Cougars Win Zags Upset

It isn't easy to play on the road

and both the WSU Cougars and

Gonzaga both had to do so on

Thursday night. Only the Cougars

were victorious. The Cougars 

beat San Diego 65-61.

The Cougars led off with a 13-0

run in the first three and a half 

minutes before the Toreros score. 

The Cougars couldn't score for

five minutes in the middle of the

first half that allowed the Toros 

to get back into the game.

The last 3:33 the Toreros went on

a 9-0 run to take a 27-25 lead at

halftime. The Cougars scored a

bucket early in the second half 

however couldn't score for five

minutes. They did catch up and 

took the lead 1:48 remaining in

the game on a Nate Calmese

3 pt shot. Calmese made four

free throws in the  last six seconds

to ice the game. He scored 22 of

his team leading 27 points in the

second half.

Dane Erikstrup was the only other

Cougar scoring in double figures

with 12 points and led them with

ten rebounds. It was his first double

double of the season. The Cougars

next game at home against Portland

Saturday afternoon at 3 pm local time.

Go Cougs.

Gonzaga was upset by Oregon State

in overtime 97-89. Gonzaga led by

five with six minutes to go in regular

time however the Beavers went on

a 8-1 to take a three point lead in

tge last few seconds. All they had

to do was foul a Zag player to win

instead gave up a three point shot

for the tie. The Beavers outscored

the Zags 14-6 in overtime.

Tge Zags had all five starters score

in double figures. They were led by

Graham Ike with 26 points. Ben

Gregg had 15 points and led the

Zags with 13 rebounds.

With the loss the Zags are in second

place in the WCC while the Beavers 

and Cougars along with Santa Clara

tied for four place. Gonzaga is home

Saturday evening against Santa Clara.

Go Zags!

Washington Huskies Men's Lose Again

The Washington Huskies Men's Basketball team lost for the 4th

straight time. Wednesday night

it was to Purdue 69-58.

The Purdue Boilermakers are 6-1

now in the Big Ten while the Huskies

are 1-6. Purdue is third in the Big 

Ten while Michigan and Michigan

State who both beat the Huskies

are undefeated. 

The Huskies actually played well

in the first half especially on defense

giving up 22 points however they

couldn't sustain it in the second half.

The Huskies were led by Great Osobor

with 28 points however the other four

starters combined for 15 points. This

was an unusual game for freshman

Zoom Diallo who has been scoring

a lot in double figures had only six 

points. Mekhi Mason who came off

the bench had 12 points and played

33 minutes.

As shown by his 28 points Osobor

shot 8 for 9 from the field which

included five 3s. He made seven

free throws as well. An area that

helped in the loss was 17 turnovers.

Purdue had four starters who scored

in double figures. Made up for Osobor's

points for sure. They didn't get much

out of their bench.

The Huskies don't play again until

next Tuesday when the play Oregon

in Eugene. The Ducks are 4-2 in the

Big Ten and 15-2 overall. They are

fifth in the conference. They take

on Purdue on Saturday before facing

the Huskies. 

In football news came out that former

Texas Longhorn wide receiver Johntay

Cook II who transferred to Washington

late in December is no longer with

the program. With Giles Jackson and

Jeremiah Hunter college football 

careers over Cook had a chance to

snag one of the two starting receiver

spots. Reports out were he wasn't

getting along with some of his new

teammates. Now the Huskies will

see who will take his playing time

as well as being a starter. We will

get to that at another time.

The Washington State Cougars

men's play at San Diego Thursday 

night followed by Portland at home

on Saturday afternoon. The Cougars

are looking at ending a two game

losing streak and already have

beaten Portland already. Go Cougs.

Gonzaga who beat WSU in their last

game at home travel to Oregon

State Thursday night as well. They

take on Santa Clara at home Saturday

evening. Go Zags.

Rams Beating Vikings

I normally  post about the the

teams in Washington  however 

I  figured to say something  about 

the Seahawks  rival who are in

the playoffs. 

Although the Seahawks  and Rams

tied for the NFC  West division title 

I  would say the Rams were the team

that should be there.

The Rams won 27-9 and as the score

indicates  it was primarily the defense 

that won the game. The defense  of

the Rams scored a touchdown  on a 

fumble recovery  however another

stop where the Vikings tried for a

first down on a fourth down came 

up short led to another Rams touchdown. 

The  Rams had nine sacks on the

Vikings while Rams quarterback 

Matthew Stafford was sacked

twice. All the scoring happened 

in the first three quarters  as both

teams didn't score in the 4th quarter.

The Rams now travel  to  take on the

Eagles in Philadelphia next Sunday.

I know some won't  want to rout for

a division  rival. I  am  going  to though

really no interest  really who wins.

A good game is what counts when

your team is not in the playoffs.

The Rams play another good defensive 

game they have a good  shot to move 

on. Enjoy the NFL playoffs. 

A Frustrating Seattle Mariners Off-season

The Seattle  Mariners  are about a month

away from 2025 spring training. I  am 

sure  most  of the fans are almost  as

disheartened  as I am  at this point. 

Last season  the  Mariners missed out

making the playoffs again by one game. 

This time though they had a ten game 

lead of the West Division in June which 

they couldn't hold onto. 

