Northwest Notes July 11, 2025

Little League district champs to be decided at Canfield

COEUR d'ALENE — Little League District 1 championship weekend in baseball takes place this weekend at the Canfield Sports Complex.

LITTLE LEAGUE (12U) — Coeur d'Alene faces Lewiston tonight at 5:30 p.m., with the winner advancing to the championship game Sunday at 10 a.m.

Lakeland plays Post Falls tonight at 5:30 in a loser-out game. The winner plays the loser of Coeur d'Alene-Lewiston on Saturday at 10 a.m. for a berth in the championship game.

11U DIVISION — Lewiston plays Post Falls tonight at 5:30 in a loser-out game; the winner advances to the championship game vs. Coeur d'Alene on Saturday at 12:30 p.m.

10U DIVISION — Lakeland meets Lewiston today at 3 p.m., with the winner advancing to the championship game Sunday at 10 a.m.

Coeur d'Alene Black faces Post Falls today at 3 p.m. in a loser-out game. The winner plays the loser of Lakeland-Lewiston on Saturday at 10 a.m. for a berth in the championship game.

Free youth football clinic highlights expanded Big Sky football kickoff weekend 

AIRWAY HEIGHTS, Wash. — The 2025 Big Sky Kickoff Weekend returns to the Inland Northwest this July 18-21, marking the seventh time the conference has selected the region for its marquee summer gathering.

For the first time, the event expands to four days.

A highlight of the weekend is the free Big Sky Youth Football Clinic on Saturday, July 19, from 2 to 3:30 p.m. at North Central High School in Spokane. The clinic, limited to the first 100 registrants, will feature hands-on instruction from players representing all 12 Big Sky football programs. Spokane Sports is providing essential gear and supplies.

The expanded Kickoff Weekend includes the newest addition, the conference’s Student-Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC) Summer Meeting. It also includes the Big Sky officials clinic, the annual Hall of Fame Gala, media day coverage on ESPN+, and a series of leadership and community engagement opportunities for student-athletes and administrators.

The Hall of Fame Gala will take place at the Pend Oreille Pavilion located on the north side of the Northern Quest Resort & Casino property, and Monday’s media coverage will be broadcast live on ESPN+ and select Scripps Sports stations.

For more details and youth clinic registration, visit: BigSkyConf.com/YouthClinic

Date set for Gonzaga-UCLA game in Seattle

UCLA and Gonzaga will square off in the 2025 Seattle Hoops Showdown on Dec. 13 at Climate Pledge Arena in Seattle.

Tickets for the event will go on sale on Sept. 19, with a one day presale set to take place on Sept. 18. Fans can stay up to date on event details and receive presale access by registering online at www.climatepledgearena.com/event/hoops-showdown. 

Television designation and game time will be announced in the coming weeks.

This is the second game as part of a two-year scheduling agreement between the programs; UCLA defeated Gonzaga last season in the first college basketball game at Intuit Dome in Inglewood, Calif., on Dec. 28.

Both programs appear in the top 25 of numerous offseason rankings, with UCLA returning a trio of its leading scorers from last year's squad, including Tyler Bilodeau, Eric Dailey Jr. and Skyy Clark, along with a bevy of high-major transfers such as Donovan Dent and Xavier Booker, among others. The Bulldogs won 26 games a season ago and were led by All-WCC performer Graham Ike, who led the team in scoring at 17.3 ppg. Teammate Braden Huff, who averaged more than 15 points per game, also returns to give Gonzaga one of the nation's top frontcourts.

This will mark the sixth straight season the Bruins and Bulldogs will meet, with two of those matchups coming in the NCAA Tournament (2021 and 2023). All time, Gonzaga holds a 7-3 advantage in the series, but UCLA scored a 65-62 victory over Gonzaga last season.

Athletic training facility opening in Hayden

ETS Performance, which bills itself as a national leader in youth athletic development, is officially opening a location in Hayden on Saturday with an event from 9:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.

Due to an error in information initially provided to The Press, an incorrect day for the opening was published in Thursday's paper.

The event will include a 9:30 a.m. ribbon-cutting, followed by a youth combine event where athletes can test their speed, strength, and agility — and enjoy meet-and-greets with members of a local college football team.

The facility is located at 125 W. Lions Way in Hayden.

ETS Performance operates more than 40 locations nationwide.

Information: etsperformance.com