DENVER (AP) - Jannik Hansen scored the decisive goal with 2:08
remaining, Mikael Samuelsson had his first NHL hat trick, and the
Vancouver Canucks rallied to beat the Colorado Avalanche 6-4 on
Tuesday night.
Hansen snapped the tie with an unusual goal that was confirmed
by video replay. Aaron Rome took a shot from the point that bounced
off the end boards. Hansen rushed into the crease between the net
and goalie Craig Anderson, and the puck caromed in off his skate.
Daniel Sedin added an empty-net goal with 8.8 seconds left to
seal the Canucks' fourth straight win over Colorado. The Avalanche
were denied in their bid to move into a tie with Northwest
Division-leading Vancouver.
(Copyright 2010 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)
Vargas looks sharp in Mariners loss
PEORIA, Ariz. (AP) - Jason Vargas pitched into the fourth inning
in another impressive outing but the Seattle Mariners lost 6-4 to
the Cleveland Indians on Tuesday.
Vargas, one of four candidates for Seattle's fifth starter spot,
allowed two hits, walked one and struck out one in 3 2-3 scoreless
innings. The 27-year-old left-hander threw 49 pitches while
becoming the first Mariners pitcher to get into the fourth.
Vargas has allowed three hits in 5 2-3 shutout innings this
spring.
Aaron Laffey pitched two scoreless innings for Cleveland, and
Wes Hodges had a pair of two-run doubles.
Franklin Gutierrez hit a two-out, two-run triple in the fourth
for Seattle.
(Copyright 2010 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)
Washington DE Pulu suspended for team violation
SEATTLE (AP) - Washington coach Steve Sarkisian says freshman
defensive end Andru Pulu is suspended indefinitely for violation of
team rules.
The school made the announcement on Tuesday and said there would
be no further comment on the matter.
Pulu played in 11 games as a freshman last season, mostly on
special teams but also in a rotation at defensive end. He recorded
just two tackles and a half sack in his limited time on defense.
(Copyright 2010 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)
3rd time the charm for WSU vs. Oregon?
SPOKANE, Wash. (AP) - It's a basketball truism that it's
difficult to beat the same team three times in one season.
Washington State is hoping that's true as the Cougars prepare to
play Oregon in the first game of the Pac-10 tournament, just four
days after losing to the Ducks in the regular season finale.
Oregon (15-15, 7-11 Pac-10) swept the season series in two close
games, with Saturday's loss dropping WSU into last place in the
conference.
The Cougars (16-14, 6-12) play the Ducks again on Wednesday
night in Los Angeles, and still have hopes of putting together a
solid 40-minute game for the first time in weeks and getting to the
second round.
(Copyright 2010 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)
Pondexter, Thomas named first-team all-Pac-10
SEATTLE (AP) - Quincy Pondexter has been named Pac-10 player of
the week for a record fifth time. That still wasn't good enough to
be named Pac-10 player of the year.
The player of the year honor went to California's Jerome Randle
on Monday. Pondexter was named to the league's first team along
with teammate Isaiah Thomas.
Pondexter is having one of the finest seasons in school history,
averaging 20.2 points and 7.8 rebounds as the Huskies' lone senior.
Washington is the No. 3 seed heading into this week's Pac-10
tournament in Los Angeles.
Washington's Justin Holiday and Venoy Overton were also honored
by the conference, being named to the all-defensive team.
(Copyright 2010 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)
UW's Pondexter 'fasted' after previous snub
SEATTLE (AP) - Quincy Pondexter likens not winning the Pac-10
player of the year award despite setting a record this season for
most player of the week honors to a high-school snub that took him
years to get past.
Washington's only senior was effusive Tuesday praising the
conference's winner, Jerome Randle of Pac-10 champion California.
Then Pondexter said not winning reminds him of not being named
to the prestigious McDonald's All-America team while in high school
in Fresno, Calif.
He was so mad at the fast-food giant for choosing what he
thought were inferior players, he boycotted his daily staple for
three-plus years.
Then last summer while in Serbia playing in the World University
Games, Pondexter found food "that looked like it had pigs eyes in
it." That forced him from his personal stand.
