Tulane Holds No Attraction For Graham
Washington State University men’s basketball coach Paul Graham said Tuesday he is not interested in joining former WSU athletic director Rick Dickson at Tulane.
Dickson, who hired Graham at WSU one year ago, resigned his Cougars position in February for the job with the New Orleans university. Tulane men’s basketball coach Perry Clark resigned last month to take the same position at Miami.
“I have talked to Rick Dickson only because we are good friends and I am very appreciative of the opportunity he gave me here at Washington State,” Graham said. “Rick gave me my first (NCAA) Division I head coaching opportunity and my focus right now is to get ready for next season with the Cougars.”
Graham spent seven years at Oklahoma State as an assistant for Eddie Sutton. The 1974 graduate of the University of North Texas also had collegiate asistant coaching stints at Southern Methodist and New Mexico before joining Sutton’s staff.
WSU has had three consecutive losing seasons, including last year’s 6-22 record.
Girls basketball
University High assistant coach and former Gonzaga University player Sarah Christensen has put together a group to give two Spokane Stars teams a final test.
The 18-U and 14-U Stars play Christensen’s team tonight before heading to the BCI national tournament in Colorado Springs, Colo. The 18s play at U-Hi at 6 p.m., followed by the 14s. Both games are free.
Christensen’s team includes Syd Perno, Chrissy Peterson, Chelsea Herman, Becca Moore, Heidi Phillips Doolittle, Andrea Kallas, Rene Nillis, Annette Pedersen, Ginny Knox and Janet Skaife.
The 18s, who went 3-2 in Oregon City, Ore., last week, include Raeanna Jewell of Central Valley, Juliann Laney and Katie Gillum of Gonzaga Prep, Adriane Ferguson of Mead, Sarah Shogren of East Valley, Cherie’ Dreger of WilburCreston, Julianna Keller of Malta, Mont., Laura Stratton of Missoula, Lisa Saari of Bigfork, Mont., and Sara LeDuc of Skyview, Idaho.
Mead’s Leah Gonnella is out with a knee injury.
The 14-U team includes Bre Mulvey of Mead, Angie Clift and Brynn Kelly of Ferris, Heidi Bunkowske of U-Hi, Emily Westerberg of CV, Natalie Shaw of Colfax, Katy Ridenour and Aubree Johnson of Post Falls, and Amy Brooks of Helena.
Golf
Mike McPherson of Colfax and Ryan Benzel of Ritzville opened with wins during match play at the 99th Pacific Northwest Golf Association men’s amateur championship at Bandon, Ore.
Brandon Smith, of MeadowWood; Doug Potter, Hayden Lake; and Ryan Camp and Corey Prugh, Manito, lost their matches.
Sarah Walter of Bonners Ferry, Idaho, won twice and advanced to the quarterfinals of the 99th PNGA women’s amateur championship at Broadmoor Golf Club in Seattle.
Walter, of Mirror Lake Golf Course, defeated Lindsay Stevens of Oakbrook Golf and Country Club 3 and 2, and Anne Brooksby of Black Butte Ranch 1-up.
Michelle Grafos of Painted Hills won in the first round but lost to Taya Battistella of Widgi Creek GC 2-up in the second round. Britney Holt of Indian Canyon lost in the first round.
Fishing
Non-tribal recreational sockeye salmon fishing on Lake Washington closes at noon Sunday.
Hours for recreational fishing Friday through Sunday will be changed to one hour before official sunrise until noon.
Senior American Legion baseball
George Bell, B.J. Moffitt and Jason Wederspahn had two runs batted in apiece as the Northwest Athletics Blue Devils (10-6) tied the Northstars for first place by defeating them 8-2 at Jackson Field.
The Blue Devils jumped ahead 8-0 after 3-1/2 innings. Kurt Hibbard hit a solo home run for the Northstars, who meet the Blue Devils again in a Saturday doubleheader.
The regular season ends Sunday.