Ottumwa -- Gary Ricks, Jr. and Jameel McKay top a list of eight Indian Hills players who were named to the All-Region 11 basketball team.
Ricks and McKay were the Warriors’ first-team selections on the squad while Roderick Bobbitt, Dustin Hogue and Brandon Spearman were picked for the second team and D.J. Bennett, DeAndray Buckley and Michael Haynes were honorable mention choices.
Playing in all 70 IHCC games over the past two seasons, Ricks was one of the best three-point shooters in school history. He had a total of 170 3-pointers, three shy of the school record held by Dwight Hardy. His 97 3’s this year were five fewer that Hardy’s single-season record.
Ricks averaged in double figures in each season and had a career average of 11.2. He also led the team in free-throw percentage both years. He was named to the All-Region second team as a freshman.
McKay, a freshman and the other first-team choice, led Indian Hills in scoring (14.6) and rebounding (7.7) this season and was named to the All-Tournament team at last week’s NJCAA National Tournament. He had double figures in points and rebounds in each of IHCC’s four games at Hutch and his 50 rebounds led the tournament. He shot nearly 62% from the field for the season.
Bobbitt, also a freshman, had a solid national tournament, leading the tourney in assists with 24. He was the Warriors’ assists leader with a 6.0 average for the season and also led the team in steals with 107 while scoring 9.4 points a game. His season-best scoring output was 19 points against Southern Idaho at the national tourney.
Hogue capped his freshman campaign with a season-high 25 points in the seventh-place game against Wabash Valley last Saturday. His season averages were 11.1 points and 5.5 rebounds. He actually had more offensive rebounds than defensive boards.
In his only season as a Warrior, Spearman was second on the team in scoring at 11.7 points a game and was also second in 3-pointers with 53. His 29 points against Ellsworth CC were the most scored by an IHCC player in a game this season. He played his freshman season at the University of Dayton.
Bennett may have been the most improved player on this year’s Indian Hills team after playing sparingly as a freshman. He averaged 7.2 points and 4.6 rebounds and was the team leader in blocked shots with 63 while shooting .673 from the field. After scoring in double figures in only three of the first 25 games, Bennett scored 10 or more points in seven of the last 12 contests with a high game of 21.
Buckley, like Spearman, transferred from a Division I school – the University of New Hampshire. He averaged 5.6 points and 2.6 rebounds.
Haynes, a transfer from UTEP, had a 6.9 scoring average and provided 4.5 rebounds a game.
Joining Ricks and McKay on the All-Region first team were Devin Brooks and Xavier Munford from Iowa Western and Marshalltown’s Marcus Bell.
Iowa Western placed Kelvin Dixon and Alonzo Traylor on the second team and Marshalltown had Rashaad Brown-Peterson.
The honorable mention list includes Antonio Levy from Iowa Western and Keith Coleman, Nilson Santana and Derrick Stewart from Marshalltown, in addition to the three IHCC players.
Tuesday, March 27, 2012
Monday, March 26, 2012
McKay Named to All-Tournament Team
Ottumwa -- Indian Hills freshman Jameel McKay was named to the All-Tournament team at the conclusion of the NJCAA Division I Basketball Championship over the weekend.
McKay had double figures in points and rebounds in every one of IHCC’s four games at the national tourney, scoring a total of 61 points and grabbing 50 rebounds. His rebound total led the tournament and his point total tied for seventh-highest.
The Warriors won their final three games after losing their opening-round contest. Their seventh-place finish marked the seventh time in nine trips to the tournament that they have finished in the top seven.
McKay, from Milwaukee, Wisconsin, is one of only three freshmen on the 13-player All-Tournament team.
He was the leading scorer and rebounder for Indian Hills during the Warriors’ 33-4 season with averages of 14.6 points and 7.7 rebounds.
The 33 wins for Indian Hills represent the seventh time in school history the Warriors have won that many games in a season.
McKay had double figures in points and rebounds in every one of IHCC’s four games at the national tourney, scoring a total of 61 points and grabbing 50 rebounds. His rebound total led the tournament and his point total tied for seventh-highest.
The Warriors won their final three games after losing their opening-round contest. Their seventh-place finish marked the seventh time in nine trips to the tournament that they have finished in the top seven.
McKay, from Milwaukee, Wisconsin, is one of only three freshmen on the 13-player All-Tournament team.
He was the leading scorer and rebounder for Indian Hills during the Warriors’ 33-4 season with averages of 14.6 points and 7.7 rebounds.
The 33 wins for Indian Hills represent the seventh time in school history the Warriors have won that many games in a season.
Sunday, March 25, 2012
Victory Allows Warriors to Wind Up 7th
Hutchinson, Kan. -- The Indian Hills Warriors overcame the disappointment of an opening-round defeat at the NJCAA Division I National Tournament to win three straight games and finish 7th in the tourney.
Indian Hills won the battle of Warriors on Saturday, defeating the Wabash Valley (Ill) Warriors, 83-74, to claim the 7th-place finish.
IHCC came from behind with a 15-0 burst in the second half and went on to their 33rd win of the season. It's the 7th time in school history an IHCC team has won that many games and marks the 7th time in nine trips to the national tourney that Indian Hills has finished at least 7th.
Dustin Hogue keyed Indian Hills' string of 15 consecutive points, scoring seven points in the run. He made what was only his 6th three-pointer of the season and added four free throws. Hogue had a season-high 25 points to lead the IHCC scoring.
Jameel McKay had his 4th straight double-double of the tourney with 12 points and 12 rebounds. And Brandon Spearman, one of five IHCC players appearing in his final game for Indian Hills, had 18 points. He made seven straight free throws in the second half to go along with three 3-pointers.
