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Sports stories for Sunday, November 22, 2009

Stating its case

FLAGSTAFF, Ariz. – The playoff fate for the Eastern Washington University Eagles is back in the hands of an NCAA committee.

Beavers wear down Cougars

PULLMAN – Talk about undermanned.The Washington State University Cougars went into Saturday's Pac-10 Conference game against 20th-ranked Oregon State with 13 scholarship players on defense in uniform.

Saxons unleash running game in win

YAKIMA – Finesse and physical aren't generally terms one would use in the same sentence to describe the Ferris football team.

Absent fans speak loudly

PULLMAN –The popular vote was cast here Saturday – well, actually in other precincts, but it was tallied here.

Holmgren eyes job with Browns

Former Seattle and Green Bay coach Mike Holmgren is interested in working for the struggling Cleveland Browns.

Blazers hand Timberwolves another defeat

Martell Webster had 21 points and 13 rebounds, Brandon Roy added 18 points, and the Portland Trail Blazers beat Minnesota 106-78 Saturday night in Portland, handing the Timberwolves their 12th straight loss.

Galaxy's Qwest

A Los Angeles Galaxy team that was so dysfunctional a year ago finds itself playing Real Salt Lake for the MLS Cup (5:30, ESPN) tonight at Qwest Field in Seattle. The league's MVP, Landon Donovan (at left in photo with David Beckham), spoke about why he thought that was the case. "There are a few points that stand out to me. One was having (coach) Bruce (Arena) come in and just create stability … The second was David's reaction to everything that's gone on," Donovan said with Beckham seated nearby. "Life is about choices. He could have come in and chosen to be something different than he has been. He chose to be a man and want this team to be successful. Without him, we're not where we are." – Associated Press

Newsmakers

Assigned The Oklahoma City Thunder assigned second-year guard Kyle Weaver, who played for the Washington State Cougars, and rookie center Byron Mullens to the Tulsa 66ers of the NBA Development League.

Today's Best

Abi Olajuwon
Daughter of ex-NBA great Hakeem Olajuwon scored career-high 23 to lead Oklahoma past TCU.

Best bets on the Tube

NASCAR Sprint Cup season finale, 12:15 p.m., ABC: Jimmie Johnson can't avoid hearing what the ticket buyers and TV watchers have to say: "You win all the time. You've made NASCAR BO-ring." If all goes as expected today, Johnson will emerge as the first driver in NASCAR history to win four consecutive titles. "If it's a slow phase from the fans, maybe in a position of not being respected for what I've accomplished, it will show up in due time," Johnson said. He will start from the pole at Homestead-Miami Speedway in Florida, and a finish of 25th or better will assure Johnson cannot be beat.

Red Deer ends Chiefs' streak

RED DEER, Alberta – Tyler Johnson scored twice, but it was not enough for the Spokane Chiefs, who fell short of their fourth straight win by losing to Red Deer 3-2 Saturday.

Cheney loses final

The Cheney girls soccer team's run toward a state title came to an end Saturday. Credit the powerful offense of unbeaten Archbishop Murphy for that.

Lewiston thumps Lakeland

Nicole Redd and Savannah Blinn scored 15 points apiece Saturday and Lewiston's girls basketball team (2-1) held Lakeland (1-2) to no more than five points in any one quarter for a 63-14 win at the Bengal Shootout in Lewiston.

Letters

Advantage, Huskies
The eve of another Apple Cup game brings to mind Carter Strickland's article in The Spokesman-Review of Sept. 8, 1999, in which he pointed out that the annual recruiting budget for Washington State is 71 percent as much as Washington's.

NIC adds Knowles to basketball staff

Former Lake City High School basketball coach Kris Knowles has joined the North Idaho College men's basketball staff this season after coaching for 11 years with the Timberwolves.

WV moves into semifinals

For a team making its first football playoff appearance in 22 years, the West Valley Eagles seemed uncommonly comfortable and composed Saturday – even during some extremely trying moments.

Lakes soaks Wildcats

An expected game between high-powered football offenses instead became one that hinged on defense.

Bulldogs break South Bend

Colfax did what it does.On the fifth snap of their first possession in their State 2B quarterfinal game at Gonzaga Prep Saturday afternoon, the Bulldogs turned a short swing pass into a 50-yard touchdown.

Saints RB Bush won't play

Running back Reggie Bush and defensive tackle Sedrick Ellis are not traveling with the New Orleans Saints for today's game against Tampa Bay.

