Northwest Notes May 1, 2026

Former Lake City standout Zufelt transfers fo Utah Tech

ST. GEORGE, Utah — First-year Utah Tech women's basketball coach Adam Wardenburg announced on Thursday his first official signing in Lake City High graduate and former Texas-Rio Grande Valley guard Sophia Zufelt to a financial aid agreement ahead of the upcoming 2026-27 season. 

Zufelt played for the Vaqueros’ program for two seasons and has two years of eligibility remaining.  

Utah Tech joins the Big Sky Conference beginning in 2026-27.

"Sophie is going to bring a great energy to this team,” Wardenburg said. “She is a great shooter and is good at getting out in transition and pushing the ball. She will be a good combo guard for us. She is also a team-first player who will help us build up our championship culture.”

The 5-foot-8 Zufelt appeared in 45 games in a reserve role over her two seasons at UTRGV, and averaged 1.1 points on 29.6 percent shooting, including a 26.1 percent clip (12-of-46) from the perimeter, along with 0.6 rebounds and 0.6 assists per game.

Zufelt played in 26 games as a freshman at UTRGV, highlighted by a career-high nine points on 3-of-5 from beyond the arc in her collegiate debut at Houston on Nov. 5, 2024. She also had a career high six assists in a home win vs. Arlington Baptist on Nov. 23, 2024.

Zufelt helped Lake City to an Idaho Class 5A state runner-up finish. She earned 2023-24 5A first team All-Idaho and all-league honors as a senior after averaging 13.2 points, 3.8 assists, 3.4 rebounds and 2.6 steals a game. 

Zufelt, who scored more than 1,000 points in her prep career, finished with 369 points in her final season at Lake City with 61 3-pointers, and shot better than 42 percent from the perimeter. 

Gonzaga to play Duke in Detroit on Feb. 20

Gonzaga and Duke will square off in a men's basketball matchup at Little Caesars Arena in Detroit on Feb. 20, 2027.

The game will be broadcast on Amazon Prime Video, with tip-off time and ticket information to be announced at a later date.

This will mark the sixth all-time meeting between the Bulldogs and Blue Devils. In the most recent meeting, No. 5 Duke held off No. 1 Gonzaga, 84–81, on Nov. 26, 2021, in Las Vegas at T-Mobile Arena. The game drew an announced crowd of 20,389 — at the time, the largest basketball attendance in Nevada history.

In the 2018 Maui Invitational championship game, No. 3 Gonzaga edged No. 1 Duke, 89–87.

In three earlier meetings, Duke earned victories at Madison Square Garden in 2007 and 2010, and at NRG Stadium in Houston in the 2015 NCAA Elite Eight (66–52) en route to the national championship.

This will be Gonzaga’s second appearance at Little Caesars Arena. The fifth-seeded Zags previously fell to top-seeded Purdue in the 2024 NCAA Tournament Midwest Regional semifinals.

Eagles transfer guard Jackson to 2026 roster

CHENEY — Eastern Washington University men's basketball coach Dan Monson announced the addition of Tavi Jackson, who previously played at Southern Utah and Colorado State.

Jackson spent the 2024-25 season at Southern Utah, where he started 18 of 19 games before his season was cut short due to injury. Despite limited action, he averaged 10.1 points and 3.5 rebounds per game. He led the team with 27 steals and ranked second with 55 assists.

Jackson redshirted this past season.

Prior to Southern Utah, Jackson played two seasons at Colorado State, including 22 games as part of a team that reached the 2024 NCAA Tournament. He recorded a career-high 16 points and five steals in a win over Mississippi Valley State.

“Guards win in college basketball, and we got a great one in Tavi Jackson,” Monson said. “His size and athleticism allow him to make reads in ball screens, for himself and others. He’s an elite open court guard that has a great maturity and demeanor to him. His humility and confidence are something that will positively influence our locker room.”

Jackson averaged 26 points, 12 rebounds, four assists, and four steals per game during his senior season at Las Vegas High. He earned 4A All-Nevada honors, was named Lake League Player of the Year, and was nominated for the McDonald’s All-American Game.