Indian Hills jumped out to a 20-13 first-half lead on a three-point play by Hogue. WVC then scored 10 points in a row to go on top 23-20. There were four ties and an equal number of lead changes the rest of the half and the teams went to the locker room tied at 36.
With 14-and-a-half minutes to play, Wabash Valley enjoyed a 51-40 lead after a three-point play by Chasen Campbell. A Hogue free throw and a basket by McKay sparked the IHCC 15-0 run.
After a bucket by Wabash Valley, Spearman hit two foul shots and D.J. Bennett had a dunk and Indian Hills never led by fewer than six points the rest of the way.
A team that struggled at the free throw line all season long, Indian Hills saved one of their best free throw shooting games for the final contest of the season. They made 31-of-41 at the line and that, along with a 52-38 rebounding margin, allowed IHCC to claim the win.
INDIAN HILLS 83, WABASH VALLEY 74
INDIAN HILLS Brandon Spearman 4 7-8 18, Gary Ricks, Jr. 1 2-2 5, DeAndray Buckley 1 0-2 3, Michael Haynes 2 2-4 6, D.J. Bennett 3 2-4 8, Kieran Woods 0 0-0 0, Jameel McKay 4 4-4 12, Roderick Bobbitt 0 5-6 5, Dustin Hogue 8 8-9 25, Ronnie Stevens 0 1-2 1, Rawane Ndiaye 0 0-0 0 Team 23 31-41 83
WABASH VALLEY Javon Campbell 1 1-4 3, Jonathan Octeus 3 10-13 16, Nick Wiggins 11 4-10 28, Jon Cathey-Macklin 1 1-2 3, Donovan Johnson 1 4-4 6, Jerry Coriolan 3 1-2 7, John Goodlow 0 0-1 0, Chasen Campbell 3 2-3 8, Shaq Wilson 1 0-0 3 Team 24 23-39 74
Halftime score: Indian Hills 36, Wabash Valley 36; Three-point field goals: IHCC 6 (Spearman 3; Ricks, Buckley, Hogue 1), WVC 3 (Wiggins 2, Wilson 1)
Indian Hills won the battle of Warriors on Saturday, defeating the Wabash Valley (Ill) Warriors, 83-74, to claim the 7th-place finish.
IHCC came from behind with a 15-0 burst in the second half and went on to their 33rd win of the season. It's the 7th time in school history an IHCC team has won that many games and marks the 7th time in nine trips to the national tourney that Indian Hills has finished at least 7th.
Dustin Hogue keyed Indian Hills' string of 15 consecutive points, scoring seven points in the run. He made what was only his 6th three-pointer of the season and added four free throws. Hogue had a season-high 25 points to lead the IHCC scoring.
Jameel McKay had his 4th straight double-double of the tourney with 12 points and 12 rebounds. And Brandon Spearman, one of five IHCC players appearing in his final game for Indian Hills, had 18 points. He made seven straight free throws in the second half to go along with three 3-pointers.
Indian Hills jumped out to a 20-13 first-half lead on a three-point play by Hogue. WVC then scored 10 points in a row to go on top 23-20. There were four ties and an equal number of lead changes the rest of the half and the teams went to the locker room tied at 36.
With 14-and-a-half minutes to play, Wabash Valley enjoyed a 51-40 lead after a three-point play by Chasen Campbell. A Hogue free throw and a basket by McKay sparked the IHCC 15-0 run.
After a bucket by Wabash Valley, Spearman hit two foul shots and D.J. Bennett had a dunk and Indian Hills never led by fewer than six points the rest of the way.
A team that struggled at the free throw line all season long, Indian Hills saved one of their best free throw shooting games for the final contest of the season. They made 31-of-41 at the line and that, along with a 52-38 rebounding margin, allowed IHCC to claim the win.
INDIAN HILLS 83, WABASH VALLEY 74
INDIAN HILLS Brandon Spearman 4 7-8 18, Gary Ricks, Jr. 1 2-2 5, DeAndray Buckley 1 0-2 3, Michael Haynes 2 2-4 6, D.J. Bennett 3 2-4 8, Kieran Woods 0 0-0 0, Jameel McKay 4 4-4 12, Roderick Bobbitt 0 5-6 5, Dustin Hogue 8 8-9 25, Ronnie Stevens 0 1-2 1, Rawane Ndiaye 0 0-0 0 Team 23 31-41 83
WABASH VALLEY Javon Campbell 1 1-4 3, Jonathan Octeus 3 10-13 16, Nick Wiggins 11 4-10 28, Jon Cathey-Macklin 1 1-2 3, Donovan Johnson 1 4-4 6, Jerry Coriolan 3 1-2 7, John Goodlow 0 0-1 0, Chasen Campbell 3 2-3 8, Shaq Wilson 1 0-0 3 Team 24 23-39 74
Halftime score: Indian Hills 36, Wabash Valley 36; Three-point field goals: IHCC 6 (Spearman 3; Ricks, Buckley, Hogue 1), WVC 3 (Wiggins 2, Wilson 1)
Saturday, March 24, 2012
Warriors Notch Wire-to-Wire Win
Hutchinson, Kan. -- Indian Hills assured itself of a top-8 finish in the 2012 NJCAA Division I Basketball Championship with a 92-82 win against Southern Idaho in the consolation round of the tourney on Friday.
The Warriors never trailed in advancing to play Wabash Valley (Ill) in the 7th-place game on Saturday.
A couple of huge second-half runs allowed Indian Hills to open up a 31-point lead in the second half. But the Warriors seemingly couldn't stand prosperity and allowed the Golden Eagles to cut the deficit to six at 86-80 with just over a minute to play.
Roderick Bobbitt, who had a season-high 19 points, made a pair of free throws with 57.4 seconds on the clock to give IHCC a little more breathing room and the Warriors closed out CSI with four more free throws.
