Fast Break

College football

McElwain takes Alabama job

Eastern Washington University’s loss is Alabama’s gain.

Jim McElwain, the former EWU quarterback (1980-83) who turned down an offer to be the Eastern head coach earlier this month, was Wednesday named the offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach by head coach Nick Saban.

McElwain helped guide Fresno State to a 9-4 record in his lone season after it went 4-8 the previous year. He spent the 2006 season as quarterbacks coach for the Oakland Raiders.

“Jim is a phenomenal coach and we are thrilled to have him on board,” Saban said. “He did an outstanding job last year at Fresno State. Their improvement on offense, especially in the play of their quarterback, was tremendous.”

“I’m ready to hit the ground running as soon as I arrive in Tuscaloosa,” McElwain said. “Coach Saban and his staff have the Alabama football program on the rise and I want to do my part to continue that momentum.”

McElwain was Michigan State’s assistant head coach, receivers coach and special teams coach from 2003-05. He has also had stints as an assistant at Louisville, Montana State and Eastern Washington.

NBA

Durant among rookie challengers

Portland teammates Brandon Roy and LaMarcus Aldridge will lead the sophomore team against Seattle’s Kevin Durant and the rookies in the rookie challenge during the All-Star weekend.

Memphis had three players chosen for the game, which will be played on Feb. 15 in New Orleans. Rudy Gay will play for the second-year players, while Mike Conley and Juan Carlos Navarro will play for the rookies.

International stars Yi Jianlian (China) of Milwaukee and Luis Scola (Argentina) of Houston also will play for the rookies.

High school sports

GSL basketball slate postponed

Greater Spokane League basketball games scheduled for tonight were postponed after the Spokane district kept schools closed today.

The games had not yet been rescheduled as of Wednesday night.

Some other area high school sporting events were also postponed. Check the Menu on the Scoreboard page (C6) for games that were still scheduled to be played.

High school sports

Softball, baseball shifts to Spokane

This spring’s Washington State 1A softball and 1A and 2A baseball tournaments, May 23 and 24, are moving from Wenatchee to Spokane.

Softball will be at Franklin Park and baseball at Avista Stadium.

The move was approved during last weekend’s WIAA Executive Board meeting. Also approved was expansion of state girls wrestling from eight- to 12-person brackets.