov. 10

Williston State 98, SKC 83

WILLISTON, N.D. — The Bison fell to 5-2 on the young season despite 16 points from Gene Heavy Runner. SKC again hit double-digits in 3-point baskets, tallying 14 buckets from long range.