In a game in which both teams were playing to get one more game in the tourney, Indian Hills jumped out to a quick 14-2 lead. Southern Idaho didn't score their first field goal until 5:20 had been played.
The Warriors took a ten-point halftime lead which ballooned to 73-42 in the first eight minutes of the second half. CSI, which entered the game with the same 31-4 record as Indian Hills, used a 21-5 run to get back in the game.
The Golden Eagles, the defending national champs, kept chipping away at the lead, but couldn't get closer than the late six-point deficit.
The Warriors won despite committing 27 turnovers and making only 54% of their 35 free throw attempts. They forced 31 CSI turnovers and IHCC was credited with 23 steals.
After Bobbitt's season-best 19 points, Jameel McKay scored 18 for Indian Hills. McKay led IHCC to a 43-31 rebounding advantage with 10 boards. It was the third straight tournament game in which McKay had double-digit points and rebounds totals.
INDIAN HILLS 92, SOUTHERN IDAHO 82
INDIAN HILLS Brandon Spearman 2 0-1 4, Gary Ricks, Jr. 5 0-0 14, DeAndray Buckley 2 5-8 9, D.J. Bennett 3 0-0 6, Kieran Woods 1 0-0 2, Jameel McKay 6 2-6 14, Roderick Bobbitt 4 10-13 19, Dustin Hogue 8 2-6 18, Ronnie Stevens 3 0-1 6, Trinson White 0 0-0 0, Rawane Ndiaye 0 0-0 0, Gary Ross 0 0-0 0 Team 34 19-35 92
SOUTHERN IDAHO Pat Swilling 4 6-9 16, Fabyon Harris 6 2-3 16, Rafriel Guthrie 1 4-8 6, Sebastien Michineau 0 6-8 6, Gerson Santo 4 3-4 11, Kevin Attila 1 0-0 3, Paul Egwuonwu 2 1-2 5, Luke Cothron 6 7-14 19 Team 24 29-46 82
Halftime score: Indian Hills 45, Southern Idaho 35; Three-point field goals: IHCC 5 (Ricks 4, Bobbitt 1), CSI 5 (Swilling, Harris 2; Attila 1)
The Warriors never trailed in advancing to play Wabash Valley (Ill) in the 7th-place game on Saturday.
A couple of huge second-half runs allowed Indian Hills to open up a 31-point lead in the second half. But the Warriors seemingly couldn't stand prosperity and allowed the Golden Eagles to cut the deficit to six at 86-80 with just over a minute to play.
Roderick Bobbitt, who had a season-high 19 points, made a pair of free throws with 57.4 seconds on the clock to give IHCC a little more breathing room and the Warriors closed out CSI with four more free throws.
In a game in which both teams were playing to get one more game in the tourney, Indian Hills jumped out to a quick 14-2 lead. Southern Idaho didn't score their first field goal until 5:20 had been played.
The Warriors took a ten-point halftime lead which ballooned to 73-42 in the first eight minutes of the second half. CSI, which entered the game with the same 31-4 record as Indian Hills, used a 21-5 run to get back in the game.
The Golden Eagles, the defending national champs, kept chipping away at the lead, but couldn't get closer than the late six-point deficit.
The Warriors won despite committing 27 turnovers and making only 54% of their 35 free throw attempts. They forced 31 CSI turnovers and IHCC was credited with 23 steals.
After Bobbitt's season-best 19 points, Jameel McKay scored 18 for Indian Hills. McKay led IHCC to a 43-31 rebounding advantage with 10 boards. It was the third straight tournament game in which McKay had double-digit points and rebounds totals.
INDIAN HILLS 92, SOUTHERN IDAHO 82
INDIAN HILLS Brandon Spearman 2 0-1 4, Gary Ricks, Jr. 5 0-0 14, DeAndray Buckley 2 5-8 9, D.J. Bennett 3 0-0 6, Kieran Woods 1 0-0 2, Jameel McKay 6 2-6 14, Roderick Bobbitt 4 10-13 19, Dustin Hogue 8 2-6 18, Ronnie Stevens 3 0-1 6, Trinson White 0 0-0 0, Rawane Ndiaye 0 0-0 0, Gary Ross 0 0-0 0 Team 34 19-35 92
SOUTHERN IDAHO Pat Swilling 4 6-9 16, Fabyon Harris 6 2-3 16, Rafriel Guthrie 1 4-8 6, Sebastien Michineau 0 6-8 6, Gerson Santo 4 3-4 11, Kevin Attila 1 0-0 3, Paul Egwuonwu 2 1-2 5, Luke Cothron 6 7-14 19 Team 24 29-46 82
Halftime score: Indian Hills 45, Southern Idaho 35; Three-point field goals: IHCC 5 (Ricks 4, Bobbitt 1), CSI 5 (Swilling, Harris 2; Attila 1)
Thursday, March 22, 2012
Indian Hills Stays Alive With Win in Hutch
Hutchinson, Kan. -- Gary Ricks, Jr. ignited a 12-0 run with back-to-back three-pointers, then added another trey after a Roderick Bobbitt layup as Indian Hills ran off 11 points in less than a minute and kept its season alive with a 79-70 win against East Mississippi in the consolation bracket of the NJCAA Division I Basketball Championship.
Ricks' trio of 3s helped turn the game around after the Warriors had trailed for most of the first 23 minutes.
Except for 1:14 at the outset of the contest, East Mississippi led throughout the first half and for the first few minutes of the second half.
D.J. Bennett, who along with Jameel McKay led IHCC with 16 points, had consecutive field goals to start the second half. With the game tied at 37-all, Ricks found his three-point stroke. He buried two in a row and then a third to make it 48-37.
