Fast Break

High schools

Casto ruled ineligibile

The District 8 eligibility committee, made up of administrators within the Greater Spokane League, ruled Tuesday against DeAngelo Casto in his bid to return and play his senior season of basketball at Ferris.

“What I can tell you,” said GSL secretary Randy Ryan, “is that WIAA rules on transfers say anytime you move without the whole family unit it is considered a transfer.”

Unless deemed a hardship under association guidelines, a transfer cannot play varsity for a year, Ryan explained. WIAA rules state, he said, it is not a hardship if a move is made by choice of the student or student’s family.

“He can choose to appeal to the WIAA office,” Ryan said.

Casto left Ferris last summer and enrolled at Franklin in Seattle before returning three weeks ago. His mother remained in Seattle.

He led the Saxons in rebounds and scoring and averaged 16.9 points in nine postseason games last year during a 29-0 State 4A championship season.

He had played as a freshman and part of his sophomore season at Freeman before transferring to Ferris midway through the school year.

Arena football

Stevens goes to AFL, Bethay back

Former Spokane Shock defensive lineman Jerome Stevens has signed with the AFL’s Kansas City Brigade.

Fullback/defensive lineman Katon Bethay, a two-year Shock veteran, has re-signed with the team for a third season.

Tennis

Sampras losing hair, not serve

If Roger Federer expected an easy victory over his balding opponent, he found out early in their exhibition match that Pete Sampras, 36, still has his powerful serve.

The world’s top-ranked player came back to beat the man he is chasing for the all-time Grand Slam titles record. Federer won 6-4, 6-3 on Tuesday in the first of three Asian exhibitions, at Seoul, South Korea. They will meet again Thursday in Kuala Lumpur and Saturday in Macau.

“Pete was one of my idols growing up and it’s great to play him,” Federer said. “It wasn’t easy for me; it wasn’t easy for him as he’s been retired five years. I am No. 1 and everyone expects me to win.”

Sampras’ trademark serves and volleys were on display, but he understandably moved around the court slower than he did during his heyday.

Sampras won a record 14 Grand Slams, but Federer, who owns 12 titles, could break the mark in 2008.

“I have no plans to come back from retirement,” Sampras said. “You have to come back for a reason. I just stay home and watch Roger win on television.”