Northwest Notes March 11, 2011

Taylor's book now available

online and at Hastings

COEUR d'ALENE - Copies of former Lake City High girls basketball coach Darren Taylor's book detailing the Timberwolves' state 5A championship in 2007 are now available online and at Hastings.

"46-40 Forever: An Intense Journey to a Basketball State Title" can be ordered at www.taylormadebooks.net.

Stars host AAU

tourney this weekend

SPOKANE VALLEY - North Idaho high school girls basketball players in grades 8-12 dot the rosters of several teams entered in the eighth annual Spokane Stars Shootout AAU tournament, scheduled for Saturday and Sunday at The Fitness Center, 14210 E. Sprague.

The 12-team field includes mostly Spokane and North Idaho teams, plus two from Seattle and one from Ellensburg, Wash.

Saturday's play begins at 9 a.m., and concludes with 3 p.m. games. Sunday's play begins at 9 a.m., with the semifinals at 12:30 p.m. and the championship game at 2:30 p.m.

Teams from the host Spokane Stars, as well as the Sandpipers and Spokane Dawgs, include players from North Idaho.

Admission is free.

Shock top preseason poll,

open season tonight

The defending ArenaBowl champion Spokane Shock has earned the top spot in the 2011 AFL preseason coaches' poll.

The San Jose SaberCats, who were picked second, host the Shock tonight at 8 p.m. (KREM, ESPN 700) at HP Pavillion in the season opener.

Orlando, Philadelphia, and Jacksonville round out the top five, followed by Arizona, Chicago, Cleveland, Pittsburgh and New Orleans.

Pittsburgh, an expansion team this season, hosts Philadelphia tonight at 5 p.m. PST on the first NFL Network telecast of the season.