(Bloomington, Ind.)  According to Robert Jordan, a sportswriter for the Contra Costa Times, Indiana recruit Eli Holman, a 6'10" center from Richmond, California, has vowed never to set foot in the city again after being shot Saturday night.  One bulllet grazed his upper back, narrowly missing his spine, while another pierced the car's headrest.  Three shots in all were fired.

The incident has left Holman so traumatized that he has left his hometown to live with Michelle Banks, his legal guardian since September 2006.  Three juveniles have been detained in the shooting, which occurred late Saturday night as Holman and three friends pulled into a Quality Inn to attend a friend's party.

http://www.mercurynews.com/mld/mercurynews/news/breaking_news/16522811.htm

Dinc's Double-Double Leads Tigers Past Tritons

(Bloomington, Ind.)  Former Indiana Hoosier Cem Dinc, playing his first college basketball game since December 31, 2005, registered a double-double in leading the Marshalltown Community College Tigers to a 74-65 overtime win over the Iowa Community College Tritons Wednesday night in Marshalltown, Iowa. Dinc, a 6'10" 250 pound center scored 16 points, yanked down 13 rebounds and blocked 5 shots in helping the Tigers improve their record to 12-5 on the season. The Tigers, playing before a packed house, outscored the Tritons 18-9 in the extra period.

Dinc was the key to Marshalltown's victory. The Tigers started out playing their characteristic run and gun brand of basketball, but, after a long holiday break, their perimeter shooting was as cold as the chilly January air. At the end of the first half, Marshalltown had managed only 24 points, far off the pace of their 113 points per game average.  In the second half, Marshalltown Coach Brynjar Brynjarsson opted to slow the pace and run more half court sets to get higher percentage shots. That decision paid dividends. Dinc, instead of trailing the break as he did in the first stanza, set up in the post and the Tigers rewarded his hard work in getting open by feeding him for several inside baskets, including two monstrous dunks that left the stanchion shaking. Dinc also also scored six of the Tigers' 18 overtime points.

For Dinc it was a breakout performance, but one he took in stride. "It felt good to be on the court again and I'm just happy we won," he said. "Our team is improving day by day and we're ready for conference play. We want to give Coach Brynjarsson his first conference win Saturday."  If the Tigers are to do so, they'll have to do it on the road against the powerful Iowa Western Community College Reivers.  The Reviers are 17-3 on the season and edging their way into the national rankings.

HOLMAN DECISION DELAYED AGAIN

(Bloomington, Ind.)  Eli Holman will have to wait through the weekend to learn his fate on his prep basketball future. The 6'10" Holman and Richmond High School administrators met this morning with California Interscholastic Federation Executive Directivor Marie Ishida as planned, but, according to a school offical, a ruling on his appeal for reinstatement has been delayed until Monday.

Holman has been under suspension since December 2005 for shoving a referee. His appeal for reinstatement was denied last month, but contained inaccurate information showing he was failing two classes, had 66 unexcused absences and had not completed anger-management counseling. Orlando Ramos, Richmond's principal, attributed the error-filled appeal to the three-month absence of an employee responsible for record maintenance.

This most recent delay appears to be the last. Ishida informed Holman she will issue her ruling on Monday, which is when this semester's grades come out. Based on that, it would appear she is inclined to reinstate Holman if his grade point average is 2.0 or higher.

--Ed Anderson 1/17/7

Holman Decision Delayed Until Tomorrow

(Bloomington, Ind.)  Marie Ishida, the executive director of the California Interscholastic Federation, has delayed until tomorrow her decision on whether to reinstate Richmond High School prep star and '07 Indiana recruit Eli Holman.  She had indicated last week she would issue a ruling today after considering corrected information submitted by Richmond Principal Orlando Ramos on stipulations Holman was to have satisfied prior to seeking reinstatement.

Holman, who has neither practiced nor played for Richmond since being suspended four games into his junior season for pushing an official, had hoped for a favorable ruling that would allow him to play tonight.  Instead, Ishida plans to travel to Richmond tomorrow to meet with Holman and Ramos at the school.  The delay means the earliest Holman would be eligible to resume his high school basketball career would be Thursday, which is when Richmond plays next.

--Ed Anderson 1/16/7

Update on Cem Dinc

(Bloomington, Ind.)  Cem Dinc's much anticipated return to college basketball has been delayed.  The winter storm that has gripped the northern part of the midwest and moved on to the northeast plastered the plains with ice, sleet and snow, preventing the Hamilton Aliens from making the journey to Marshalltown.

The Marshalltown Tigers will take the court Wednesday night at 6:00 p.m. local time for a game against Iowa Central Community College.