Week 11

Thursday's resultMiami 24, Carolina 17Today's games

On the air

Today's menu

Basketball
College women: Washington State at Nebraska, 12:05 p.m.; Washington at Gonzaga, Montana State at Idaho, both 2; CC Spokane at Shoreline Shootout in Seattle, TBA.

Pirates take best finish

CLEVELAND – Following a dominant regular season and a first-place finish at the West Regional, the Whitworth women's cross country team wrapped up its season with its best finish at nationals, placing sixth at the NCAA Division III Championships at Highland Park Golf Course.

Vandals get hot after half

FARGO, N.D. – Idaho scored the first seven points of the second half and led by double digits most of the rest of the way to beat North Dakota State 81-69 in men's non-conference basketball Saturday.

Forbes cashes in for Eastern

ARLINGTON, Texas – True freshman Jeffrey Forbes' 24 points led the Eastern Washington Eagles to a 72-68 victory Saturday night over the University of Texas-Arlington Mavericks.

Pirates men in sectional final round

Hardin-Simmons (Texas) University handed the Whitworth men's soccer team its only score on an own goal in the 64th minute Saturday and the Pirates did not let it go to waste, withstanding late pressure from HSU to win 1-0 and advance to the sectional final round of the NCAA Division III tournament in Dubuque, Iowa.

Wolf Pack run it up

Nevada rushed for 575 yards as the Wolf Pack beat New Mexico State 63-20 Saturday at Las Cruces, N.M.

Watershed win

Jeremiah Masoli tied it with a touchdown pass to Ed Dickson with six seconds left, then won it with a 1-yard run in the second overtime as No. 11 Oregon defeated Arizona 44-41 at Tucson, Ariz., on Saturday night and took a big step toward the Pac-10 title.

Griz cap perfect regular season

For top-ranked Montana, it was the perfect way to end a perfect regular season.Andrew Selle threw three touchdown passes, and the Grizzlies were dominant on defense en route to whipping rival Montana State 33-19 on Saturday at Bozeman, sealing the fifth unbeaten regular season in school history.

Dazzling weekend

PULLMAN – Reed Lesuma knew Saturday was going to be a good day. He just didn't know how good.

How they scored

First quarter
OSU 7, WSU 0Adeniji 11 pass from Canfield (Kahut kick), 10:29

Grading the cougars: C

Passing offense: C
There were many more yards to be had and time to find them with only one sack.

LSU bumbles

Time ran out on No. 10 LSU before it could attempt a short, potential game-winning field goal and Dexter McCluster and Mississippi survived a frantic final minute to come away with a 25-23 victory Saturday in Oxford, Miss.

Connecticut tops Notre Dame

The Connecticut Huskies finally won one for their slain teammate on Saturday, handing Notre Dame and coach Charlie Weis a bitter defeat on senior day at South Bend, Ind.

Central clobbers Texans

Thanks to a battering, bruising defense, Central Washington is still the only unbeaten team in Division II.

Applications online for Idaho permits

RAFTING – Applications to get coveted permits for floating the Selway, Snake, Middle Fork of the Salmon, or wild main Salmon rivers next season must be submitted online between Dec. 1 and Jan. 31.

Outdoors, skiing, backcountry skiing, snowshoeing, mountain passes, avalanche, mountain passes, Cascades

Avalanche advisory a click away
 A new avalanche safety Web site for the Cascades and Olympics, including the highway passes, has been launched by the Friends of the Northwest Weather and Avalanche Center and Northwest Weather and Avalanche Center.

Paddling option

Our hopes were quickly confirmed as we beached our canoes on an island soon after launching on the Missouri River near Fort Benton. We'd removed our lifejackets, readied the dogs and were just loading shells into our shotguns when the first rooster pheasant of the day flushed within range from the shoreline willows.

Are you game for eating venison? Cookbook tells how to end doubts

Eileen Clarke is a remarkable package: She can hunt, shoot, butcher, cook and write.The Montanan also is willing to share those skills so the rest of us pilgrims can get the most from the game we've harvested this season.

Canoe hunter's six tested rules

With 35 years of canoe hunting experience under my boat, I have solid list of guidelines learned from my own trial and error and the mishaps of my buddies. Among them:

Out & About

Beasts a burden for fisheries
OUTLAW – While road hunters are an issue in modern days, anglers apparently have had their issues with mixing their sport with transportation.

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