Scott Servais  who was a friend of President 

of baseball operations  Jerry  Dipoto ended

up being fired in early  September.  The 

Mariners  defense  didn't  look good in the

series against  the  Dodgers.  This meant 

that Scott Servais  had lost the team.

Besides Dan Wilson  becoming manager 

former Mariner great hitter and former

hitting coach took over the position once

again. The Mariners  hitting  which had

been poor to say the least on the season 

did improve in September.  Most fans

and media new Edgar  likely  would not

return  as hitting coach in 2025. That is

true however he is now the Senior Director

of hitting strategy for the Mariners.  This

means though Edgar will not be on the

road during the season  we will see him

at home games. His philosophy  on

hitting that was going on in September 

will continue this spring and throughout 

2025 season. 

We are hoping the Mariners  will  make

at least  one major acquisition  soon

we hope the hitting  will improve no

matter what. Currently  the Mariners 

have Mitch Garver and Mitch Haniger 

on the roster. I  have heard  speculation 

that they could  be  traded to the Miami 

Marlins however what the Mariners  get

in return  who knows. Though they may

not be who they were once being better 

than last year would be a plus if they are

on team.

At this point Garver will be the backup

catcher while Haniger  will dh some

and most likely  against left. We may

see him in the outfield on occasion 

although Victor Robles is the starter 

right fielder.  Depend on how Haniger 

hits we could see him at first base too.

This  comes down to whether  the M's 

sign Justin Turner or Tyler  Locklear 

or bring in someone  else.

News came out today that the Mariners 

signed veteran infielder Donovan Solano.

He is 37 years old however he did hit

.286 last season.  Donovan hits well

against lefties. The likelihood  he could

play third base in a platoon situation 

although he could be the regular there

as well. Also last year he played a little 

first base and second.  It comes down 

to any other moves the Mariners make.

Right now with Solano the Mariners 

have ten spots filled not including 

a starting second baseman. Whoever 

is the second baseman would leave 

two on the opening roster to be filled.

The chance would be whoever would

play first base against lefties and 

second base or third baseman. Dylan 

Moore I  include in the eleven along with

Garver and Haniger.  Dylan would fill

any of the infield  spots as well  as

outfield if necessary. Go M's.  

UW Loses Again

It has been a tough start for the

Washington Huskies men's

basketball team. They were

beaten by Michigan 91-75.

A positive note it wasn't as bad

as the loss to Michigan State.

The loss now makes the Huskies

1-5 in the  Big Ten. The Huskies

were not able to slow down the

Wolverines.  I am sure you could

tell by the score.

Great Osobor who didn't play

well in the last two games did

respond with 23 points and 11

rebounds. Zoom Diallo and

Mekhi Mason each had 13 points.

Mason only played 16 minutes

so maybe he should have played 

a few more minutes. They were

the only ones in double figures.

Again not a good year on the

road. The Huskies need to play

better competition during the

non-league schedule as well

on the road. Most of the non-

schedule are mostly at home. 

They need play a schedule

similar to what Gonzaga does

during the non-league season.

The Wolverines had a couple

more 3s than the Huskies though

shot fine. The other issue the

Huskies were outscored by

Michigan at the line by eight.

The Huskies shot fine they

fouled Wolverines many more

times. The Huskies offense 

doing fine it is the defense.

This week the Huskies only 

have one game against Purdue

at home. They are a good team.

See if they can turn things around.

Go Dawgs. 

Zags Beat Cougars

The first half between Gonzaga

and Washington State was close

for the men's basketball teams.

Gonzaga played good defense 

which led them to have a good

second half that broke open the game.

Final Gonzaga 88 WSU 73

The Zags defense allowed them

to take easier shots. Graham Ike

led five players in double figures

with 21 points however Nolan

Hickman had 19 points with five

3s. Both teams shot over 50 percent

despite good defense. The Zags

made two more 3s than the Cougars

however seven more free throws 

helped the Zags win as well. The 

Cougars are now two games behind

the Zags in conference play. St. Mary's

is still tied with Zags.

Gonzaga will take on Oregon State

on the road Thursday followed by

playing Santa Clara at home on 

Saturday. The Cougars will be at

San Diego on Thursday followed

by Portland at home on Saturday.

They beat Portland already 89-73.

The Cougars will want to end

their two game losing streak.

In major league baseball news former

Seattle Mariners manager Scott

Servais has been hired by the San

Diego Padres as special assistant

in player development which held

with the Texas Rangers and Los

Angeles Angels before coming the

Mariners manager. We wish him

the best. 

WSU Cougars Men's Get Upset

The Washington State Cougars were 

upset Thursday evening by Pacific 

Tigers at home 95-94. It was the 

Cougars first loss at home on the.

The Cougars had to overcome a

ten point deficit at halftime to 

tie at regulation. The Tigers were

able to score eleven to the Cougars

ten in overtime. The Cougars are

now one game behind St. Mary's

and Gonzaga. The Cougars play

the Zags on Saturday night in

Spokane. The Cougs will need

to win to stay pace with the Zags.

The Cougars were led by Ethan 

Price with 28 points. Each Cougs

starter scored in double figures 

and played 30 minutes or more. 

The Pacific Tigers had four players

in double figures however were led 

by Lamar Washington who had

40 points. He hit the winning shot

as well. Lamar averages 12.7 points

a game and a transfer from Texas Tech. We hope this one of the minor

glitches for the Cougars.