Empire look to avenge

loss to Sioux Falls

SPOKANE — The Spokane Empire (12-2) host the five-time defending champion and No. 1 overall seed Sioux Falls Storm (14-1) tonight (7 p.m., ESPN 700) at the Spokane Arena in the Empire’s final regular season home game of the Indoor Football League season.

Tonight’s matchup will feature the first and second overall seeds as the IFL approaches the final two weeks of the 2016 regular season.

Sioux Falls has recorded 10 straight wins and has only been defeated once this season, 60-57 in Week 6 on the road against the Cedar Rapids Titans.

The Empire is currently on a four-game winning streak with their most recent loss coming 63-50 at the hands of the Storm during a visit to Sioux Falls on May 14.

Last weekend with a win over the Iowa Barnstormers, Sioux Falls clinched the No. 1 overall seed and home-field advantage throughout the playoffs. Should they win their conference championship game against the winner of Cedar Rapids (11-4) and Wichita Falls (9-5) in the opening round of the United Conference Playoffs, Sioux Falls would host the United Bowl Championship.

Spokane has clinched the No. 1 seed in the Intense Conference. After a first-round bye, the Empire will host the Intense Conference Championship against the winner of the first round matchup between Nebraska (5-9) and Billings (6-8). The host city for that first round game will be decided over the next two weeks as the Danger trail the Wolves by one game with two games still to be played by each team.

Entering Week 18, Sioux Falls currently leads the IFL in points per game (59.5) and is ranked fifth in scoring defense (45.7). The Empire is ranked third in points per game (54.2) and third in defense (43.9).

The Empire is ranked first in turnover margin (+12), while Sioux Falls is ranked fourth (+3). In their first matchup, the Storm had four interceptions against the Empire, including one on the final drive of the game.

So long as the Empire and Storm continue their winning ways, tonight’s matchup at Spokane Arena could provide fans with a United Bowl preview following the conference championship games slated for the weekend of July 16.

Bayley still in hunt

at Southwestern Amateur

SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. — Former Lakeland High standout Derek Bayley, who recently completed his sophomore season at Washington State, moved up into a tie for fourth after the third round of the 101st Southwestern Amateur on Friday at the Desert Mountain Club.

Bayley shot a 4-under-par 66 on the Cochise course and is at 8-under 202. He is three shots behind leader Nick Heinen, a redshirt sophomore at Oklahoma State, who shot 64 on the Cochise Course and is at 11-under.

Bayley was the leader after the first day after shooting 65 on the Cochise Course.

The tourney concludes today.

Vandals enjoy a day away

from basketball in China

SUZHOU, China — It was an off day for the Idaho men’s basketball team as the squad prepares for the final two games of the Atlas Challenge.

The Vandals finished in a three-way tie for second in Group B with Macedonia and Lithuania. Idaho will take on Japan at 6 a.m. PDT today. The Vandals will then take on either Belarus or Macedonia on Sunday.

Bomar tops locals

at Oregon Open

POWELL BUTTE, Ore. — Billy Bomar of Prairie Falls finished 21st and was the top local finisher at the Oregon Open Invitational, which concluded Thursday at Brasada Canyons.

Bomar shot 76-72-70—218, 2 over par.

Amateur Kyler Gable of Avondale tied for 29th after shooting 70-69-81—220, 4 over par.

Ryan Benzel of Sahalee Country Club in Sammamish, Wash., won by two strokes with a 69-71-69—209, 7 over par.