Ronnie Stevens added a free throw to complete Indian Hills' 12-0 run and the Warriors eventually built the lead to 16 points.
Bennett and McKay each had five field goals in the second half when IHCC outscored the Lions, 50-37.
The two teams combined for 64 fouls, the fourth highest total for two teams in a national tournament game.
There were also 84 free throws and 48 turnovers. The most important stat, however, was the Warriors' 31st win, which means they are still playing in the tournament, with their next game scheduled for Friday.
INDIAN HILLS 79, EAST MISSISSIPPI 70
INDIAN HILLS Brandon Spearman 3 2-6 9, Gary Ricks, Jr. 5 0-0 15, DeAndray Buckley 1 2-6 4, Michael Haynes 0 1-2 1, D.J. Bennett 7 2-4 16, Kieran Woods 0 0-0 0, Jameel McKay 7 2-8 16, Roderick Bobbitt 1 8-8 10, Ronnie Stevens 0 4-6 4, Trinson White 0 4-6 4, Rawane Ndiaye 0 0-0 0, Gary Ross 0 0-0 0 Team 24 25-46 79
EAST MISSISSIPPI Tradarrius McPhearson 6 3-6 16, Colin Borchert 4 7-9 17, Millaun Brown 3 0-0 6, Curtis Hall 4 4-4 12, D.J. Evans 2 1-2 7, Deon Bradford 1 1-2 4, Lakin Ford 0 0-0 0, A.J. Wade 0 4-6 4, Jalen Houston 0 6-9 6 Team 19 26-38 70
Halftime score: East Mississippi 33, Indian Hills 29; Three-point field goals: IHCC 6 (Ricks 5, Spearman 1), EMCC 6 (Borchert, Evans 2; McPhearson, Bedford 1)
Ricks' trio of 3s helped turn the game around after the Warriors had trailed for most of the first 23 minutes.
Except for 1:14 at the outset of the contest, East Mississippi led throughout the first half and for the first few minutes of the second half.
D.J. Bennett, who along with Jameel McKay led IHCC with 16 points, had consecutive field goals to start the second half. With the game tied at 37-all, Ricks found his three-point stroke. He buried two in a row and then a third to make it 48-37.
Ronnie Stevens added a free throw to complete Indian Hills' 12-0 run and the Warriors eventually built the lead to 16 points.
Bennett and McKay each had five field goals in the second half when IHCC outscored the Lions, 50-37.
The two teams combined for 64 fouls, the fourth highest total for two teams in a national tournament game.
There were also 84 free throws and 48 turnovers. The most important stat, however, was the Warriors' 31st win, which means they are still playing in the tournament, with their next game scheduled for Friday.
INDIAN HILLS 79, EAST MISSISSIPPI 70
INDIAN HILLS Brandon Spearman 3 2-6 9, Gary Ricks, Jr. 5 0-0 15, DeAndray Buckley 1 2-6 4, Michael Haynes 0 1-2 1, D.J. Bennett 7 2-4 16, Kieran Woods 0 0-0 0, Jameel McKay 7 2-8 16, Roderick Bobbitt 1 8-8 10, Ronnie Stevens 0 4-6 4, Trinson White 0 4-6 4, Rawane Ndiaye 0 0-0 0, Gary Ross 0 0-0 0 Team 24 25-46 79
EAST MISSISSIPPI Tradarrius McPhearson 6 3-6 16, Colin Borchert 4 7-9 17, Millaun Brown 3 0-0 6, Curtis Hall 4 4-4 12, D.J. Evans 2 1-2 7, Deon Bradford 1 1-2 4, Lakin Ford 0 0-0 0, A.J. Wade 0 4-6 4, Jalen Houston 0 6-9 6 Team 19 26-38 70
Halftime score: East Mississippi 33, Indian Hills 29; Three-point field goals: IHCC 6 (Ricks 5, Spearman 1), EMCC 6 (Borchert, Evans 2; McPhearson, Bedford 1)
Wednesday, March 21, 2012
Warriors Fall to Monroe
Hutchinson, Kan. -- In a matchup of two teams with identical 30-3 records, Monroe (NY) College sent Indian Hills to the consolation bracket of the NJCAA Division I Basketball Championship with an 81-69 victory in the first round of the tourney.
Monroe broke away from an early 5-5 tie with 15 straight points. The Warriors were forced to play catchup after that. They got to within five points at halftime and were down 50-49 with 9:15 to play.
Brandon Spearman's attempt to give the Warriors the lead was off the mark and Monroe immediately went on a 12-1 run. Indian Hills got no closer than eight points after that.
The Warriors' chances were hurt by cold shooting -- 33% from the field and 58% from the free throw line.
Monroe guard Davon Marshall attempted 20 free throws, one more than the entire IHCC team. Marshall made 15 of his 20 foul shots and led all scorers with 34 points. Teammate Orlando Sanchez, who also played on last year's Monroe team that lost in the national semifinals, added 18 points and 12 rebounds.
Indian Hills got a double-double from Jameel McKay who scored 19 points and grabbed 14 rebounds. Gary Ricks, Jr. nailed four 3s and had 12 points and Spearman had 11.
The Warriors will take on East Mississippi on Wednesday afternoon to try to extend their season.
