Mike Vlahovich

KENNEWICK – Angie Bjorklund's only basket of the second half – and just the third by University in the final 16 minutes – came at a most opportune time. She hit a 3-pointer with 21 seconds left in the game and 1 second remaining on the shot clock for a five-point lead and subsequent 43-36 win over Lewis and Clark for the 4A Eastern Regional championship.

KENNEWICK – It wasn't pretty as far as basketball regional championships go, but the Ferris Saxons boys continue to wear on the opposition and remained undefeated Saturday with a 65-44 victory over Pasco. The outcome was a nice present for coach Don Van Lierop's wife Amy, whose birthday coincides with the busiest time of her basketball husband's season.

KENNEWICK – Andre Jennings scored the first and last baskets of the first half with a couple in between on Friday to help propel Ferris into its third straight 4A boys Eastern Regional basketball final and seventh since 1999. The Saxons (24-0) rolled past Greater Spokane League foe Mead 72-58 in a physical, race-horse game.

KENNEWICK – There's no substitute for experience and for University and Lewis and Clark girls basketball teams the semifinals of the 4A Eastern Regional playoffs Friday were a case of been there, done that. For the fourth consecutive year, the Titans and Tigers will meet for the championship in Kennewick's Toyota Center following easy victories over Mead and Shadle Park, respectively, in a pair of all-Greater Spokane League games that earned the winners trips to the State 4A tournament.

West Valley boys find themselves a win away from state – which has become an annual rite of March for the Eagles – following a victory Thursday night in the District 7 2A basketball playoffs. And Wednesday's game for the district championship will have a familiar look, coming against former Greater Spokane League foe Clarkston at Eastern Washington University.

Movie star Clara Bow was called the "It" Girl based upon the name of a movie she was in and on her appeal during the 1920s silent film era. Like her, there are those special athletes who have "It."

A trio of South Side high school wrestling state qualifiers took their turn atop the podium during last weekend's Mat Classic XIX. Lewis and Clark's Trevor Powell and Anthony Varnell captured 4A state titles, and Liberty's Adam Thies was a State B champion.

Two high school wrestling programs accustomed to butting heads in the same league over the years went their separate ways, a product of statewide reclassification. The end result was a two-pronged attack during last weekend's Mat Classic XIX state tournament in Tacoma.

Individual state titles proved hard to come by for Spokane Valley wrestlers at Mat Classic XIX last weekend in Tacoma. But it wasn't for lack of effort.

The Greater Spokane League would like nothing better than a repeat of last year's ConAgra/Lamb Weston 4A regional basketball outcome tonight. GSL boys teams swept all four first-night games in 2006, assuring themselves two berths to state. The girls won three out of four.

The topic of conversation with Columbia Basin League folk in Tacoma was that of parity – and wild inconsistency – in their boys basketball. Moses Lake activities coordinator Loren Sandhop said that depending upon which teams were on, any on a given night was capable of winning by 20 points. They also could lose to that same team by as many when they met again.

TACOMA – Two East Valley wrestlers who reached the State 3A finals Saturday at Mat Classic XIX were denied championships. Prior to his narrow 4-3 loss at 189 pounds, second-place finisher Dan Michalski said he felt like a champion already.

For some state wrestlers, competing today in Mat Classic XIX in Tacoma was expected. For others, it's a dream come true. Wrestlers such as University's two-time finalist Brian Owen and returning placers Trevor Powell and Anthony Varnell from Lewis and Clark have been anticipating their return.

The District 8 4A boys basketball semifinal games Thursday at University High produced their annual share of tension – and for victors Shadle Park and Ferris a sense of relief. The third-seeded Shadle Highlanders' 50-46 victory over Greater Spokane League No. 2 Mead (16-5) and the league-champion Ferris Saxons' 66-60 win over No. 4 Gonzaga Prep (13-9) assured both a home game Tuesday when regional action begins.

Three individuals with varied backgrounds in sports, Jim McLachlan, Pat Clark and Kevin Twohig, received special recognition on Wednesday during the 29th Inland Northwest Youth Sports Awards Luncheon. The three received 25-Year Awards from the Inland Northwest Sportswriters and Broadcasters (SWABs).

North Side high school wrestlers will take their best shots Friday and Saturday in Tacoma during Mat Classic XIX. Both Deer Park and Lakeside, which advanced nine wrestlers apiece to the state tournament, are among contenders for Class 2A and 1A team championships, respectively.

Lewis and Clark returning state placers Trevor Powell and Anthony Varnell head a contingent of South Side and West Plains high school wrestlers who will compete in this weekend's state Mat Classic XIX tournament in Tacoma. Powell, who upset previously unbeaten Brian Owen of University for the regional championship at 125 pounds, finished third in that weight last year.