Fast Break

NBA

Bennett plans to move Sonics

The Seattle SuperSonics’ new owner told the NBA on Friday he plans to move the team to Oklahoma City.

Clay Bennett had set a Wednesday deadline for having a plan to replace KeyArena, which he says is outdated. He and the city are in a dispute about the arena lease.

He has until March 1 to file for relocation with the NBA if he wants the team to play the 2008-09 season anywhere besides Seattle. The Sonics are the city’s oldest major professional sports franchise.

Bennett briefly backed off his deadline, not wanting to distract from the start of the season. He watched Thursday night’s home opener against Phoenix from his suite, spending most of the second half chatting with Hall of Famer Bill Russell while fans chanted “Save our Sonics!” during the game.

“Today we notified Commissioner (David) Stern that we intend to relocate the Sonics to Oklahoma City if we succeed in the pending litigation with the city, or are able to negotiate an early lease termination, or at the end of the lease term,” Bennett said in a statement.

NBA spokesman Tim Frank confirmed the league received notice and is referring the matter to the owners’ relocation committee.

Gov. Chris Gregoire said the latest development was “no surprise” and the state will “continue to work with others on the arduous process” of keeping the Sonics and the WNBA’s Storm.

College basketball

Cougars 10th, Zags 14th in poll

Washington State is No. 10 and Gonzaga No. 14 in the Associated Press basketball preseason Top 25 poll.

It is believed to be the first time both Eastern Washington teams have made the poll at the same time. The teams play each other Dec. 5 at Gonzaga.

Washington State returns nearly all the players from last year’s team that tied a school record for wins with a 26-8 record. WSU was ranked 13th at the end of last season.

Gonzaga, which was unranked at the end of last season, has three returning starters and a strong class of newcomers. The Zags finished 23-11 last season.

Tennis

Sampras-Courier match canceled

The Miracle Match Foundation canceled the Miracle Match Tour event that was to pit Pete Sampras against Jim Courier on Nov. 11 at the Spokane Arena.

Because of health-related issues of the organization’s founder and event organizer, Bill Przybysz, the event will be rescheduled for a later date.

“Public support and interest in this fundraising exhibition have been extremely high in Spokane and we look forward to rescheduling these events soon,” said Przybysz.

Ticket holders may obtain refunds at the Arena box office or by mail to TicketsWest Refund, 720 West Mallon Ave., Spokane, 99201.