Whitman rallies to surprise No. 1 Whitworth men

Men’s basketball: Josh Duckworth scored 16 of his team-high 24 points in the second half and Whitman (18-6, 11-4) halted the No. 1-ranked Whitworth men’s basketball team’s 23-game winning streak 82-79 in Northwest Conference action Tuesday in Walla Walla.

The Pirates (23-1, 14-1), led by 30 points from Mike Taylor, saw their lead pushed to 14 on a pair of free throws by Felix Friedt with 5:41 remaining in the game.

The Pirates didn’t score again.

The Missionaries went on a 17-0 run in the final 5:41 of the second half. They took their first lead of the game on a free throw from Brandon Shaw 80-79 with 38 seconds left.

Whitworth, which has already clinched the No. 1 seed in the NWC tournament, will play Pacific in its season finale Saturday.

M’s add Griffey as consultant

Baseball: Ken Griffey Jr. is returning to the Seattle Mariners as a special consultant less than a year after abruptly retiring from baseball, the team said Tuesday.

Griffey’s role is still being defined, but he’ll be involved with the M’s at spring training and the regular season, along with visiting most of the Mariners minor league affiliates.

Griffey’s agent, Brian Goldberg, said in an e-mail that Griffey should be in Arizona next month. “The Mariners didn’t have to do this,” Goldberg said. “He and I are both appreciative of the opportunity.”

Griffey is also expected to be involved with marketing, broadcasting and community relations.

“I’m looking forward to staying very involved with the Mariners, working with the players throughout the organization, staying involved with the community and assisting in other areas of the organization,” Griffey said in a statement from the club.

Associated Press

Chiefs upgrade Reid’s status

Hockey: The Spokane Chiefs upgraded goalie James Reid’s status to day-to-day and returned backup goalie Adam Iwan to the Manitoba Junior Hockey League.

Reid, Spokane’s all-time leader in wins with 79, has missed the last 10 games after being injured Jan. 23 in Portland. Mac Engel has taken over as starter.

The Chiefs are in Everett tonight, the second of five straight games on the road.

Dave Trimmer