Bobcats repeat

From: Council Bluffs Daily Nonpareil, IA - 16 Feb 2003

FAIRBAULT, Minn. - The Iowa School for the Deaf boys defended their Great Plains Schools for the Deaf Basketball Tournament title Saturday night, making it two in a row by cruising past Kansas School for the Deaf 59-35.

"That's been our goal since the beginning of the season, we wanted to repeat as GPSD champs," ISD coach Dan Gradoville said. "We've had that in the back of our mind all year, we've had our ups and downs, but the kids pulled together for this."

Six-foot-eight standout Edlin Dorn once again set the tone for the Bobcats, amassing 36 points while hauling in 15 rebounds, swatting five shots and doling out three assists.

"Edlin's the total package, and he had a great all-around game," Gradoville said. "They couldn't stop him."

The Bobcats came out strong, holding Kansas Deaf to just four points in the first quarter while scoring 14 of their own to lead by double digits after the first frame.

"We took off early and played good defense the whole first half," Gradoville said. "We have played good defense in all three of our games here."

Moises Arteaga, who handed out a team-high nine assists in the game, keyed the Bobcat defense on the perimeter to shut down KSD's outside game.

"Moises was dishing the ball tonight and he was a terror on defense too," Gradoville said. "They didn't get any open shots because him and Scott (Tinkham) and Eric (Humlicek) did a great job outside."

Humlicek added four assists in the winning effort, and senior Nic Upchurch finished with 11 points and eight rebounds.

"We played great team ball tonight," Gradoville said. "We came here and played three days of good basketball, and I'm really proud of our kids right now."

Four seniors played in their final basketball game for the Bobcats Saturday night in Upchurch, Tinkham, Daniel Lewis and Michael Hamann.

"Those guys have been a part of a very successful four-year span here," Gradoville said. "They have a lot to be proud of, and we're going to miss them."

Kansas Deaf 4 14 4 13 - 35

Iowa Deaf 14 12 15 18 - 59

Kansas Deaf: Clarence Minnenhall 4, Tyrone Lucas 10, Chuck Atwood 2, Greg Carlson 2, Greg Lewendoski 4, Dean Muszynski 5, Chester Kuschmider 3, Justin Brown 5, Mike Harper 0.

Iowa Deaf: Daniel Lewis 4, Shane Estes 0, Scott Tinkham 6, Moises Arteaga 2 (9a), David Arteaga 0, Eric Humlicek 0 (4a), Derek Bohlman 0, Michael Hamann 0, Nic Upchurch 11 (8r), Edlin Dorn 36 (15r, 5b, 3a).

Records: Kansas Deaf (na), Iowa Deaf (14-6).

©Daily Nonpareil 2003