Northwest Notes: Nov. 13, 2013

Cougars' home finale against Utah set for 12:30 p.m. kickoff

PULLMAN - Kickoff for Washington State's final home football game of the season, Saturday, Nov. 23 against Utah, has been set for 12:30 p.m. on the Pac-12 Networks.

The Cougars travel to Arizona this Saturday at 11 a.m. on the Pac-12 Networks.

Shock to host Iowa on March 15 in 2014 arena football opener

SPOKANE - The Spokane Shock will open the 2014 season at home against the Iowa Barnstormers on Saturday, March 15 at Spokane Arena with a 7 p.m. kickoff, as the Arena Football League schedule was announced.

The 2014 AFL schedule will kick off one week earlier than the 2013 season as the first games of the season will take place the weekend of Friday, March 14. The expanded week of play in 2014 will allow teams two bye weeks over the course of the 20-week season, with the Shock receiving breaks during Week 3 and Week 17 of the regular season. Each AFL team play nine home games, nine away.

The Shock will travel to Phoenix in Week 2 and 10 to play the two-time defending ArenaBowl champion Arizona Rattlers.

The Shock's road schedule in 2014 will include two trips to both Arizona and San Jose with each team visiting Spokane Arena once during the regular season. Spokane will also go on the road to face off against one of the AFL's newest teams in the LA Kiss twice during the regular season, but will not host LA at Spokane Arena. The Shock will host the new Portland AFL franchise twice and visit the Thunder for the final regular season game of the season at the Moda Center (formerly the Rose Garden). Spokane's 2014 away schedule will also include separate trips to Jacksonville and Tampa Bay.

SPOKANE SHOCK

2014 SCHEDULE

Times Pacific

Home games in CAPS

15 - IOWA, 7 p.m. 23 - at Arizona, 3 p.m.

4 - at San Jose, 7:30 p.m. 12 - PORTLAND, 7 p.m. 19 - CLEVELAND, 7 p.m. 26 - at Tampa Bay, 4:30 p.m.

3 - at Los Angeles, 7 p.m. 9 - PITTSBURGH, 7 p.m. 17 - at Arizona, 6 p.m. 23 - SAN JOSE, 7 p.m. 30 - PORTLAND, 7 p.m.

7 - at Jacksonville, 4 p.m. 14 - at San Jose, 7:30 p.m. 20 - SAN ANTONIO, 7 p.m. 28 - at Los Angeles, 7:30 p.m.

12 - ARIZONA, 7 p.m. 18 - TAMPA BAY, 7 p.m. 26 - at Portland, 7 p.m.

Chiefs forward Holmberg earns another WHL honor

CALGARY - Spokane Chiefs forward Mitch Holmberg was named Western Hockey League Player of the Week for the week ending Nov. 10.

Holmberg recorded nine points on five goals and four assists to go with a plus-4 rating over three games in the last week, helping lead the Chiefs to a 2-1-0 record on the road in that span, and earning his second Player of the Week honor of the season.

Last Wednesday, Holmberg tallied a goal - the overtime winner - and chipped in two assists in a 5-4 victory over the Tigers in Medicine Hat. Last Friday, Holmberg recorded his second hat trick of the season while adding an assist as the Chiefs defeated the Lethbridge Hurricanes 6-2. Last Saturday, Holmberg notched a goal and an assist as the Chiefs fell 3-2 to the Kootenay Ice in Cranbrook, British Columbia.

The Chiefs play host to Prince George on Friday.

GU's Pangos named to first Wooden Award list

LOS ANGELES - Gonzaga junior guard Kevin Pangos was among the 50 candidates announced Tuesday by the Los Angeles Athletic Club for the Wooden Award Preseason Top 50 as basketball's Player of the Year.

Chosen by a preseason poll of national college basketball experts, the list is comprised of 50 student-athletes who are the early front-runners for the sport's most prestigious honor.

Pangos was an All- West Coast Conference first-team pick a year ago, averaging 11.9 points, 2.7 rebounds and 3.3 assists/game.

Creighton senior forward Doug McDermott, a Wooden Award All American in 2012 and 2013, looks to become the first three-time selection on the men's side since North Carolina's Tyler Hansbrough (2007-09).

Other players of note aside from McDermott include several stars who each had a huge impact on his team's NCAA Final Four run in 2013, including Michigan's Mitch McGary and Glenn Robinson III; Wichita State's Cleanthony Early, and C.J. Fair of Syracuse.

Vandals visit Oklahoma in Coaches vs Cancer Classic

The Idaho men's basketball team will open the Coaches vs. Cancer Classic tonight when it takes on Oklahoma in Norman, Okla., at 5 p.m. PST.

The Vandals enter the game 1-0 after taking down Western Illinois in their season opener. Oklahoma is 2-0 after beating Alabama and North Texas.

"Oklahoma is obviously very good," Idaho coach Don Verlin said. "They're very quick and very athletic, and they're going to put a lot of pressure on us. I'm hoping that's one of our strengths this year, that we're very quick and athletic for an Idaho team. I'm hoping we're able to handle the ball versus their pressure."

The Sooners had four double-figure scorers in their 82-73 win over Alabama, led by 19 points from Buddy Hield. Gonzaga transfer Ryan Spangler added 15 points, Cameron Clark 14.

Madison volleyball coach Newton joins husband in North Idaho

ST. MARIES - Stephanie Newton guided Madison High to the state 5A volleyball tournament in both seasons as head coach.

But she had a good reason for leaving Rexburg at the conclusion of the volleyball season - her husband, Cory, is in his first year as athletic director at St. Maries High.

According to the Post Register newspaper of Idaho Falls, Cory Newton accepted a job in St. Maries the week of Madison volleyball tryouts. Stephanie stayed behind in Rexburg with her three children to finish the season and temporarily moved in with her parents. The weekend of state volleyball (the 5A tournament was at Post Falls High), she and her family completed their move to North Idaho.

Newton went 60-27 in two seasons at Madison. The Bobcats went 36-10 in 2012, taking second at state for the program's first state trophy since 1992. Madison went two and out this year, falling to Lake City in the first round.

Newton told the Post Register she has no immediate plans to return to coaching, but she hasn't completely ruled it out.

"Volleyball will always be a part of me," Newton said. "I'm just looking for the right opportunity. I'd like to coach college volleyball."