(Copyright 2010 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)
3 Cougars get Pac-10 honors
PULLMAN, Wash. (AP) - Three Washington State players have earned
postseason honors from the Pacific-10 Conference.
Klay Thompson was picked for the all-conference team. DeAngelo
Casto was named to the all-defensive team, and was also an
honorable mention to the all-conference team.
Reggie Moore was named to the all-freshman team.
(Copyright 2010 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)
UW AD: Jackson will remain women's hoops coach
SEATTLE (AP) - Washington athletic director Scott Woodward says
women's basketball coach Tia Jackson will return next season.
Woodward told The Associated Press on Tuesday that the
37-year-old Jackson will come back for the fourth season of a
five-year contract. That is despite the worst three-year record in
the program's history.
Woodward says he has "all the confidence in the world in Tia"
after seeing marked progress this season.
Washington is 12-16 and 7-11 in the Pac-10 entering Thursday's
conference tournament game against Oregon State. The Huskies were
picked to finish last in the league but won their last three
regular-season games to finish tied for sixth.
The former assistant at Virginia Commonwealth, Stanford, UCLA
and Duke replaced June Daugherty in April 2007.
(Copyright 2010 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)
Weber State holds off Portland State 69-60
OGDEN, Utah (AP) - Damian Lillard had 23 points, Franklin
Session added 13 points and eight rebounds and top-seeded Weber
State held off Portland State 69-60 on Tuesday night in the Big Sky
Conference tournament semifinals.
The Wildcats (20-9) advanced to play Montana in the championship
game Wednesday night despite one of their worst shooting nights of
the season, going 20-for-60 from the floor. The Wildcats also
struggled from the foul line and had a difficult time pulling away
from the pesky Vikings (13-19), who won the last two Big Sky
tournament titles.
Dominic Waters had 19 points to lead the Vikings before fouling
out with 23 seconds to play. He was one of four Portland State
players to foul out.
(Copyright 2010 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)
Saint Mary's upsets Gonzaga in WCC title game
LAS VEGAS (AP) - Mickey McConnell scored 26 points, Ben Allen
added 20 and Saint Mary's upset No. 18 Gonzaga with an 81-62
victory Monday night in the West Coast Conference tournament title
game.
Omar Samhan had nine points and seven rebounds for the Gaels
(26-5), who earned the sixth NCAA tournament berth in the small Bay
Area school's history with a remarkable shooting performance
against the top-seeded Zags (26-6), the 10-time regular-season WCC
champions.
McConnell and Allen hit four 3-pointers apiece, propelling the
Gaels to a first-half lead before an electric 18-7 run down the
second-half stretch.
Saint Mary's won the WCC tournament for just the second time
since it began in 1987, beating Gonzaga for the first time in 10
tourney meetings.
(Copyright 2010 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)
2A State Tourney draw released
Five Whatcom County teams know who they'll play on Day
One of the class 2A state tournament in Yakima starting
Wednesday. The defending state champion Lynden girls
start the day with the 9 a.m. game against River Ridge.
They Lynden boys also drew River Ridge in the 2:00 game.
At 4:00 the Squalicum girls open against Elma. The Mt.
Baker boys have 2nd ranked Ephrata at 5:30. And the
top-ranked Squalicum boys drew Clarkston at 7:30. Click here for the prep schedule.
Seattle sends QB Wallace to Cleveland for pick
RENTON, Wash. (AP) - Mike Holmgren is already making deals with
his former team.
The Seattle Seahawks traded backup quarterback Seneca Wallace to
the Cleveland Browns in exchange for a 2011 undisclosed draft pick.
A Seahawks spokesman confirmed the deal Monday night.
Wallace spent his entire seven-year career with the Seahawks,
and was always a favorite of Holmgren's when he was Seattle's
coach. Now the Browns' team president, Holmgren has brought Wallace
to Cleveland.
Wallace's best season was 2008 when he started eight games in
Holmgren's last season and threw for 1,532 yards and 11 touchdowns.
Wallace started two games last season while starter Matt Hasselbeck
was injured.
Wallace was also sometimes used as a wide receiver and returner
in Seattle.
