Fast start propels Leafs past Braves in opener

Nelson launched 11 shots in the first 12 minutes, scoring four goals, and rolled to an easy 7-1 victory over the visiting Spokane Braves in the opening game of a second-round Kootenay International Junior Hockey League playoff series on Monday night.

The Leafs’ opening salvo chased Spokane’s starting goalie, Cash Ulrich, who had been instrumental in the Braves’ comeback first-round win over Castlegar. Michael Spring scored twice for the Leafs.

Guisseppe Deppolito scored for the Braves in the third period.

Game 2 in the best-of-7 series is tonight in Nelson.

College baseball

Washington State sophomore outfielder Derek Jones has been named Pac-10 player of the week.

Jones batted .438 (7 for 16) and was named the most valuable player of the Brooks Wallace Memorial Classic in Lubbock, Texas, to lead the Cougars to a 4-0 record over the weekend.

The Snohomish native hit safely in all four games, with a double, two home runs, three RBIs, a stolen base and seven runs scored.

This is the second career Pac-10 player of the week honor for Jones. He won it as a freshman in 2009 when he went 4 for 10 with three home runs and six RBIs in a three-game series at California.

Women’s basketball

Rachele Kloke of Idaho is the Western Athletic Conference player of the week. It is the first of her career.

Kloke, a junior from Stanwood, Wash., averaged 21.5 points, 5.0 rebounds and 1.0 steals in leading the Vandals to wins over San Jose State and Utah State to push Idaho to a 7-7 WAC record and a fourth-place tie in the standings.

Kloke has scored in double figures in 12 straight games and leads the team with 16 games of scoring 15 points or more.

•Senior Night will be something extra special at Idaho this year.

When the Vandals play their last home game Wednesday against Louisiana Tech, all the country will be able to look in.

The game will be on ESPNU at 8, the first nationally-televised women’s game in school history.

Idaho, still battling for third in the WAC, closes the regular season at Nevada on Saturday at 2 p.m.