By RYAN COLLINGWOOD

Staff Writer

Maybe it was Casey Calvary's tip-in which vaulted Gonzaga past Florida in the Sweet 16 of the 1999 NCAA tournament.

Perhaps it was Demetri Goodson's running bank shot that sank Western Kentucky in the Round of 32 a decade later.

Whatever your favorite Zags moment is, it likely won't eclipse the Bulldogs carrying a national championship banner amid raining confetti Monday night at the University of Phoenix Stadium.

Top-seeded Gonzaga (36-1) is in arm's reach of that dream scenario, but it will first have to get past the dizzying pressure of No. 7 seed South Carolina (26-10) in today's Final Four.

Roughly 1,300 miles away from the action in Arizona, thousands of Kootenai County residents will be glued to their televisions as the Inland Northwest's foremost program plays on the most coveted stage in college hoops.

In the spirit of the GU frenzy, a number of locals shared their most memorable Zags moments with The Press as well as their favorite all-time players.

Al Williams: North Idaho College Athletic Director

Favorite Zags moment: "The 1999 West Coast Conference tournament

championship game against Santa Clara. Gonzaga won to get into the (NCAA) tournament. Matt Santangelo was on fire that night."

Favorite Zag: "Santangelo. He believed he should have been recruited by bigger schools and always played with that chip on his shoulder. He had a tough-as-nails kind of attitude."

Steve Widmyer: Mayor of Coeur d'Alene

Favorite Zags moment: "It has to be in 1999 when the Zags, as a 10 seed, beat Minnesota and Stanford at Key Arena to advance to the Sweet 16. They later advanced to the Elite Eight. Remember 'The Slipper Fits!'"

Favorite Zag: "John Stockton. His Hall-of-Fame career speaks for itself. Played the game very hard every minute on the court. Really one of the Top 5 point guards of all-time."

Larry Riley: Publisher, Coeur d'Alene Press

Favorite Zag moment: "Beating Florida and Arizona earlier this season. That really got their steam going."

Favorite Zag: “I really liked Kevin Pangos. He ran the offense so well and was a high-character guy.”

Barry McHugh: Kootenai County prosecuting attorney

Favorite Zags moment: "Watching John Stockton and GU play Brian Kellerman and the Idaho Vandals in Spokane. Two great guards battling the entirety of a close game in a packed facility with plenty of fans supporting both teams. Classic college basketball.”

Eve Knudtsen: President of Knudtsen Chevrolet

Favorite Zag moment: "When Jordan Mathews hit the go-ahead 3-pointer against West Virginia last week to send Gonzaga to the Elite 8.”

Favorite Zag: "Kevin Pangos. When attending the games, I loved the way the announcer would say 'Paaaangos!’ He also graduated from Gonzaga the same year as my daughter in 2015 and they walked at the same ceremony.”

Scott Stockwell: Coeur d'Alene High girls basketball coach

Favorite Zags moment: "When Casey Calvary shattered the backboard in the Spokane Arena back in the early 2000s. I was sitting in the stands with a few of my buddies. I'd never seen anything like that live."

Favorite Zag: "Ronny Turiaf. He was a big man that could change the game because of the energy he brought night in and night out."

Kiki Miller: Coeur d'Alene City Council

Favorite Zag: "Head coach Mark Few. I believe he's the reason for their success and maintaining it. He's done such a good job with such a small city and a small Catholic school."

Luke Malek: Idaho State Representative

Favorite Zag moment: "When I got to go to my first game in 2010. They were playing at home against Pacific. It was cool because I went to high school at Gonzaga Prep, but hadn't gone to a game until then."

Favorite Zag: "Adam Morrison because of the mustache, of course. I am a big fan of facial hair, obviously, since I have a beard. That's also why I like Przemek Karnowski.

Steve Griffitts: Mayor of Hayden

Favorite Zag: "Ronny Turiaf. He worked so hard in the paint and earned every point he got. He never gave up."

Ben Wolfinger: Kootenai County Sheriff

Favorite Zag: "John Stockton. But in recent Zag history it is a toss-up between Dan Dickau and Adam Morrison. Dickau could not seem to miss the basket if he threw the ball anywhere close. Morrison was a leader and even though he only spent three years at Gonzaga he demonstrated that hard work leads to continuous improvement.”

Christa Hazel: Coeur d'Alene School Trustee

Favorite Zag moment: “Joel proposed to me in 1999 and then we went to a sports bar to watch Gonzaga beat Florida to go to the Elite 8.”

Favorite Zag: “My father in-law was a Gonzaga announcer during the John Stockton years, but I'd have to say Przemek Karnowski.”