(Copyright 2010 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)
No.1 seed and host Western to play arch-rival Central in first round
BELLINGHAM, Wash. --- Host and No.1 seed Western Washington University will play arch-rival and No.8 seed Central Washington in the final game of Friday’s opening round at the West Regional of the NCAA Division II National Men’s Basketball Tournament being held on Haggen Court at Sam Carver Gymnasium. The pairings were announced Tuesday morning.
The Vikings, 25-5 overall, are 13-1 at home this season. Central is 16-10. The contest is scheduled for a 7:30 p.m. tipoff.
The Western-Central game can be heard on KBAI (930 AM) Radio and all regional contests can be viewed via video stream at http://www.greatnorthwest.tv.
In other first round action, No.3 seed and Great Northwest Athletic Conference champion Seattle Pacific (22-5) plays No.6 seed and Pacific West Conference co-champion BYU Hawaii (20-5) at 12:30 p.m., No.2 seed and California Collegiate Athletic Association tournament champion Cal State San Bernardino (22-7) meets No.7 seed Humboldt State (22-7) at 2:30 p.m., and No.4 seed Cal Poly Pomona (22-6) plays No.5 seed Dixie State (20-5) at 5:30 p.m.
It is the second consecutive year Western has been an NCAA II tournament host. Last year, the Vikings hosted a sub-regional as the No.2 seed in the West, falling to Seattle Pacific, 82-77, in the opening round.
Western, rated No.21 in last week’s National Association of Basketball Coaches/NCAA Division II Top 25 Poll, was No.2 in the region behind Seattle Pacific in the final regular-season rating Mar. 3. But the Falcons dropped a pair of games in Alaska last weekend, opening the door for the Vikings to host.
The Vikings have six seniors, five of whom start, and their top three scorers, who all played together at Highline Community College, earned GNAC all-star recognition.
Western guard Morris Anderson (Federal Way) and forward Derrick Webb (Port Orchard/South Kitsap) were both first-team picks, Anderson being a unanimous choice and a repeater.
Webb, who has scored double-figure points in a team-high 25 games, leads the Vikings in scoring at 16.1 points a game and is second in rebounding at 6.1 a contest.
Anderson averages 14.7 points and a team-high 5.2 assists. He leads the GNAC in steals (2.4 avg.) and free-throw percentage (86.7 percent), hitting a school-record 39 consecutive free throws earlier this season.
Forward Zach Bruce (Oceanside, CA), who received all-GNAC honorable mention, averages 10.7 points and team-high 6.4 rebounds, and is shooting 55.1 percent from the field.
Completing the Vikings’ starting lineup are guard Andrew Ready (Chicago, IL/Westinghouse), who contributes 8.1 points; and 7-foot center Dave Vanderjagt (Townsville, Australia), who averages 5.5 points and a team-high 1.0 blocks.
The sixth senior, reserve guard Harold McAllister, averages 6.7 points while shooting 51.4 percent on 3-pointers (37-of-72), and sophomore forward Rory Blanche (Ashland, OR) averages 8.4 points in just 18 minutes a game off the bench.
Western coach Brad Jackson is in his 25th season, with a career record of 470-262. He entered the season ranked No.18 among active NCAA II coaches in career victories, and No.38 in winning percentage (64.2). Jackson has directed WWU to 11 20-win seasons and 18 post-season appearances.
This is the fifth NCAA tournament appearance for the Vikings, and the fourth time Western has been at home for the post-season. The Vikings won the West Regional and eventually reached the national semifinals in 2001, and also earned tourney berths in 2005, 2006 and 2009.
The winners of the opening-round games meet in semifinal contests Saturday at 5 p.m. and 7 p.m., with the regional championship Monday at 7 p.m. The regional champion advances to the NCAA II Elite Eight at Springfield, Mass., on March 24-25, 27.
Tickets for the West Regional go on sale Tuesday at 11 a.m. They can be purchased by calling 360-650-2583 or on-line at www.wwuvikings.com. Reserved tickets are $10, general admission is $8 and student/youth/senior/WWU faculty with ID are $5. Tickets are good all day on multiple-game dates.
(www.wwuvikings.com) Cal's Jerome Randle wins Pac-10 player of the year award
WALNUT CREEK, Calif. (AP) - California guard Jerome Randle has
been picked as the Pac-10 player of the year.
