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IHSAA announces ‘Legends of the Game’ awards

The 2000 American Falls High girls basketball team and the Buhl High boys basketball team of 1979 were named this year’s “Legends of the Game” by the Idaho High School Activities Association.

After three consecutive third-place finishes at state, American Falls, coached by Gary Aldous, won its first and only girls basketball state title, going 23-5 for a four-year record of 90-16.

After losing to Rigby in the 1978 state championship game, Buhl, coached by Terry Adolfson and Jim Welch, avenged that loss in overtime the ’79 state title game.

The ‘Legends of the Game’ award was established in 2001 to help preserve the heritage of Idaho high school sports by honoring great teams of the past. Eligible basketball “Legends” include girls’ teams from at least 20 years ago and boys’ teams from at least 30 years ago. Ceremonies honoring ‘Legends’ recipients will take place during halftime of the state 5A basketball championship games at the Ford Idaho Center in Nampa. The girls’ ceremonies are slated for Feb. 22 and the boys’ ceremonies will take place on March 7.

Gonzaga women selected WCC

favorites; Townsend, Wirth honored

LAS VEGAS — For the seventh straight season, the Gonzaga women’s basketball team was voted to win the West Coast Conference. Juniors Jill Townsend and Jenn Wirth were both named to the Preseason All-WCC team. The poll and team were announced at the ninth annual #WCChoops Tip-Off event Wednesday from the Orleans Arena in Las Vegas.

The Zags, which have won 14 of the last 15 regular-season WCC titles, received seven of 10 first place votes for 78 points. The poll is voted on by the league’s 10 head coaches, and coaches are not allowed to vote for their own team. BYU received the final three votes and was selected to finish second in the conference with 75 points.

Gonzaga has now been selected to win the conference 12 of the last 16 years. Pacific was selected to finish third, its highest preseason selection since rejoining the conference ahead of the 2013-14 season. The Tigers finished with 61 points, just ahead of Saint Mary’s in fourth with 59 points. Santa Clara (fifth, 40 points), rounded out the top half of the 2019-20 poll.

Loyola Marymount was picked sixth, followed by Pepperdine, San Diego, San Francisco and Portland.

Townsend, a guard who was selected All-WCC Honorable Mention a season ago, is the top returning scorer for the Zags at 9.4 points per game, and last season she ranked third on the Zags and fifth in the conference in field goal percentage at 51.7 percent.

Wirth, a forward, saw action in the final 27 games for the Bulldogs after being sidelined with a finger injury to open the season. She ranked sixth on the squad in scoring at 8.3 points per outing, and she led the Zags and ranked second in the WCC in field goal percentage at 53.8 percent sinking 91-of-169 attempts.

Fans will have the opportunity to catch a glimpse of the 2019-20 squad on Saturday, Oct. 12 at Numerica Fan Fest at 4 p.m inside the McCarthey Athletic Center. GU begins its season with an exhibition game against Warner Pacific on Nov. 2.

2019-20 All-WCC Preseason Women’s Basketball Team

Brenna Chase Drollinger, BYU, Sr., G; Chelsey Gipson, Loyola Marymount, Jr., G; Sara Hamson, BYU, Jr., C; Tia Hay, Santa Clara, Sr., G; Valerie Higgins, Pacific, Jr., G; Paisley Johnson, BYU, Jr., G; Brooklyn McDavid, Pacific, Jr., F; Sam Simons, Saint Mary’s, So., G/F; Jill Townsend, Gonzaga, Jr., G; Jenn Wirth, Gonzaga, Jr., F.

Kraziness in the Kennel

set for this Saturday

Gonzaga men’s basketball hosts the annual Numerica Kraziness in the Kennel Saturday.

Numerica Kraziness in the Kennel will be the fans first look at the 2019-20 men’s basketball team, following a fifth consecutive Sweet 16, 33 wins, and a seventh straight West Coast Conference regular season title last year.

The Pre-Kraziness Carnival on the McCarthey Athletic Center South Lawn runs from noon to 2:45 p.m. The Carnival, which will be weather permitting, will feature inflatables and other activities for fans. Doors will open Saturday at 3 p.m., followed by the event at 4 p.m., which includes player and coaching staff introductions, a three-point contest and a skills challenge. The Blue-White scrimmage will conclude the action on the court, and the players will be available for autographs in the concourse after. Posters and schedule cards will be provided by Gonzaga marketing staff. No outside items will be allowed during the autograph session.