North Idaho College Basketball Lands Gem In Louisiana’s Harmon
The North Idaho College men’s basketball recruiting class just got a lot better.
Blane Harmon, a 6-foot-4 guard/forward from Rayne, La., has signed a letter of intent. He averaged nearly a triple double in high school.
“Everybody in the country was trying to get this kid,” NIC assistant coach Mark White said. “I haven’t slept the last two weeks. When we got the letter back on Saturday, I had the best sleep I’ve had in a long time.”
Harmon, who wasn’t academically eligible to go Division I, can play any position on the court, White said.
Harmon, whose cousin is Gerald Paddio, former UNLV and NBA player, joins NIC’s impressive list of signees, including Tennesee prep standouts Johnny Goodman and Brad Fields, and Odessa (Texas) College transfer Nathaniel Bailey.
NIC is in the running for several more nationally known recruits, White said, including Chicago prep stars Melvin Ely and Nick Irvin.
Indians streak at 6
Lefty Justin Lamber struck out two batters in relief with the bases loaded in the bottom of the ninth inning to preserve a 6-5 Northwest League baseball victory for the Spokane Indians over the Everett AquaSox.
It was the sixth straight win for the North Division-leading Indians (11-3), and their fifth in a row coming from behind. The Indians twice trailed by two runs.
Cougars aide promoted
Buzz Verduzco, who starred for Washington State in the mid-1980s and has been an assistant baseball coach for the Cougars since 1990, has been promoted to the No. 1 assistant position, coach Steve Farrington announced Monday.
“Buzz has been a part of this program for 10 years. He has paid his dues,” Farrington said. “He will take a much more active role in recruiting and be more involved in our game management. Buzz is a worker and a good players’ coach, a real people guy.”
Verduzco is a former Pacific-10 North and WSU record holder, who finished his playing career with the Cougars in 1985.
Legion baseball
Brian Chance pitched a one-hitter and Jeremy Isherwood drove in two runs with a pair of singles as the Cannons blanked the North Stars 8-0 in a five-inning AAA American Legion baseball game Monday night at Jackson Field.
Brian Schutz managed the North Stars’ only hit.
Carl Ward’s three-run double highlighted a five-run first inning that sent Yakima on its way to a 10-6 win over Hess/Wheeler of Spokane in Sunday’s championship game of the Pow Wow Tournament for AA Legion teams in Toppenish.
Pro-Am golf
Mark Gardner, the pro at The Creek at Qualchan, managed a plus 3 to lead the Athletic Round Table Pro-Am using the Stableford scoring system at Sun Dance.
It rewards birdies and eagles while deducting points for bogies.
Jerry Zink of The Fairways and Andy Hite of the Colville Elks had plus 2 scores to share second in the pro division.
In the gross amateur division, Jim Campasino Jr. of Sun Dance, Chad Gunn of Esmeralda and Ray Kish of Manito all finished at plus 2.
AAU basketball
The Spokane Stars have advanced to the quarterfinals of the 18U AAU girls basketball tournament in Chattanooga, Tenn., after dispatching Iowa 86-62.
Spokane, scheduled to play Indiana The Family at 5:30 a.m. PDT today in the final eight, was led by Angelina Wolvert with 18 points and 12 rebounds. Megan Franza of Leavenworth had 16 points and six assists.
The Stars played without Kristen Willis, who suffered from dehydration during warmups and was hospitalized. Stars officials said she was alert, but would need medical clearance to play.
In the consolation bracket of the 16U tournament at Chattanooga, the Stars defeated Maryland 69-59 with Anna Getz scoring 16 points and Heather Cox 11.
AAU volleyball
Spokane Performance Rowdy dropped three decision in the National Junior Olympic 14U Elite Tournament in Denver.
Evergreen, Ill., defeated Spokane 15-5, 11-5; Levittown, Puerto Rico, was a 15-3, 15-5 winner; and Austin, Texas, overcame Rowdy 15-10, 15-10.
, DataTimes MEMO: Changed in the Spokane edition