Norfolk, Nebraska -- Shane Gatling was held without a 3-point field goal in Indian Hills' win against Marshalltown last Saturday night. It was the first time all year, in 21 contests, that the sophomore guard had not made at least one 3-pointer. Gatling, though, showed early in Wednesday's game with Northeast (Neb.) there wouldn't be a repeat of the Marshalltown game. He drilled four threes in the first 15 minutes and added four more after halftime as the second-rated Warriors maintained their lengthy winning streak in an 83-55 thumping of the Hawks. They've won 22 in a row.
After NCC's Jaquan Sanders snapped a 15-15 tie with a 3-pointer, it was Gatling, fittingly, who gave IHCC a lead it would not give up. A rare two-point field goal by the Niagara transfer -- one of only two for the game -- was followed by a deep three and Indian Hills was up, 20-18.
The Warriors were able to fight back after a slow start. The back-to-back field goals from Gatling came with around 12 minutes elapsed and IHCC took off from there.
Corey Manigault entered off the Indian Hills bench and immediately made an impact. He collected three offensive rebounds and scored eight first-half points. Manigault wound up with 15 points. Gatling dropped in 28 and Ivan Aurrecoechea scored 16 and collected nine boards.
IHCC recovered from an early four-point deficit to lead by 13 late in the first half and by 11 at the break.
The Warriors then stormed out of the lockerroom to put the game away at the outset of the final period. They ran off the first eight points, didn't allow an NCC point until over four minutes had elapsed, and eventually grew the lead to 33 on a late three by Connor Murrell.
Gatling's eight 3s were one away from the school single-game record held by Dwight Hardy and DeShawn Walker. He had nailed seven in a game three times earlier in the season.
The 55 points scored by Northeast, which shot under 34 percent, was more than 28 points below its season average. The Hawks made only 7-of-33 tries from behind the arc and attempted only seven free throws.
In winning their 10th road game of the season, the Warriors maintained their share of first place in the conference standings with Iowa Western. Each is 3-0. IHCC and IWCC will determine who has outright possession of the top spot in the league when they square off at the Hellyer Center on Saturday night at 7:00.
INDIAN HILLS 83, NORTHEAST 55
INDIAN HILLS
Ivan Aurrecoechea 6 4-8 16, Jamel Allen 1 4-5 6, Antonio Williams 3 3-5 9, Tomas Woldetensae 0 0-0 0, Shane Gatling 10 0-0 28, Connor Murrell 2 0-0 5, Devontae Lane 1 0-0 2, Corey Manigault 6 3-5 15, Rob Montgomery 0 0-0 0, James Jean-Marie 1 0-3 2, Javier Valeiras 0 0-0 0 Team 30 14-26 83
NORTHEAST
Steve Wooten 8 0-0 16, Melki Moreaux 2 1-3 5, Allen Anderson 4 2-2 11, Jeremiah Codden 0 0-0 0, Moses Byekwaso 1 1-2 4, Jaquan Sanders 3 0-0 8, Julius Sakinis 2 0-0 6, Brandon Villalpando 1 0-0 3, Majok Kur 2 0-0 4 Team 22 4-7 55
Halftime: Indian Hills 37, Northeast 26; Three-point field goals: IHCC 9 (Gatling 8, Murrell 1), NCC 7 (Sanders 2, Sakinis 2, Anderson 1, Byekwaso 1, Villalpando 1)