Lots to get to this morning. The Idaho basketball teams opened their schedules with an exhibition doubleheader sweep last night and the Vandal football squad faces a sizable test tonight vs. Fresno State. Keep reading for more.
Game day in the desert. When the sun comes up, I’m sure it will be another perfect golfing day. Football? I’m not so sure. Isn’t that game supposed to be played on the frozen tundra or something? Ah well, at least no one will need a coat. Read on for links and notes.
The Wildcats were in a mismatch as they advanced to the first round of the state 3A football playoffs. They scored 33 first-half points en route to a 47-7 romp.
Here’s my story:
It took awhile for Mead’s defense to adjust to Southridge and the offense never solved the Suns, whose pressure on a young quarterback led to a 14-10 victory. All scoring was in the first half.
Here’s my story:
The Sandpoint football team opened the State 4A playoffs with a 30-0 win over visiting Middleton.
Read correspondent William Love’s unedited story by clicking the tab below.
The Coeur d’Alene football team made the most of a second chance, pulling away from Lake City in the second half.
Read my unedited game story by clicking the tab below.
I keep getting calls returned, spaced several hours apart, which require a quick update to my original article on the details of the new arena football league.
I don’t have any other calls out, so the final unedited version is below. It’s not a whole lot different from the previous one or two, but it does mention the commissioner discussing the possibility of another couple of teams joining the fold.
Read on.
Spokane’s roster continues to grow as three more player signings were announced Friday afternoon, including the return of Harrison Nikolao.
More below.
We’re in Tucson after avoiding the overturned car in the median of Interstate 10 - everyone looked OK as far as I could tell. Other than that one car, everyone was doing their age – which was about 80. Anyhow, we’re here and here is the unedited version of our advance – on Jeff Tuel’s return to his boyhood home – and our game-day items. Read on.
Idaho quarterback Nathan Enderle is a game-time decision for tomorrow’s Fresno State game with what’s believed to be a bruised rotator cuff, sources have confirmed to the Spokesman-Review. Enderle took very few reps in Tuesday’s practice, and that trend continued throughout the week, a source said.
Vandals coach Robb Akey was unavailable to comment this afternoon.
OK, the Shock post below wouldn’t accept the link to Adam Shackleford visiting with the Tri-Cities Fever about an assistant coaching position. Here it is, hopefully.
Lewis and Clark’s easy victory over Kennewick last night could, like last year, be a harbinger of things to come. Last year the Tigers beat Kamiakin by four TDs and the Greater Spokane League won every crossover matchup with the Columbia Basin Big Nine.
Proof will be in the pudding beginning tonight with Mt. Spokane hosting Sunnyside at Joe Albi Stadium, 5:30 p.m., followed by Mead against Southridge at 8 for state berths. CV is at Albi, 3 p.m. tomorrow against Kamiakin. There are also the crossover contests going on as season enders for the rest of the schools. It will be interesting to see what transpires.
Ferris and North Central boys and Shadle Park girls - hopefully hale and hearty - chase State cross country team championships tomorrow at Sun Willows Golf Course in Pasco. The day begins at 9:30 a.m. with Wheelchair competition and continues with a dozen races at half hour intervals, concluding with 4A boys at 2:30 p.m.
Below are the individuals involved:
I put together a roundup of everything Shock related, including Ben McCombs’ return, Raul Vijil’s possible return, the departure of four Shock players to a rival team, Adam Shackleford talking jobs with Tri-Cities and more details about the new arena football league.
Read on.
Ex-Zag Ira Brown was drafted by Austin in the fourth round of NBA Development League draft. More here. The Toros have been in the news for their selection of Nancy Lieberman as head coach.
Brown played on a Spokane All-Star team, scoring 18 points and grabbing six boards, in a four-point loss to No. 5 North Idaho College earlier this week.
Another Friday, another airport. And another morning post. Before we get on a plane to start the trip to Tucson, we pulled together some links. Read on.
Some notes for you after Paul Wulff’s conference call and practice, including a surprise appearance from an alum and a new walk-on kicker. Read on.
Steve Axman’s resume would take more than just a page or two — 38 years of coaching, 19 stops, 12 published books. Yes, that’s right — the Idaho offensive coordinator is an accomplished author. Read on for more in a story for tomorrow’s paper.
The Western Hockey League schedule is picking up and the Spokane Chiefs seem to be picking up momentum.
A 5-1 win over Chilliwack Wednesday night gave them three wins in their last four games and the loss was a well played game when the visitors’ goalie stole a game.
“Once you get into some games your mentality changes, you’re always ready to play,” Chiefs coach Hardy Sauter said. “The guys have figured out the speed and work ethic we need to be successful. They’re now implementing that. There is a confidence when we play well we can beat good teams. As of late we’ve played very, very well.”
The Chiefs will need that consistency and confidence. After a Friday game in Seattle they play four straight at home, including Saturday against B.C. Division leading Vancouver, Tuesday against Everett, the team just above them in the U.S. Division.
A key factor in the improvement is the play of the unheralded young forwards, which the coach and a veteran addressed after the game, and the defense seeming to find a groove. Keep reading for their comments and additional comments on the trade of veteran forward Dustin Donaghy.
Phil Lumpkin, the successful coach at O’Dea High School in Seattle has died at age 57. The cause of depth, according to these stories in The Seattle Times, was related to pneumonia. In a related story, fellow coaches share their recollections.
We got a little sidetracked this morning listening to a couple of sports podcasts. Hard to believe what can be said on the radio in Passaic, New Jersey can be heard in Pullman, Washington … or Cairo, Egypt for that matter. And so can whatever is written. Strange world we live in. Read on.
The Spokane Chiefs turned in a solid performance for a 5-1 win over Chilliwack. Afterwards they traded 20-year old forward Dustin Donaghy to Lethbridge for a sixth-round draft pick.
Keep reading for my unedited game story for Thursday paper and then check back tomorrow for more from the players and coaches.
Saturday night against Notre Dame, the Washington State University fullback snuck out into the right flat and caught a pass from Jeff Tuel. It went for 12 yards. And if you were wondering who No. 37 was that caught it, read on. We’ll tell you.
The Spokane Shock signed four players, including a pair of familiar names (Markee White and Alex Teems) and a former All-AFL receiver. They are the first four players to officially join the Shock in the new Arena Football 1. White is pictured above.
More below. (There’s also more on each player at the team’s Web site: spokaneshock.com).
Here’s the last intallment of the season.
Click below to see Greg Lee’s football picks for the first round of the Idaho state playoffs.
From Pullman to Tucson and everywhere in between. That’s the area we cover today with links and notes. Read on.
The practice week started for the Idaho Vandals this afternoon inside the Kibbie Dome. There were some interesting developments to share along with a little piece I put together after talking to quarterbacks coach Jonathan Smith. Read on.
On post-season life support and needing a miracle, pre-season Greater Spokane League football favorite Ferris got one last week.
Tuesday night, in front of 2,050 fans at Joe Albi Stadium, the resuscitated Saxons made the most of their second chance in a mini-game tie-breaker series that resurrected State 4A playoff hopes.
Ferris defeated first Gonzaga Prep 14-7, then University 10-0 to earn the third and final GSL berth to state qualifying games against the Columbia Basin Big Nine. The Saxons (6-3) travel Friday to unbeaten CBBN No. 2 seed, Wenatchee (9-0) for a 7 p.m. game in the Apple Bowl.
A pretty interesting day in Pullman, what with a couple of visitors to basketball practice and some doings on the football practice field. Read on.