Randle averaged 18.7 points and 4.5 assists per game. He helped
the Golden Bears win their first conference title in 50 years.
Other award recipients chosen by the league Monday include
Arizona forward Derrick Williams, picked as the league's top
freshman; Arizona State's Herb Sendek was selected as the coach of
the year, Oregon State's Seth Tarver was named defensive player of
the year, and Southern California's Nikola Vucevic won most
improved player.
The awards are voted on by the league's coaches.
Seattle's Garcia declares for NBA draft
SEATTLE (AP) - Charles Garcia is wasting no time. The Seattle
University forward is declaring for the NBA draft effective the end
of the Redhawks season.
The 6-foot-10 forward with skills to play on the perimeter made
the announcement on Monday. The Redhawks concluded their regular
season on Saturday with a 74-64 win over Utah Valley and have a
slight chance of playing in one of the smaller postseason
tournaments.
Garcia averaged 18.7 points and 8.3 rebounds per game as the
Redhawks finished the regular season 17-14. But he caught the
attention of NBA scouts early by putting up huge numbers in the
first half of the season before tapering off after the new year.
He scored a season-high 41 points against Wofford and scored 25
or more points six times.
(Copyright 2010 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.) Viking women earn #3 seed in NCAA Division II tourney
BELLINGHAM, Wash. --- The Western Washington University women’s basketball team is the No. 3 seed in the West Regional of the NCAA Division II National Tournament and faces Chico State University in an opening-round game Friday at either 12:30 p.m. or 2:30 p.m. at Seattle Pacific University’s Royal Brougham Pavilion.
Western, which was ranked No.20 in last week’s USA Today/ESPN/NCAA Division II Top 25 Poll, enters the tournament with a 23-4 record. It is the 10th appearance in 11 years as a full NCAA member for the Vikings, who missed the post-season only in 2008.
In the other opening-round games at the West Regional, No.2 seed UC San Diego (24-4) faces No.7 Humboldt State University (19-10) at 12:30 p.m. or 2:30 p.m., No.4 University of Alaska Anchorage (23-4) meets No.5 Cal Poly Pomona (22-6) at 5:30 p.m., and top seed Seattle Pacific University (24-3) hosts No.8 Hawaii Pacific University (17-6) at 7:30 p.m.
The Vikings met Chico State earlier this season, claiming an 80-59 victory on Haggen Court at Sam Carver Gymnasium on Dec. 20.
Western is led by three players who each average better than 14 points a game. Junior guard Amanda Dunbar (Marysville/Marysville-Pilchuck) is the top scorer at 17.3 points a game, the best mark by any Viking since the 1995-96 season. She ranks No.5 nationally in both treys per game (3.3) and in 3-point accuracy at a near school-record pace of 47.1 percent (88-of-187), with her 88 3-pointers being a school single-season record.
Senior center Jessica Summers (Blaine) is averaging 16.1 points and 8.9 rebounds, sharing the GNAC lead in rebounds and being fourth in scoring.
Senior forward Willow Cabe (McCleary/Elma) is the third member of Western’s Big Three, contributing 14.1 points and 5.9 rebounds.
Senior guard Ashley Fenimore (Lynnwood/Meadowdale) averages 6.6 points and leads the GNAC in assists at 3.9 a game. Junior forward Megan Pinske (Coquitlam, BC/Port Moody) completes the starting lineup, contributing 7.7 points while leading the GNAC in assist-to-turnover ratio (2.0).
Western coach Carmen Dolfo is in her 19th season as head coach with a 398-156 record (71.8) percent, and is leading the Vikings into post-season play for the 18th time. Dolfo entered the season ranked No.14 among active NCAA II coaches in winning percentage and No.23 in career victories.
Chico State enters the post-season 21-9, having won 13 of its last 15 games after an 8-7 start. The Wildcats ran off 10 straight victories prior to falling to host Humboldt State, 85-55, in the finals of the California Collegiate Athletic Association tournament Saturday.
“I think it’s more fun in the tournament to play someone outside your conference that you haven’t seen for a while,” said Dolfo. “Chico State is an athletic team. They like to run, they’ve got some good shooters and they’re well coached. They play really hard.”