MONROE 81, INDIAN HILLS 69
INDIAN HILLS Brandon Spearman 4 2-2 11, Gary Ricks, Jr. 4 0-0 12, Michael Haynes 0 0-0 0, D.J. Bennett 2 1-2 5, Kieran Woods 0 0-0 0, Jameel McKay 9 1-4 19, Roderick Bobbitt 1 1-2 4, Dustin Hogue 1 6-9 8, Ronnie Stevens 1 0-0 2, Trinson White 3 0-0 8, Gary Ross 0 0-0 0 Team 25 11-19 69
MONROE Davon Marshall 8 15-20 34, Drimir Ferguson 2 1-2 6, Marco Bourgault 1 0-0 3, Orlando Sanchez 8 2-2 18, Maurice Ndour 5 2-2 12, Anthony Banks 1 0-0 2, Terrell Eaddy 1 1-2 3, Thomas Feeney 0 2-2 2 Team 26 24-31 81
Halftime score: Monroe 39, Indian Hills 34; Three-point field goals: IHCC 8 (Ricks 4; White 2; Spearman, Bobbitt 1), MC 5 (Marshall 3; Ferguson, Bourgault 1)
Monroe broke away from an early 5-5 tie with 15 straight points. The Warriors were forced to play catchup after that. They got to within five points at halftime and were down 50-49 with 9:15 to play.
Brandon Spearman's attempt to give the Warriors the lead was off the mark and Monroe immediately went on a 12-1 run. Indian Hills got no closer than eight points after that.
The Warriors' chances were hurt by cold shooting -- 33% from the field and 58% from the free throw line.
Monroe guard Davon Marshall attempted 20 free throws, one more than the entire IHCC team. Marshall made 15 of his 20 foul shots and led all scorers with 34 points. Teammate Orlando Sanchez, who also played on last year's Monroe team that lost in the national semifinals, added 18 points and 12 rebounds.
Indian Hills got a double-double from Jameel McKay who scored 19 points and grabbed 14 rebounds. Gary Ricks, Jr. nailed four 3s and had 12 points and Spearman had 11.
The Warriors will take on East Mississippi on Wednesday afternoon to try to extend their season.
MONROE 81, INDIAN HILLS 69
INDIAN HILLS Brandon Spearman 4 2-2 11, Gary Ricks, Jr. 4 0-0 12, Michael Haynes 0 0-0 0, D.J. Bennett 2 1-2 5, Kieran Woods 0 0-0 0, Jameel McKay 9 1-4 19, Roderick Bobbitt 1 1-2 4, Dustin Hogue 1 6-9 8, Ronnie Stevens 1 0-0 2, Trinson White 3 0-0 8, Gary Ross 0 0-0 0 Team 25 11-19 69
MONROE Davon Marshall 8 15-20 34, Drimir Ferguson 2 1-2 6, Marco Bourgault 1 0-0 3, Orlando Sanchez 8 2-2 18, Maurice Ndour 5 2-2 12, Anthony Banks 1 0-0 2, Terrell Eaddy 1 1-2 3, Thomas Feeney 0 2-2 2 Team 26 24-31 81
Halftime score: Monroe 39, Indian Hills 34; Three-point field goals: IHCC 8 (Ricks 4; White 2; Spearman, Bobbitt 1), MC 5 (Marshall 3; Ferguson, Bourgault 1)
Wednesday, March 14, 2012
On to Hutch! Warriors Blast Science
Ottumwa --- Playing in their first district title game in four years, the Indian Hills Warriors made the most of the opportunity by blistering visiting North Dakota State College of Science, 110-66, on Tuesday night to secure a spot in next week's NJCAA national tournament.
It will be the school's ninth trip to the national tourney and the first since the 2008 team finished 6th.
The Warriors showed no ill effects after a six-day layoff since clinching the Region 11 postseason title as they jumped on Science early. Eight different players scored points as the Warriors rolled to a quick 20-6 lead.
From there, the margin continued to grow as an inability to handle the IHCC pressure defense doomed the Wildcats' chances. They had 17 turnovers in the first half and 14 more in the second half.
A pair of free throws by Ronnie Stevens gave IHCC its first 20-point lead at 31-11 and Gary Ricks, Jr. ended a big first half with his 4th 3-pointer to send the Warriors off at halftime with a 28-point lead.
Any thoughts that NDSCS (27-5) may have had about getting back into the game in the second half quickly vanished as the determined Warriors ran off nine straight points to open the last half to build the lead to 72-35.
The lead was as large as 50 points late in the game with the Warriors cruising to their 30th win of the season against only three losses.
Six IHCC players scored in double figures, led by Ricks with 18. He added one more three in the second half and his five for the game give him 83 for the season and 155 for his career.
D.J. Bennett continued his late-season surge for the Warriors with 17 points. After scoring in double figures only three times in the first 25 games, Bennett has had 10 or more points in six of the last eight games.
Greg Tucker had 19 points to lead Science, 17 of those coming in the second half.
The Warriors have won their three postseason games by an average of nearly 25 points. They will begin play at the national tourney on Tuesday, March 20, against Monroe College, a team from New York with an identical 30-3 record.
INDIAN HILLS 110, NORTH DAKOTA STATE COLLEGE OF SCIENCE 66
INDIAN HILLS Brandon Spearman 5 1-2 13, Gary Ricks, Jr. 6 1-1 18, Michael Haynes 4 2-3 10, D.J. Bennett 7 3-5 17, Kieran Woods 0 1-2 1, Jameel McKay 4 2-4 10, Roderick Bobbitt 3 0-0 7, Dustin Hogue 4 2-5 10, Ronnie Stevens 2 4-6 8, Trinson White 2 0-0 6, Frank Williams 2 0-0 4, Rawane Ndiaye 2 0-0 4, Gary Ross 0 0-0 0, Tucker Henderson 1 0-0 2 Team 42 16-28 110
NDSCS Fred Joseph 4 0-0 9, Jon Mesghna 3 2-2 10, Joe Terfehr 2 0-0 4, Greg Tucker 8 2-5 19, Tommy Woolridge 3 0-0 7, Jerrod Brown 0 2-2 2, Jeremy Newton 1 0-3 2, Anthony Hendricks 1 2-3 4, Dantrell Edwards 3 2-3 8 Team 25 10-18 66
Halftime score: Indian Hills 63, NDSCS 35; Three-point field goals: IHCC 10 (Ricks 5; Spearman, White 2; Bobbitt 1), NDSCS 6 (Mesghna 2; Joseph, Tucker, Woolridge, Newton 1)
It will be the school's ninth trip to the national tourney and the first since the 2008 team finished 6th.
