Thomas Clouse

Football fans can blame an ice-covered tree for knocking the NFC Championship game off the air for several minutes Sunday just as the Seattle Seahawks were rallying for the win. But as catastrophic as the transmitter shutdown was for Spokane-based Fox affiliate KAYU-TV, it could have been much worse.

For every game, Gonzaga women’s basketball players watch the condensed version of hours of video, sit through two team-scouting sessions and must memorize “the book” compiled by one assistant coach that lists the strengths and weaknesses of every player. The Zags (16-3, 6-1), who re-entered the rankings this week at No. 25, travel to play Loyola Marymount (5-13, 2-5) on Thursday and Pepperdine (5-13, 1-6) on Saturday.

For every game, Gonzaga women’s basketball players watch the condensed version of hours of video, sit through two team-scouting sessions and must memorize “the book” compiled by one assistant coach that lists the strengths and weaknesses of every player.

Battling cancer for some time, former North Central High School teacher and baseball coach Ken Eilmes – who instructed Hall of Fame baseball player Ryne Sandberg – held on until Wednesday. The day of his death also marked the 49th wedding anniversary to his wife, Diane. Eilmes was 76.

Battling cancer for some time, former North Central High School teacher and baseball coach Ken Eilmes – who instructed Hall of Fame baseball player Ryne Sandberg – held on until Wednesday.

If the season ended today, three of the four area Division I college women’s basketball teams would either win or tie for their conference championships. And the fourth, Eastern Washington University, was picked preseason to win its conference. The 6-8 Eagles find themselves at a crossroads at 2-3 in the Big Sky after losing both games last week on the road at Montana and Montana State.

A night after Whitworth battled through a thrilling come-from-behind 76-73 win against Pacific Lutheran, the Puget Sound Loggers came into Whitworth Fieldhouse Saturday. It looked like déjà vu all over again.

In a game with 16 ties and 15 lead changes, the Whitworth Pirates somehow found enough points at the end to win a thrilling 76-73 basketball battle with Northwest Conference foe Pacific Lutheran Friday night. The Pirates trailed for most of the second half and didn’t take the lead until about a minute left when George Valle’s putback of Kenny Love’s missed shot gave Whitworth (9-3, 3-0) a 74-72 advantage.

With his suit coat off and tie loosened, Gonzaga women’s basketball coach Kelly Graves proudly proclaimed the 68-42 drubbing of BYU Thursday night as one of the best defensive efforts he’d ever seen inside the Kennel. The Cougars came into the game at McCarthey Athletic Center with all-world center Jennifer Hamson. The 6-7 senior was averaging 19.2 points and 10.3 rebounds a game. She ended the loss with five points and two rebounds.

In the second coaching hire announcement this week, Whitworth University football coach Rod Sandberg said he has decided to retain assistant coach Jason Tobeck, who coaches receivers and serves as the recruiting coordinator. On Monday, Sandberg announced that he had hired former Shadle Park High School football coach Alan Stanfield as his offensive coordinator.

Gonzaga women’s basketball coach Kelly Graves said it’s too early to read much in the league standings, but he prefers having every conference game turn into a grudge match. Coming off of the 79-78 overtime loss to Saint Mary’s in the West Coast Conference opener, Gonzaga (12-3, 2-1) responded with an 83-68 win over Pacific and then a 56-24 thrashing last Friday of Portland.

PULLMAN – Washington State athletic director Bill Moos got a pair of special birthday gifts Friday as his cousin’s daughter starred for the No. 24 Arizona State women’s basketball team while the Cougars pulled out a hard-fought 85-78 win. Moos, 63, hosted about 20 of his relatives at a pregame meal before freshman forward Kelsey Moos led ASU with 17 points in front of about 100 people from Edwall and Reardan in the Pac-12 opener for both teams.

Recruiting on the Division I level never really stops as coaches try to stock their sidelines with the talent to improve or to have players ready to take over for stars who are getting ready to graduate. Gonzaga women’s basketball coach Kelly Graves said he’s amazed at the talent that comes from the Spokane area and North Idaho.

Recruiting on the Division I level never really stops as coaches try to stock their sidelines with the talent to improve or to have players ready to take over for stars who are getting ready to graduate.