NIC women ranked No. 3 in

NJCAA preseason hoops poll

North Idaho College's women's basketball team is ranked third in the NJCAA Division I women's preseason poll, announced Thursday.

Northwest Florida State College is ranked No. 1, Central Arizona No. 2. Salt Lake Community College is the only Scenic West Athletic Conference team ranked in the top 20, at No. 14.

NIC opens its regular season Nov. 3 at home vs. the North Idaho All-Stars.

NIC's men's basketball team is ranked No. 24 in the men's preseason poll. South Plains College in Texas is ranked No. 1. The College of Southern Idaho is ranked seventh.

NIC opens next Thursday and Friday with a pair of games in Yuma, Ariz.

Hayford to speak at

NIC booster meeting

Eastern Washington men's basketball coach Jim Hayford will speak at the North Idaho College Booster Club luncheon from noon to 1 p.m. on Tuesday at The Coeur d'Alene Resort.

After spending 10 seasons at Whitworth, he was named head coach at EWU in March 2011. While at Whitworth, he had a record of 217-57 and a winning percentage of .792. He coached the Pirates to eight 20-win seasons, six appearances in the NCAA Division III tournament, including five seasons in a row. In his first season at EWU, Hayford led the Eagles to an 8-8 record in the Big Sky Conference, earning and winning a home playoff game for the first time since the 2006-07 season and 15 overall wins, their best since '06-07.

The public is welcome to attend the luncheon. The cost of lunch is not covered.

Information: 769-3348

Chiefs' Holmberg

named to Team WHL

CALGARY, Alberta - Spokane Chiefs' leading scorer Mitch Holmberg has been named to Team WHL's roster that will compete against Team Russia in the 2012 Subway Super Series.

Spokane Chiefs coach Don Nachbaur will lead Team WHL on Nov. 14 in Vancouver, British Columbia, and on Nov. 15 in Victoria, B.C. Holmberg will participate in the Nov. 14 game.

Holmberg's 11 goals are tied for second in the WHL and his 22 points are third in the league.