The Warriors showed no ill effects after a six-day layoff since clinching the Region 11 postseason title as they jumped on Science early. Eight different players scored points as the Warriors rolled to a quick 20-6 lead.
From there, the margin continued to grow as an inability to handle the IHCC pressure defense doomed the Wildcats' chances. They had 17 turnovers in the first half and 14 more in the second half.
A pair of free throws by Ronnie Stevens gave IHCC its first 20-point lead at 31-11 and Gary Ricks, Jr. ended a big first half with his 4th 3-pointer to send the Warriors off at halftime with a 28-point lead.
Any thoughts that NDSCS (27-5) may have had about getting back into the game in the second half quickly vanished as the determined Warriors ran off nine straight points to open the last half to build the lead to 72-35.
The lead was as large as 50 points late in the game with the Warriors cruising to their 30th win of the season against only three losses.
Six IHCC players scored in double figures, led by Ricks with 18. He added one more three in the second half and his five for the game give him 83 for the season and 155 for his career.
D.J. Bennett continued his late-season surge for the Warriors with 17 points. After scoring in double figures only three times in the first 25 games, Bennett has had 10 or more points in six of the last eight games.
Greg Tucker had 19 points to lead Science, 17 of those coming in the second half.
The Warriors have won their three postseason games by an average of nearly 25 points. They will begin play at the national tourney on Tuesday, March 20, against Monroe College, a team from New York with an identical 30-3 record.
INDIAN HILLS 110, NORTH DAKOTA STATE COLLEGE OF SCIENCE 66
INDIAN HILLS Brandon Spearman 5 1-2 13, Gary Ricks, Jr. 6 1-1 18, Michael Haynes 4 2-3 10, D.J. Bennett 7 3-5 17, Kieran Woods 0 1-2 1, Jameel McKay 4 2-4 10, Roderick Bobbitt 3 0-0 7, Dustin Hogue 4 2-5 10, Ronnie Stevens 2 4-6 8, Trinson White 2 0-0 6, Frank Williams 2 0-0 4, Rawane Ndiaye 2 0-0 4, Gary Ross 0 0-0 0, Tucker Henderson 1 0-0 2 Team 42 16-28 110
NDSCS Fred Joseph 4 0-0 9, Jon Mesghna 3 2-2 10, Joe Terfehr 2 0-0 4, Greg Tucker 8 2-5 19, Tommy Woolridge 3 0-0 7, Jerrod Brown 0 2-2 2, Jeremy Newton 1 0-3 2, Anthony Hendricks 1 2-3 4, Dantrell Edwards 3 2-3 8 Team 25 10-18 66
Halftime score: Indian Hills 63, NDSCS 35; Three-point field goals: IHCC 10 (Ricks 5; Spearman, White 2; Bobbitt 1), NDSCS 6 (Mesghna 2; Joseph, Tucker, Woolridge, Newton 1)
Thursday, March 8, 2012
Warriors Grab Region 11 Title
Council Bluffs, IA -- The Indian Hills Warriors picked up a Region 11 postseason championship to go along with their regular-season region title on Wednesday night when the ninth-ranked Warriors pulled away at the end to knock off Iowa Western, 87-70, and sweep the best-of-three Region 11 series with the Reivers.
For the season, the Warriors won all four matchups with Iowa Western and left little doubt as to their supremacy in the region. They were the only team to defeat Iowa Western on its home floor, beating them in both the regular season and postseason.
The pivotal moment in Wednesday's game came with under seven minutes to play in the second half. Iowa Western had stormed back after trailing by as many as 16 points in the second half to cut the deficit to two at 68-66.
Devin Brooks' 3-pointer got the home team to within two and, after a stop, the Reivers' Alonzo Traylor missed a chance to tie the score when he couldn't hit a shot from right in front of the rim.
IHCC got the rebound and Roderick Bobbitt found Gary Ricks, Jr. in the corner and Ricks buried a three while being fouled. He added the free throw for a huge four-point play. On the next Warrior possession Ricks curled in another three to make it 75-66 and the Reivers didn't get closer than six points after that.
Indian Hills scored the last ten points to make the final margin a little deceiving, but there was nothing deceiving about the Warriors' 19-4 run over the final 6:07.
The Warriors got a big night from sophomore center D.J. Bennett. He had 14 points in the first half and 18 for the game, to go along with 12 rebounds and four blocked shots.
Indian Hills got a big night from another sophomore, Brandon Spearman, who drilled three 3s in the second half when he scored 11 of his 13 points.
Ricks had 17 points and in addition to his heroics in the second half, the other holdover from last year's IHCC team -- along with Bennett -- he capped a 15-0 run to end the first half with a buzzer-beating floater from the lane.
Iowa Western outscored the Warriors 14-2 to take a 34-30 lead. Ricks provided IHCC with a spark with a 3-pointer to cut the lead to one and that started Indian Hills' run of 15 straight points.
Bennett had four points in that span and Jameel McKay and Bobbitt each had a three-point play.
The game was tight early with five ties and nine lead changes. Iowa Western rallied behind the play of Antonio Levy who had eight of the points in the 14-2 run.
Levy had 15 points. Xavier Munford led Iowa Western with 24, 20 of them in the second half. He had three straight baskets as the Reivers came back after trailing 55-39 with 14:47 to play.
