Sports

PEORIA, Ariz. – From his vantage point in center field, Julio Rodriguez had more insight than most into what made Mariners’ pitchers so good last season.

White Sox 8, Mariners 7 at Camelback Ranch

TUCSON, Ariz. – The impending finality of the Washington men’s basketball team’s last days in the Pac-12 never felt more intense and visceral than it did at the start of Saturday’s game against No. 4 Arizona.

For all the high-end talent among Northern Arizona’s distance-running dominators, lesser-known teammates can still find space to soak up a little front-running sunshine.

Despite making its 20th consecutive appearance in the Northwest Conference Tournament championship, the Whitworth men’s basketball team came out on Saturday night like the program had something to prove.

Excuses were baked into Saturday’s match.

From staff reports

Eastern Washington picked up a significant 85-76 victory Saturday over Northern Colorado in Greeley, Colorado, to extend its lead in the Big Sky standings to two games with three more games remaining.

If the Gonzaga women’s basketball team was exhausted from West Coast Conference road games – and why would it be, it hasn’t been challenged this season – it wasn’t evident Saturday afternoon.

Follow along as the Bulldogs host the Broncos tonight at 7 p.m. on ESPN2.

TEMPE, Ariz. – Jeremy Harden told Megan Yanda he just wanted to take a picture at halfcourt. As the party unfolded around him, his No. 21 Washington State team moments removed from a colossal upset of No. 4 Arizona in Tucson Thursday night, Harden led his girlfriend to the blue and red “A” logo at midcourt.

Freeman has been one of the top teams in 1A all season, but if the Scotties are to contend for a trophy at state, they’ll have to come from a disadvantageous position to do so.

Mead has played on the final day at state the past two years, bringing home third- and fifth-place trophies.

Graham Ike

There was no shortage of tributes for Gonzaga’s lone senior, Anton Watson, on Senior Night. One of the coolest happened long before 6,000 filled the McCarthey Athletic Center to witness Gonzaga’s 94-81 victory over Santa Clara on Saturday. More than an hour before tip-off, Watson had one basket all to himself, putting up shots and free throws with his teammates watching from in seats along the sideline. "Just watching greatness,” Graham Ike said.

A GRIP ON SPORTS • Not all weekends can be ones that include plopping down on the couch and ingesting sports on TV hour after hour. They should, but not all are. Life isn’t fair.

It was probably just a coincidence that Friday evening’s final race was finishing before Egypt Simmons took the stage in earnest. Or maybe it wasn’t.

BELLEVUE – Great results, no complaints.

From staff reports