Warriors Roll in Opener

Ottumwa -- Like most opening games, there was good and bad for head coach Barret Peery to analyze after Friday's IHCC game against Carl Sandburg College in the Blackwell Tire Classic.  But the second-year Indian Hills coach was obviously happy with the outcome, a 109-84 win for the fifth-ranked Warriors.

"We're still a work in progress," Peery said, "but I like our pieces so far."

The Warriors' coach had to like what he saw when Indian Hills put together two separate runs in the first half to break away from the visitors and grab a 48-29 halftime lead.

However, the Warriors weren't able to completely subdue the Cougars until the final minutes of the second half.  Carl Sandburg made more 3-pointers in the second half, eight, than they had total field goals in the first half.  They also forced 23 IHCC turnovers and shot 35 free throws, thanks to 29 Warrior fouls.

Indian Hills had too much firepower though with seven players in double figures and a decided rebounding advantage.  And the Warriors' press was reponsible for causing many of CSC's 29 turnovers.

Sophomore Jameel McKay picked up where he left off last year when he had double-doubles in all four games in the national tournament, on his way to being named to the all-tournament team.  McKay kept his streak alive Friday with a 20-point, 17-rebound effort.

He had six field goals in the first half, all of them off offensive rebounds.  And McKay had 13 rebounds at halftime.

Jelan Kendrick, who transferred to IHCC after a season in the SEC with Mississippi, helped provide support with 16 points and 11 rebounds for a double-double of his own.

Justin Moss and Ronald Ross illustrated the depth Peery feels he has with this year's Warrior team, both scoring in double figures -- 13 for Moss and 11 for Ross.  Ross also came up with five steals.

Three Indian Hills sophs, all in the starting lineup, also had double-figure scoring nights.  Frank Williams scored 11 and had three of IHCC's four 3-pointers, and Ronnie Stevens and Trinson White had 10 apiece.

Carl Sandburg placed four players in double figures, led by Marvin Nunn's 19 points and 18 f rom Seth Wickert.

The Warriors will get a stiff early test on Saturday night when Kirkwood, ranked 7th in the preseason in NJCAA Division II, battles IHCC at 7:00.  Kirkwood tuned up for the meeting with a 102-50 blowout of the William Penn JV in Friday's opening game.

INDIAN HILLS 109, CARL SANDBURG 84

INDIAN HILLS
Jameel McKay 10 0-1 20, Richard Amardi 2 0-0 4, Trinson White 5 0-1 10, Dustin Hogue 2 0-0 4, Ronald Ross 3 5-8 11, Jelan Kendrick 7 1-3 16, Justin Moss 6 1-1 13, Frank Williams 4 0-0 11, Ronnie Stevens 4 2-5 10, Gary Williams, Jr. 0 1-2 1, Martin Dixon-Green 2 3-5 7, Majok Deng 1 0-0 2, Gary Ross 0 0-0 0  Team 46 13-26 109

CARL SANDBURG
Seth Wickert 4 7-10 18, Marvin Austin 7 2-2 19, Zach Grover 1 2-2 5, Jerrell White 0 4-6 4, Juwan Hubbard 1 3-5 6, Jeremy Brown 1 0-0 2, Aaron Powers 6 2-2 14, Matt Sagona 1 0-0 3, Mitch Wendling 4 4-6 12, Anthony Misuraca 0 1-2 1, Javaunte Hicks 0 0-0 0  Team 25 25-35 84

Halftime score: Indian Hills 48, Carl Sandburg 29; Three-point field goals: IHCC 4 (F. Williams 3, Kendrick 1), CSC 9 (Wickert, Nunn 3; Grover, Hubbard, Sagona 1)