Donnie Marbut out as coach

of Washington State baseball

PULLMAN - Washington State athletic director Bill Moos announced that baseball coach Donnie Marbut will not return to coach the Cougars next season.

"Though Donnie and his staff have worked hard over the past 11 years, it is my feeling that a change in leadership at this time was necessary to get Cougar baseball back to a position of prominence," Moos said.

Marbut completed his 11th season with the Cougars on Sunday, where he compiled a 314-304 record, the third-most wins in program history behind Bobo Brayton and Buck Bailey. This season, he guided the Cougars to a 29-27 record, the most wins by the program since going 37-22 in 2010.

Marbut joined the Cougars coaching staff as an assistant in 2004, helping guide the team to a 29-26 record, the school's first winning season since 1998.

In 2010, Washington State reached the Arkansas Regional title game before falling to the host Razorbacks. In addition, he coached 37 student-athletes who have been selected in the MLB Draft.

Ramsay returns as

Whitworth baseball coach

SPOKANE - Dan Ramsay is back as the baseball coach at Whitworth University.

Ramsay resigned last month as the Pirates' head coach following his seventh season to accept the position of Director of Baseball Operations at Washington State University. But his position at WSU was in limbo after the Cougars fired their head baseball coach.

Ramsay is 129-151-2 in his seven seasons leading the Pirates. He has guided Whitworth to a pair of appearances in the NCAA Division III tournament, including a berth in the Division III College World Series in 2012. This season the Pirates finished 28-15, winning the inaugural Northwest Conference tournament.

Registration ongoing for

NIC summer volleyball camps

The North Idaho College volleyball staff and players are offering camps this summer for grades 5 through 12 in the months of June and August at Christianson Gym.

Youth skills camp No. 1 will be offered June 12-13 for players entering grades 5-8. Registration deadline is June 8. Camp No. 2 will be June 14-15 for players entering grades 5-8. Registration deadline is June 10.

(NIC provided some incorrect dates for a story last week on these camps.)

The Youth Skills camps are for players who want to improve and refine their skills. Emphasis will be placed on all-around skill development and fundamentals. Basic concepts will be taught and incorporated into afternoon competition sessions. Both two-day camps are $95 and includes lunch.

High school conditioning and skills camp will be held Aug. 2-4 for participants entering grades 9 through 12. Registration deadline is July 30. The advanced skills camps focuses on individual skills combined with team concepts.

Players will be group by age and ability to ensure a competitive level of play and positive learning experience.

High School Conditioning and Skills Camp will be held Aug. 2-4 for participants entering grades 9 through 12. Registration deadline is July 30. The Advanced Skills Camp focuses on individual skills combined with team concepts. Players will be grouped by age and ability to ensure a competitive level of play and a positive learning experience.

Instruction will include the fundamentals of individual skills, skill building, position-specific sessions, integration of skills, game-style competitions and tournament play.

The Advanced Skills Camp costs $80 and includes nine hours of instruction.

Camp instruction will be led by NIC volleyball coach Kelsey Stanley as well as other former and current NIC coaches and players. All campers receive a camp T-shirt, free admission to NIC home volleyball matches, and other camp prizes.

For a registration form and full schedules, visit www.nicathletics.com, then click "Camps."

Information: (208) 769-3349.

The Warriors shared hugs and handshakes, and the crowd chanted "M-V-P!" for Curry.

He relished the moment on the court with his 2-year-old daughter, Riley, who joined him in his postgame news conference - laughing, playfully interrupting him and walking around the room again.

"I think she's taking advantage of the moment for sure," Curry quipped.

Dwight Howard led Houston with 18 points and 16 rebounds. But MVP runner-up James Harden had a forgettable finale, with a playoff-record 13 turnovers and 14 points on 2-of-11 shooting.

"Tried to do a little bit too much and turned the ball over and gave them easy baskets in transition," Harden said. "This isn't where we wanted to end at. It's a really good season for us. Next year we want to be better, and we will."

It was a tough way for the Rockets' run to end. They overcame a knee injury that sidelined Howard half the season to finish second in the West, played without starters Patrick Beverley and Donatas Motiejunas in the playoffs and rallied from a 3-1 deficit to beat the Los Angeles Clippers in the second round.

The Warriors were one obstacle Houston couldn't clear.

"The guys fought hard," Rockets coach Kevin McHale said. "One thing about the team is that they were battlers, and a lot of guys in that room you feel pretty comfortable going to war with."

Curry said he had no lingering effects from his frightening fall in Game 4 that left him with a bruised head and right side. The MVP wore a protective yellow sleeve on his right arm, which he shed in the third quarter after shooting 4 for 12 and the Warriors clinging to a 52-46 halftime lead.

Things got tougher on Curry and the Warriors when backcourt mate Thompson faked a shot that drew Trevor Ariza in the air early in the fourth quarter. Thompson absorbed Ariza's knee to the side of his head, sending him to the floor.

Thompson, who finished with 20 points, lay on the ground for a minute before walking to the locker room. He came back to the bench after receiving stitches on his right ear.

The Warriors said he could've returned, but they never needed him. They started the fourth on a 13-4 run and held off Houston's last-ditch efforts on free throws.