Area roundup: UI signs Oklahoma prep guard

Guard Sterling Jackson has signed a national letter of intent to play men’s basketball at the University of Idaho, the school announced Thursday.

Jackson, 6-foot-2 and 185 pounds, averaged 16.6 points and seven assists per game as a senior at Del City High School at Oklahoma City.

“Sterling is a very competitive, hard-nosed basketball player who brings a lot of intangibles,” said UI coach George Pfeifer.

“I just want to be in a program where I can grow as a student-athlete,” Jackson said.

Boxing

Spokane’s Mahlon Kerwick will box for the 152-pound title at the U.S. Boxing Championships in Colorado Springs, Colo.

The Spokane welterweight, boxing for the U.S. Army out of Fort Carson, Colo., Kerwick advdanced to today’s final on a medical walkover when top-ranked Demetrius Andrade, from Providence, R.I., was hospitalized with strep throat. Kerwick will face Charles Hatley, from Dallas, in tonight’s championship bout.

In his fifth trip to the U.S. National Championships, Kerwick outscored the Navy’s Abdullah Johnson 21-1 in the third round to easily win the opening bout, then edged Luis Arias of Milwaukee, 27-26, in his second. In the quarterfinals, Kerwick decisioned fellow Ft. Carson boxer Boyd Melson.

The top eight boxers in each of 11 weight classes qualify for next year’s Olympic Trials.

Softball

North Idaho College second baseman Angie Boardman and outfielder Strohm Fouty were named to the Louisville Slugger/National Fastpitch Coaches Association All-West Region first team, the school announced.

Boardman (University High) led the NJCAA Division I with 62 runs batted in.

Fouty stole 62 bases for the Cardinals, who finished 46-26 and placed second at the national tournament.

NIC pitcher Kelcey Cavan and third baseman Shay Craig made the region second team.