Quick hits

Winter winners

The Greater Spokane League announced the seasonal National Electrical Contractors Association and International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers scholar/athlete award winners.

This is the seventh year of the NECA/IBEW GSL awards. They are given for a balance of academics, athletics and community involvement.

Winter award winners are:

Central Valley – Maria Alderman, gymnastics and Jeff Croskrey, wrestling. East Valley – Ashley Grater, basketball and Clete Hanson, wrestling; Ferris – Patty Duncan, basketball and Cameron Kirby, wrestling; Gonzaga Prep – Justine Parry, basketball and Tommy Heavey, wrestling; Lewis and Clark – Beta Hsu, gymnastics and drill team and Trevor Powell, wrestling; Mead – Tonya Turner, gymnastics and Tyler Mounce, basketball; Mt. Spokane – Sam Patrick, basketball and Robbie Vanderpool, basketball; North Central – Ali Reid, gymnastics and Thomas Montague, wrestling; Rogers – Denisha Whitehead, basketball and Bryan Clark, wrestling; Shadle Park – Lexi Bishop, basketball and Blaine Shippy, wrestling; University – Dara Zack, basketball and Greg Mitchell, wrestling.

Kilgore steps down

Rogers girls basketball coach Nicole Kilgore has formally announced her resignation. It was a decision she had come to earlier in the season.

“I spent four years making this team and the season was rewarding,” said Kilgore. “I’ll coach again some day, but it takes a lot of energy and I want to take a break.”

Kilgore, a University High and Eastern Washington University player, spent five years coaching Rogers. This year’s team was 4-16, the most wins in a season by the Pirates since 1998.

Time to reconsider?

Given North Central’s third-place State 3A boys basketball finish, the GSL might need to re-think its decision to next year eliminate third-place teams from the district playoffs.

Had it been in place this year, the Indians, who finished last during the regular season, wouldn’t have had an opportunity to qualify for state, let alone go 7-2 during the postseason.

Last weekend’s performance in Seattle was the school’s highest finish since the 1948 state champions.

It was the ninth trophy in nine state appearances overall by the Indians. The only Indians teams that placed higher than this year’s were three straight finalists (two champions and a second place) eons ago between 1928 and 1930 and the 1948 winners.

NC was making its second straight state appearance as a 3A school after last qualifying at state in 1951. The Indians placed fifth last year. They also have fifth-, sixth- and seventh-place trophies and a 26-6 overall state record.

Hinz honored

Pullman boys and girls track coach Mike Hinz was chosen by the National Federation of State High School Associations Coaches Associations as 2006 girls Northwest Sectional Coach of the Year.

The section includes Washington, Idaho, Oregon, Montana, Alaska and Wyoming.

Last spring Pullman’s girls and boys both won State 2A championships, and between them have divided six state titles since 1998.