Sports
NCC Update: Raridon, Men's Hoops Team off to Slow Start
Neuqua grad Derek Raridon was a preseason Division III All-American, but he and the Cardinals have started the season 0-3.
North Central College's men's basketball team is off to an 0-3 start after its 66-59 loss to Aurora University Tuesday.
Neuqua Valley graduate Derek Raridon is a preseason All-American for the Cardinals, and he led NCC with 12 points, six rebounds and three assists Tuesday.
The Cardinals kicked off the season at home over the weekend with the Holiday Inn Express Tip-Off Tournament and were handed a pair of losses. Bluffton came in and dealt North Central a 61-56 setback Friday and Edgewood followed that up Saturday with a 59-43 loss.
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Raridon is tied with CJ Goldthree at 8.3 points per game to lead the Cardinals thus far, but Raridon's shooting has struggled early on. He is shooting only 27.5 percent from the field and has missed all seven of his 3-point attempts.
The Cardinals get back on the court at 1 p.m. Saturday at Illinois College in Jacksonville.
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* North Central's men's cross country team was unable to defend its Division III national title Saturday, but still finished second to record its third straight top-two finish at the meet.
The Cardinals scored 104 points, falling behind Haverford's 87 for the crown. Michael Spain finished his illustrious North Central career by placing third individually, the only time he has not won a race all season.
Neal Klein was 14th despite losing a shoe a half-mile into the 8,000-meter race.
On the women's side, Amanda Laesch earned All-America honors by placing 15th individually. She becomes the sixth female cross country runner in school history to earn All-America honors.
* North Central's women's basketball team picked up its first win Friday before falling to St. Mary's College (Ind.) Saturday, 75-56.
The Cardinals never trailed Friday in a 64-52 win over Webster. Christine Karl paced NCC with 17 points and Jackie Errico finished with 10 points and 10 rebounds.
* Cardinals wrestler Billy Malone was named the CCIW Co-Wrestler Of The Week after winning the title at 285 pounds at the Concordia (Wis.) Open Saturday.
Malone is back after sitting out last season. He went 16-12 two years ago. The Cardinals are off until traveling to the Indiana Little State Championships at Manchester College Dec. 4.
* North Central's football team (11-0) will look to win its first second-round playoff game Saturday at noon at Benedetti-Wehrli Stadium against Ohio Northern (10-1).
