Northwest Notes: Saturday, February 14
Three local teams set for
state play-in games today
The Post Falls High girls basketball team (18-6) looks to return to state for the first time since winning the state 5A title two years ago, as the Trojans take on Rocky Mountain (17-8) of Meridian in a state play-in game today at 3 p.m. at Grangeville High.
Post Falls was the Region 1 tournament runner-up; Rocky was fifth in the District 3 tourney.
The winner advances to state at the Ford Idaho Center in Nampa beginning Thursday.
Prior to that game, District 1-2 runner-up Priest River (15-6) takes on Weiser (10-14), the third-place finisher from District 3, in a state 3A play-in game today at 1 at Grangeville.
The winner moves on to state at Skyview High in Nampa starting Thursday.
Also today at 1, District 1-2 runner-up St. Maries (10-12) faces District 3 third-place team Marsing (18-7) in a state 2A play-in game at Grangeville Junior High. That winner advances to state at Bishop Kelly High in Boise starting Thursday.
NIC's Johnson to play
soccer at Gonzaga
SPOKANE - Alec Johnson, a sophomore midfielder who played at Lake City High and North Idaho College, is among six players joining the Gonzaga men's soccer program, the school announced.
Johnson led the Cardinals (17-2-2) to the Northwest Athletic Conference championship game this fall. He earned NWAC East All-Region and NSCAA All-Region honors.
"Alec was among the top midfielders in the NWAC, he is an athletic and hardworking soccer player," Gonzaga coach Einar Thorarinsson said. "Alec is very good in the air both defensively and on restarts, and provides quality possession that is much needed in the midfield. He will benefit tremendously by training with us this winter and spring and already has two years of college experience under his belt at North Idaho College.
Denis Kalamar from Shoreline Community College, Jake Kempf of Camas, Wash.; Brayden Sullivan of Carmichael, Calif.; Garrett Wilson of Eagle, Colo.; and goalkeper Toby Holstein of Lake Oswego, Ore.; round out the class.
Viking accepts
Vandal walk-on offer
COEUR d'ALENE - Coeur d'Alene High senior Cole Williams, whose senior season at Idaho was cut short by a torn ACL, has accepted a preferred walk-on spot with Idaho as a safety, Viking coach Shawn Amos announced.
Ex-Texas Tech QB named
WSU outside receivers coach
PULLMAN - Washington State football coach Mike Leach announced that Graham Harrell has been named the Cougars' outside receiver coach after spending the past season as an offensive analyst.
Harrell arrived at WSU in the spring of 2014 as an offensive analyst, assisting the Cougar offense with film breakdown, player evaluations and game planning.
Harrell spent the 2009 season with the Saskatchewan Roughriders in the Canadian Football League before spending three seasons (2010-12) with the Green Bay Packers, earning a Super Bowl ring in 2010. Harrell was a record-setting quarterback playing for Leach at Texas Tech from 2004-08.