Junior guard Natasha Smith paces the Wildcats, averaging team-highs of 11.2 points and 3.7 assists. Senior guard Melissa Richardson contributes 10.3 points a contest, and sophomore guard Synchro Bull averages 10.0 points.
The two teams met at Seattle Pacific in the 2005 West Regional, the Wildcats claimed an 85-75 semifinal victory.
The regional semifinals are played Sat., Mar. 13, with the final Mon., Mar. 15. The regional champion advances to the NCAA II Elite Eight at St. Joseph, Missouri, on Mar. 23-26.
Host Seattle Pacific won the GNAC with a 15-1 conference record and has won 11 straight games. The Falcons’ last loss was to Western, 54-40, in Bellingham on Jan. 23, but SPU claimed a 70-67 triumph over the Vikings in Seattle on Feb. 20.
“I think the team is excited the tournament is in Seattle,” Dolfo said. “It gives the players a better opportunity to play in front of family and friends.”
Alaska Anchorage has won the last two West Region crowns, and Cal Poly Pomona, a five-time national champion, is making its first regional appearance since 2005.
This is the 37th post-season appearance in the 39-year history of women’s basketball at Western.
WR Nate Burleson joins Lions
ALLEN PARK, Mich. (AP) - Free agent wide receiver Nate Burleson
has joined the Detroit Lions.
Burleson tweeted Saturday morning: "It is official so "Go
Lions."
The Lions agreed to terms on a $25 million, five-year contract
with Burleson, who will make $10 million guaranteed.
Burleson caught 63 passes last season for the Seattle Seahawks
and returned 30 punts.
Detroit offensive coordinator Scott Linehan was dispatched to
Seattle to court Burleson, who said he was startled to get a dinner
invitation from Linehan.
The Lions will count on him to complement receiver Calvin
Johnson and perhaps give their special teams a reliable returner.
Detroit gave its defense a boost Friday by adding defensive end
Kyle Vanden Bosch and defensive tackle Corey Williams.
The Lions have set an NFL record with just two victories in two
seasons, including a winless 2008.
Hansen scores go-ahead goal in third period as Canucks top
Predators 4-2
NASHVILLE - Jannik Hansen scored the go-ahead goal with just
under six minutes left in the third period to lead the Vancouver
Canucks to a 4-2 victory over the Nashville Predators on Sunday.
Mikael Samuelsson, Alexander Edler and Henrik Sedin also scored
for Vancouver, which has won three of its last four. The Canucks
are 7-5-0 so far on their franchise-high 14-game road trip.
Jason Arnott and Jordin Tootoo had goals for the Predators, who
have dropped back-to-back games after winning their previous three.
Vancouver trailed 2-1 before Samulesson tied it midway through
the third. Hansen put the Canucks ahead with 5:42 left, and Sedin
sealed it with an empty-net goal with four seconds remaining.
With the game tied at two, Predators J.P. Dumont and Denis
Grebeshkov collided in the neutral zone, and Kyle Wellwood saw an
opening and found Hansen with a stretch pass. Hansen had a
breakaway on Nashville's Pekka Rinne, who stopped the initial shot,
but did not see the rebound lying by his right foot, and Hansen had
an easy tap-in for his seventh goal of the season.
Samuelsson had tied it just over four minutes earlier when his
unscreened slap shot from the right half boards deflected off
Rinne's glove and into the goal at 9:59. It was Samuelsson's
career-high 24th goal, and he has scored in three consecutive
games, and in five of his last six.
(The Associated Press) (from Broadcast News Ltd.)
Cumiskey scores twice as Silvertips slam Prince George 7-2
PRINCE GEORGE, B.C. - Clayton Cumiskey scored twice as the
Everett Silvertips tamed the Prince George Cougars 7-2 in Western
Hockey League action Saturday night.
Tyler Maxwell, Byron Froese and Kellan Tochkin all had a goal
and two assists for Everett (44-19-5), while Chris Langkow and
Scott MacDonald added singles. Thomas Heemskerk made 26 saves for
the win.
Carter Rigby and Parker Stanfield answered for Prince George
(11-53-3). Hudson Stremmel stopped three of five shots before
giving way to Alex Wright who made 28 saves on 33 shots.
(The Canadian Press) (from Broadcast News Ltd.)