Brooks twice brought IWCC to within two, but the Warriors helf off the Reivers to win their 29th game of the season and a spot in next Tuesday's District 11 title game against North Dakota State College of Science, the 11th-ranked team in the latest NJCAA poll.
NDSCS earned the spot opposite the Warriors with a 100-92 win over Williston (ND) State in overtime on Wednesday night.
INDIAN HILLS 87, IOWA WESTERN 70
INDIAN HILLS Brandon Spearman 5 0-0 13, Gary Ricks, Jr. 5 3-3 17, Michael Haynes 2 1-2 5, D.J. Bennett 7 4-6 18, Jameel McKay 5 2-3 12, Roderick Bobbitt 2 3-4 7, Dustin Hogue 3 2-6 8, Ronnie Stevens 1 0-0 2, Trinson White 1 0-0 3, Gary Ross 1 0-0 2 Team 32 15-24 87
IOWA WESTERN Xavier Munford 9 4-6 24, Alonzo Traylor 2 1-2 5, Devin Brooks 4 2-2 12, Kelvin Dixon 3 2-2 8, Antonio Levy 5 3-4 15, Bernard Brame 0 0-0 0, Wil Martinez 0 0-0 0, Tavian Pomlee 2 0-0 4, Brock Lutes 1 0-0 2 Team 26 12-16 70
Halftime score: Indian Hills 45, Iowa Western 34; Three-point field goals: IHCC 8 (Ricks 4, Spearman 3, White 1), IWCC 6 (Levy, Munford, Brooks 2)
For the season, the Warriors won all four matchups with Iowa Western and left little doubt as to their supremacy in the region. They were the only team to defeat Iowa Western on its home floor, beating them in both the regular season and postseason.
The pivotal moment in Wednesday's game came with under seven minutes to play in the second half. Iowa Western had stormed back after trailing by as many as 16 points in the second half to cut the deficit to two at 68-66.
Devin Brooks' 3-pointer got the home team to within two and, after a stop, the Reivers' Alonzo Traylor missed a chance to tie the score when he couldn't hit a shot from right in front of the rim.
IHCC got the rebound and Roderick Bobbitt found Gary Ricks, Jr. in the corner and Ricks buried a three while being fouled. He added the free throw for a huge four-point play. On the next Warrior possession Ricks curled in another three to make it 75-66 and the Reivers didn't get closer than six points after that.
Indian Hills scored the last ten points to make the final margin a little deceiving, but there was nothing deceiving about the Warriors' 19-4 run over the final 6:07.
The Warriors got a big night from sophomore center D.J. Bennett. He had 14 points in the first half and 18 for the game, to go along with 12 rebounds and four blocked shots.
Indian Hills got a big night from another sophomore, Brandon Spearman, who drilled three 3s in the second half when he scored 11 of his 13 points.
Ricks had 17 points and in addition to his heroics in the second half, the other holdover from last year's IHCC team -- along with Bennett -- he capped a 15-0 run to end the first half with a buzzer-beating floater from the lane.
Iowa Western outscored the Warriors 14-2 to take a 34-30 lead. Ricks provided IHCC with a spark with a 3-pointer to cut the lead to one and that started Indian Hills' run of 15 straight points.
Bennett had four points in that span and Jameel McKay and Bobbitt each had a three-point play.
The game was tight early with five ties and nine lead changes. Iowa Western rallied behind the play of Antonio Levy who had eight of the points in the 14-2 run.
Levy had 15 points. Xavier Munford led Iowa Western with 24, 20 of them in the second half. He had three straight baskets as the Reivers came back after trailing 55-39 with 14:47 to play.
Brooks twice brought IWCC to within two, but the Warriors helf off the Reivers to win their 29th game of the season and a spot in next Tuesday's District 11 title game against North Dakota State College of Science, the 11th-ranked team in the latest NJCAA poll.
NDSCS earned the spot opposite the Warriors with a 100-92 win over Williston (ND) State in overtime on Wednesday night.
INDIAN HILLS 87, IOWA WESTERN 70
INDIAN HILLS Brandon Spearman 5 0-0 13, Gary Ricks, Jr. 5 3-3 17, Michael Haynes 2 1-2 5, D.J. Bennett 7 4-6 18, Jameel McKay 5 2-3 12, Roderick Bobbitt 2 3-4 7, Dustin Hogue 3 2-6 8, Ronnie Stevens 1 0-0 2, Trinson White 1 0-0 3, Gary Ross 1 0-0 2 Team 32 15-24 87
IOWA WESTERN Xavier Munford 9 4-6 24, Alonzo Traylor 2 1-2 5, Devin Brooks 4 2-2 12, Kelvin Dixon 3 2-2 8, Antonio Levy 5 3-4 15, Bernard Brame 0 0-0 0, Wil Martinez 0 0-0 0, Tavian Pomlee 2 0-0 4, Brock Lutes 1 0-0 2 Team 26 12-16 70
Halftime score: Indian Hills 45, Iowa Western 34; Three-point field goals: IHCC 8 (Ricks 4, Spearman 3, White 1), IWCC 6 (Levy, Munford, Brooks 2)
Tuesday, March 6, 2012
McKay Helps Warriors Take First Step
Ottumwa -- Freshman Jameel McKay ignited a 21-6 second-half run with one of his eight field goals in the half and the Indian Hills Warriors stayed unbeaten at home with an 81-68 win over Iowa Western in the first game of the best-of-three Region 11 championship series.
McKay's basket came after Iowa Western's Wil Martinez hit a 3-pointer with just under eight minutes remaining to bring the Reivers to within three at 56-53. The goal by Martinez represented the only bench points the entire game for Iowa Western, whose bench was outscored by the Warriors' reserves, 25-3.
