Johnny Avila scored a unanimous decision over feisty Steve Valdez late Wednesday night in front of an appreciative crowd of 1,200 at the Coeur d’Alene Tribal Bingo/Casino in Worley, Idaho.

Avila, the former IBO lightweight champion in his second fight since a 16-month layoff, had his hands full with Valdez.

But Avila clearly landed more punches and his effectiveness improved as the rounds rolled on.

He left Valdez wobbly in the seventh with a jarring right. In the eighth, Avila backed Valdez in a corner and connected with numerous combinations.

Valdez also dished out punishment. In the ninth, he snapped Avila to attention with a right hand to the jaw.

The 10th was perhaps the best round of the night. Both fighters landed during rapid-fire exchanges.

Avila improved to 21-2-1. He earned the decision by 8 to 10 points on all three judges’ cards.

On the undercard, Francisco Rodriguez posted a unanimous decision over Lorenzo Quesada, Zaire Patterson defeated a tiring Austin Johnson and Robert Perez hung on to outpoint Garfield Knoles.

Golf

Kari Martin shot a 17-over-par 89 to win medalist honors and lead Clarkston to the team title at the girls District 7-AA golf tournament at Clarkston Golf and Country Club.

Martin, who shot an 85 during Thursday’s opening round at The Fairways, finished 23 shots ahead of Pullman’s Kristin Burritt. Clarkston’s team score of 835 topped runner-up Colville by 53.

The top seven qualified for next week’s State AA tournament in Yakima.

Tennis

Jeff Dannenberg beat Pullman teammate Mike Shinall 7-5, 6-1 to capture the boys singles title at the District 7-AA tournament at Washington State University.

Dannenberg entered the tourney as the Greyhounds’ second-ranked player. No. 1-ranked Shinall had come off a 6-7 (7-3), 7-6 (10-8), 6-2 semifinal win over WV’s Keli Heidensen that took 2 hours, 55 minutes to play.

In the girls singles final, Cheney’s Jo Pierce beat Riverside’s Bernice Stime 6-3, 6-4. Pierce, who has qualified for state three straight years, lost twice to Stime this year.

, DataTimes