SKC Basketball: Dominant DJ
<p>DJ Fish has had some of his best games this season against</p><p>junior college powerhouse NIC.</p>
COEUR D'ALENE - Opposing teams see Fish on the roster, but instead get a healthy serving of shark.
Against the very talented North Idaho College Cardinals last Friday, DJ Fish put up 25 points in a 97-69 loss. It was the seventh time in seven games that he had gotten into double digit scoring. He's averaging 19.4 points per game so far this season for the Bison (3-5).
"He did outstanding, he just keeps getting better," SKC head coach Zachary Conko-Camel said. "When we play these tough teams he's been doing work."
SKC led by five points early in the first half but the Cardinals were able to go into halftime with the 50-39 lead. The Bison put on a three-pointer clinic in the game, taking 27 shots from behind the three-point arc.
In the second half, the Bison scored 30 points but couldn't slow down a multi-pronged attack and the Cardinals finished the game with five different players in double digit scoring.
"That's a tough team over there at NIC," Camel said. "They get a lot of offensive rebounds and attack you near the basket."
Michael Middlebrooks scored 16 points and snagged eight rebounds for the Cardinals, while Edrico McGregor came off the bench to score 15 points.
The Bison got production from multiple sources as veteran Dennis Sangrey scored 13 points and DJ Kemmer added 11. Sangrey has continued to show his veteran leadership and been consistent in the scoring column for the Bison.
Sonny Eppinette, always the leader in the middle for SKC, put up eight points and Trent Ashley, who did not play high school basketball, put up seven points.
It was the third straight win for NIC since they had lost their season opener to Mesa College.
The Cardinals out-rebounded the Bison 45-31 on the glass.
It was the second matchup between SKC and the Cardinals this year as they met two weeks ago in Pablo, with NIC pulling out a close 90-81 victory.
"It gets us ready for the games we need to play," Camel said, referencing to the Tribal College Basketball League. "It's a process."
NIC has been considered one of the best junior college basketball programs in the country and has numerous players with D-I talent on their roster. SKC has consistently scheduled the Cardinals and a tough-non league slate to get the team ready for the end of the season when they'll battle for the Montana Tribal College Athletic Association championship and the AIHEC national championship.
In their second game of the tournament again Peninsula College and Wake Forest recruit J.T. Terrell, the Bison were tied with PC at 82-82 with five minutes to go but Peninsula was able to pull away for the victory.
"We played a good game and we came up short by just five minutes," Camel said.
Terrell, who transferred from Wake Forest to Peninsula College, is rumored to have signed with USC.
"I've always said to the players that these kids have been flown in from all over the country because of their talent and given a scholarship to play," Camel said. "And we're competing against them."
SKC doesn't give out scholarships, but that didn't stop Fish from notching 33 points against Peninsula College.
"He knows what's going on all over the court," Camel said. "I remember watching this kid in high school and thinking he could really be something."
The Bison will now get prepared for the Community Colleges of Spokane and North Idaho Tournament this weekend, starting with a 4 p.m. (pacific time) matchup against Yakima Valley Community College in Spokane. They'll play other opponents in Spokane or Coeur d'Alene in the following two days.
"We're used to the tournament style," Camel said. "We're excited and we're going to go over there and try to win the thing."
STANDOUTS FOR THE BISON
Former Ronan basketball player Kevin Wroblewski notched eight three-pointers over the weekend and seems to be finding his sweet spot in his first year playing for the Bison.
"We like shooters and he's going to be one of those great shooters," Camel said.
Camel said he also liked what he saw from veteran Dennis Sangrey and newcomer Trent Ashley.
"Dennis does what he does," Camel said. "And Trent is going to be a real tough player."
UPCOMING GAMES FOR THE LADY BISON
The Lady Bison are back in action this weekend after a week off and will travel to Rangely, Colo. to play Colorado Northwestern on Friday at 7 p.m. and the College of Eastern Utah on Saturday at 1 p.m.
NIC 97, SKC 69
NIC - 50 - 47 - 97
SKC - 39 - 30 - 69
Bison scoring - Peter Aragon 0-2 0-1 0, Jayson Ferris 0-2 0-0 0, Dennis Sangrey 5-14 2-3 13, Sonny Eppinette 4-6 0-2 8, Kevin Wroblewski 1-1 0-1 2, Trent Ashley 3-4 0-2 7, D.J. Kemmer 4-5 1-1 11, D.J. Fish 7-22 8-13 25, Logan Lee 1-2 0-0 3. Totals 25 58 11-23 69.
Halftime - NIC 50-39. 3-point goals - SKC 8-27 (Aragon 0-1, Ferris 0-1, Sangrey 1-10, Ashley 1-1, Kemmer 2-2, Fish 3-10, Lee 1-2), NIC 2-15 (McCloud 0-2, Hosley 1-2, White 0-2, Bates 0-4, K. Lewis 0-1, Underdahl 0-1, T. Lewis 0-1, Joksimovic 1-2). Rebounds - SKC 31 (Fish 8), NIC 45 (Middlebrooks 8).
Assists - SKC 9 (Fish 3), NIC 11 (White 3). Team fouls - SKC 22, NIC 18. Fouled out - Fish.