McKay had a season-high 26 points, 17 of them in the second half, and also grabbed 10 rebounds.
Devin Brooks, Antonio Levy and Alonzo Traylor combined for 60 of the Reivers' 68 points. Iowa Western's season scoring leader, Xavier Munford, was held to five points, about 12 under his average.
Gary Ricks, Jr. hit consecutive 3s in the first half to give IHCC a lead it would never relinquish. McKay followed the triples with a field goal and Indian Hills had used a quick 8-0 burst to go ahead, 14-8.
With Iowa Western down 25-22, the Warriors went on a 14-4 run to take their biggest lead of the first half. Five different IHCC players scored in that run which was capped by a three by Roderick Bobbitt.
After Indian Hills took a 41-35 halftime lead, both teams really struggled offensively at the outset of the second half. Neither scored for almost three minutes with a flurry of missed shots and turnovers plaguing both teams.
Brooks finally broke the ice for Iowa Western, but McKay quickly answered for the Warriors.
McKay's teammates did a great job of setting him up for easy buckets in the second half. Brandon Spearman fed him for a dunk and a six-point lead, right before Martinez's three-pointer. Then, during the game-deciding run, Bobbitt got a steal and led McKay with a perfect pass for a fast-break jam.
Bobbitt added 15 points for the Warriors. Brooks led the Reivers with 25.
The series resumes in Council Bluffs on Wednesday night. The Reivers have lost only once on their homecourt this season, a 91-85 loss to Indian Hills in late January.
INDIAN HILLS 81, IOWA WESTERN 68
INDIAN HILLS Brandon Spearman 3 3-7 9, Gary Ricks, Jr. 2 2-2 8, DeAndray Buckley 0 0-0 0, Michael Haynes 2 0-2 4, D.J. Bennett 3 0-0 6, Jameel McKay 12 2-7 26, Roderick Bobbitt 6 1-1 15, Dustin Hogue 3 0-2 6, Ronnie Stevens 1 0-0 2, Trinson White 1 0-0 3, Gary Ross 0 2-2 2 Team 33 10-23 81
IOWA WESTERN Xavier Munford 1 2-2 5, Alonzo Traylor 7 2-6 16, Devin Brooks 8 6-7 25, Kelvin Dixon 0 0-0 0, Antonio Levy 7 5-7 19, Bernard Brame 0 0-0 0, Wil Martinez 1 0-0 3, Tavian Pomlee 0 0-0 0, Brock Lutes 0 0-0 0 Team 24 15-22 68
Halftime score: Indian Hills 41, Iowa Western 35; Three-point field goals: IHCC 5 (Ricks, Bobbitt 2; White 1), IWCC 5 (Brooks 3; Munford, Martinez 1)
McKay's basket came after Iowa Western's Wil Martinez hit a 3-pointer with just under eight minutes remaining to bring the Reivers to within three at 56-53. The goal by Martinez represented the only bench points the entire game for Iowa Western, whose bench was outscored by the Warriors' reserves, 25-3.
McKay had a season-high 26 points, 17 of them in the second half, and also grabbed 10 rebounds.
Devin Brooks, Antonio Levy and Alonzo Traylor combined for 60 of the Reivers' 68 points. Iowa Western's season scoring leader, Xavier Munford, was held to five points, about 12 under his average.
Gary Ricks, Jr. hit consecutive 3s in the first half to give IHCC a lead it would never relinquish. McKay followed the triples with a field goal and Indian Hills had used a quick 8-0 burst to go ahead, 14-8.
With Iowa Western down 25-22, the Warriors went on a 14-4 run to take their biggest lead of the first half. Five different IHCC players scored in that run which was capped by a three by Roderick Bobbitt.
After Indian Hills took a 41-35 halftime lead, both teams really struggled offensively at the outset of the second half. Neither scored for almost three minutes with a flurry of missed shots and turnovers plaguing both teams.
Brooks finally broke the ice for Iowa Western, but McKay quickly answered for the Warriors.
McKay's teammates did a great job of setting him up for easy buckets in the second half. Brandon Spearman fed him for a dunk and a six-point lead, right before Martinez's three-pointer. Then, during the game-deciding run, Bobbitt got a steal and led McKay with a perfect pass for a fast-break jam.
Bobbitt added 15 points for the Warriors. Brooks led the Reivers with 25.
The series resumes in Council Bluffs on Wednesday night. The Reivers have lost only once on their homecourt this season, a 91-85 loss to Indian Hills in late January.
INDIAN HILLS 81, IOWA WESTERN 68
INDIAN HILLS Brandon Spearman 3 3-7 9, Gary Ricks, Jr. 2 2-2 8, DeAndray Buckley 0 0-0 0, Michael Haynes 2 0-2 4, D.J. Bennett 3 0-0 6, Jameel McKay 12 2-7 26, Roderick Bobbitt 6 1-1 15, Dustin Hogue 3 0-2 6, Ronnie Stevens 1 0-0 2, Trinson White 1 0-0 3, Gary Ross 0 2-2 2 Team 33 10-23 81
IOWA WESTERN Xavier Munford 1 2-2 5, Alonzo Traylor 7 2-6 16, Devin Brooks 8 6-7 25, Kelvin Dixon 0 0-0 0, Antonio Levy 7 5-7 19, Bernard Brame 0 0-0 0, Wil Martinez 1 0-0 3, Tavian Pomlee 0 0-0 0, Brock Lutes 0 0-0 0 Team 24 15-22 68
Halftime score: Indian Hills 41, Iowa Western 35; Three-point field goals: IHCC 5 (Ricks, Bobbitt 2; White 1), IWCC 5 (Brooks 3; Munford, Martinez 1)
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