Jim Meehan

Ricks College's Tara Pike leans into North Idaho College's Jaime Richards in an effort to get off a shot Friday night at NIC. Photo by Craig Buck/The Spokesman-Review

Consider these basketball seasons: 1969-70, 1984-85 and 1987-88. They're all relevant tonight. The Vietnam War was raging the last time Ricks beat the North Idaho College men in Coeur d'Alene.

A-1 Region I boys Austin Lee summarized Post Falls High's 70-40 basketball victory over Lake City on Wednesday night: "It seems like every game a different guy steps up." Lee did some high-steppin' in this A-1 Region I Tournament game, scoring 20 points and grabbing 15 rebounds. So did Jeremy McLean, who contributed 17 points and dogged defense.

The University of Idaho's request to have its football games count toward the six-win bowl requirement has been referred to the NCAA Council, Big West assistant commissioner Dennis Bickmeier said. The Council's next meeting is in April. The NCAA's administrative committee on Wednesday made the referral, calling the issue "not non-controversial."

Idaho, which continues to push the NCAA for Division I-A football status, has been dropped from the University of California's 1997 schedule. "If I was in their position, I'd do the same thing," UI athletic director Oval Jaynes said Tuesday. "The contract was null and void" because Idaho is classified I-AA, though it plays in the I-A Big West Conference and abides by I-A rules.

There was a time on Saturday when New Mexico State was frightened and unnerved on the Kibbie Dome basketball court. Unfortunately for Idaho, that was during a 12:30 shoot-around when Denmark Reid was hit by a discus chucked during a Vandal track meet being held adjacent to the court. The flying saucer cleared the rolled-up portable bleachers and one-hopped into Reid's chest. "It knocked me out for a couple minutes," Reid said. "I didn't see the thing coming." About 6 hours later, Idaho got knocked out by Reid, who hit five 3-pointers, and his talented teammates as the Aggies used a stifling zone defense to post an 88-55 win before 3,833.

There was a time Saturday when New Mexico State was frightened and unnerved on the Kibbie Dome basketball court. Unfortunately for Idaho, that was during a 12:30 p.m. shoot-around, when a discus chucked during a track meet held adjacent to the court hit Denmark Reid. The flying saucer cleared the rolled-up portable bleachers and one-hopped into Reid's chest. "It knocked me out for a couple minutes," Reid said. "I didn't see the thing coming." About 6 hours later, Idaho got knocked out by Reid, who hit five 3-pointers, and his talented teammates. The Aggies used a stifling zone defense to post an 88-55 victory before 3,833 spectators.

North Idaho College's Andre McKanstry (20) has an in-your-face plan for Harold Arceneaux's jump shot. Photo by Craig Buck/The Spokesman-Review

Chemistry, as it applies to basketball, is nearly impossible to define, but the North Idaho College women's team appears to have an abundance of it. If chemistry was visible, it might look like Tammy Goyne's pass to Shawna Rainer for a layup as the entire Cardinals bench erupted in celebration on Thursday night. Or a seamless possession where the ball didn't touch the floor and several quick passes set up Ann Shepard's short jump shot.

Idaho center Jason Jackman cleaned up his act and got serious this season. Photo by Sandra Bancroft-Billings/The Spokesman-Review

Mandy Jacques and Cameron Banks have many similarities, including their affections. Photo by Jesse Tinsley/The Spokesman-Review

Idaho's Troy Thompson tangles with Chris Crosby of Washington State during the first half of the Vandals' victory at Moscow. Photo by Sandra Bancroft-Billings/The Spokesman-Review

1. Lewiston's Alison Roberts, right, unloads a pass before Lake City's Luara Dodge intervenes. Photo by Jesse Tinsley/The Spokesman-Review 2. Lake City's Katie Hatrock scores on a running jumper as Erin Benson and Brooke Cushman (43) of Lewiston defend. Photo by Jesse Tinsley/The Spokesman-Review

The issue that won't go away Idaho's I-AA football classification and its never-ending attempts to reach I-A - has reared its ugly head again. University of California wants out of a Sept. 13 game with the Vandals because a victory wouldn't count toward the bowl-game requirement of six I-A wins, Idaho athletic director Oval Jaynes said.

Idaho signed almost a ton of linemen Wednesday on national letter of intent day. That's seven linemen, six weighing 250 or more, tipping the scales at a combined 1,870 pounds. Their average size is roughly 6-foot-4 and 267 pounds.

Commence the poking and prodding. The NFL Scouting Combine, pro football's version of a meat market, begins in Indianapolis today. Seven area players are expected to attend. The combine runs through Monday, with players arriving in shifts in Indianapolis.

Tracy Hanson's back is better; now she's working on polishing her game. File/The Spokesman-Review

UC Irvine committed numerous crimes against the game of basketball on Saturday, but they were unfailingly gracious while doing so. Anteaters coach Rod Baker probably set a Kibbie Dome record for earliest congratulatory handshake by squeezing palms with UI counterpart Kermit Davis 15 seconds before Idaho's mind-numbing 57-40 victory became official.

Shortly after the Montana State men's basketball program was put on probation two months ago and forced to forfeit some past wins, former Idaho coach Joe Cravens phoned in with a correction.

Dixie College basketball coach Dave Rose boiled down his team's 107-94 loss to North Idaho College to four words. "Those two killed us," Rose said, referring to NIC's Shawn Myrick and Chris Harrison. Myrick snapped out of a shooting slump with 38 points and Harrison scored 28, grabbed 19 rebounds and drew four charging fouls as the Cardinals posted a hard-earned, yet uncomfortable win before 994 fans on Thursday night at Christianson Gym.

The big question following Idaho's 1996 football season: Who was going to succeed Ryan Fien at quarterback? That question remains, but the number of possible answers has increased. Senior-to-be Brian Brennan, a part-time starter in the past, is doing well rehabilitating his shoulder. Brennan had wondered if his career was in jeopardy after shoulder surgery last year. Now, he'll likely be No. 1 going into spring football.

Andre McKanstry scores, as well as plays tough defense, for NIC. Photo by Jesse Tinsley/The Spokesman-Review

Idaho basketball coach Kermit Davis doesn't have much room to maneuver with his current roster, which has been revamped due to injuries, suspensions and defections. But he did make a change last week when he started 6-foot-8 sophomore Kevin Byrne.

Kramer in 1967