In brief: Oklahoma star to play for Gonzaga

Men’s basketball: Ryan Spangler had a very busy, tiring and productive weekend.

It started with Spangler tossing two touchdown passes to lift Bridge Creek High School to a 12-6 football win over fourth-ranked Tuttle in Blanchard, Okla., Friday night. The following morning, Spangler and his parents flew to Spokane to visit Gonzaga on a recruiting trip.

Spangler, a 6-foot-8, 220-pound forward, verbally committed to the Bulldogs during the weekend, hopped on a plane early Monday morning and made Bridge Creek’s afternoon football practice.

“It was a long weekend because I was tired, but it went by fast,” Spangler said. “I’m happy – no more worrying about that (recruiting) stuff.”

Spangler averaged 26 points and 18.5 rebounds as a junior. He’s rated No. 51 among 2011 power forwards, according to ESPN.com.

“He’s a fabulous athlete,” Bridge Creek basketball coach Jason Sanders said. “He kind of flew under the radar mostly because everyone assumed he was going to play football.

“He’s the best rebounder I’ve seen. I know that’s what caught a lot of people’s attention. He has big hands, a football mentality and a little bit of a mean streak. He plays relentlessly.”

Spangler’s father, Larry, coached prep football and two of Spangler’s brothers played college football.

Spangler said he had 24 Division I basketball offers before narrowing his choices to Gonzaga and Colorado. He picked the Zags because “you know you’re going to win there, plus I liked the players.”

Spangler also pitched for the baseball team.

“He’s a three-sport kid and has never been full-time in the gym,” Sanders said. “Once he gets in the gym, he has huge upside.”

Jim Meehan

Marsh returns as Shock add six

Arena football: Linebacker Antwan Marsh, who played a key role in the 2010 ArenaBowl for the Spokane Shock, will return next season.

Marsh is one of six players added to the 2011 roster Monday. Others are defensive linemen Khreem Smith and Francis Maka, and defensive backs Josh Ferguson, Nygel Rogers and Rucshard Dodd-Masters.

Smith, who played for Milwaukee last season, is one of the most dominant pass rushers in the AFL. He posted a career-high nine sacks last season.

Rogers played with Chicago last season and played with the Shock in 2007 and 2008.

“When you are able to get these types of players on a team, it gets other players excited,” Shock coach Rob Keefe said.