Dave Trimmer

As time wound down on sixth-seeded Montana State’s 89-66 rout of No. 3 Sacramento State in the first round of the Big Sky Conference women’s basketball tournament at Reese Court Thursday night, Eastern Washington coach Wendy Schuller considered the difficulty of beating a team three times in one season. “The one thing is Montana State showed it could be done,” Schuller said of the Eagles’ opponent in tonight’s second semifinal.

If it’s the unknown that draws fans to sporting events, the Big Sky Conference women’s basketball tournament is made to order. The difference between the six teams gathering in Cheney is razor thin, starting with their records.

The final weekend of the Western Hockey League season couldn’t be any more intriguing for the Spokane Chiefs if it had been scripted. The Chiefs play four games, three at home, beginning tonight with a visit from Kelowna. A home-and-home follows with rival Tri-City with the first game at the Arena on Friday. The season ends with Everett coming in on Sunday.

In a meaningless game that they made important, the Eastern Washington Eagles turned back Portland State 78-68 Saturday afternoon at Reese Court. Eastern, coming off four straight losing seasons, clinched its first Big Sky Conference women’s basketball championship Friday night when Idaho State beat Sacramento State.

Looks can be deceiving. Look at Napavine during warmups and the big girl appears to be a force to be reckoned with.

The girls State 2B basketball tournament got off to an ominous start for Colfax. The defending champions missed their first 14 shots. None was taken by reigning MVP Kayla Johnson, who was on the bench after picking up two fouls in the second minute of the game.

The Eastern Washington women’s basketball team has gone through some tough times recently, but the Eagles’ perseverance is about to be rewarded. Already qualified for the Big Sky Conference tournament after a three-year absence and assured of a share of their first conference title, the Eagles can win the championship and host the tourney for the first time with a win against Portland State at Reese Court Saturday afternoon.

There are two unwritten rules for homecoming games – make sure it’s a good time for the alumni and schedule a patsy. The Spokane Chiefs were wildly successful on both accounts Friday night.

There are two unwritten rules for Homecoming games – make sure it’s a good time for the alumni and schedule a patsy. The Spokane Chiefs were wildly successful on both accounts Friday night. A pregame ceremony honored the Top 25 Chiefs in 25 years, with 16, including four current players, in attendance. Then the near-hapless Prince George Cougars skated onto the ice for the formality of a 5-1 Spokane win, highlighted by a hat trick from one of current 25, Spokane native Tyler Johnson.