The Columbian

Pac-10 Report: Selfish Wildcats in Ncaa Danger

Arizona is probably headed to the NCAA Tournament, one of two teams from Pacific-10 Conference that will do so barring something unforeseen. Yet all is not well in Tucson.

4a Roundup: Prairie Boys Can't Hold Late Lead

A huge run by the Falcons to start the second half wasn't enough to overcome 14 second-half turnovers as the Prairie fell to Bellarmine Prep 57-51 Wednesday in the first round of the West- Central District regional boys basketball regional playoffs at Tacoma. Top-seeded Skyview lost at home, and Mountain View lost on the road, as well, meaning the Greater St. Helens League went 0-3 in the first round. All three teams fall into the loser's bracket for Friday games.

Prairie's Mckee Faces Two Misdemeanors

The Prairie boys basketball team was without one of its top players Wednesday when it faced Bellarmine in a playoff game. John McKee, 18, was pulled over by a Washington State Patrol trooper at 11:30 p.m. Friday and has been charged with two misdemeanors in Clark County District Court.

Columbia River Boys Stay Alive in 3a with Win Over Black Hills

CENTRALIA -- The Columbia River Chieftains have no idea if they are going to make it to the Class 3A boys basketball state tournament. But they know they still have a chance.

Commentary -- Girls Wrestling: Grappling for Glory

Years ago when my oldest daughter was 5, I suggested she try a year of youth wrestling at a local club to toughen her up a bit. My wife reacted as if I had decided to hire Osama bin Laden as a babysitter.

Puyallup Rallies Past Skyview, 51-48

Standing in the locker room minutes after losing to Puyallup, 51- 48, Skyview coach Bob Benson examined the wreckage that was the fourth quarter. For at least a day, Benson and the Storm will search for answers to why they blew an 11-point lead during the fourth quarter of Wednesday's West Central District first-round playoff opener at Skyview High School.

Wind, Drano Set to Open for Chinook

Spring chinook salmon fishing will open March 16 at Wind River and Drano Lake in the Columbia River Gorge. Fishing will open April 3 in the Klickitat River downstream of Fisher Hill Bridge.

No Fishing: U.S. Forest Service Rejects Request From Local Angling- Conservation Club for a Catch-and-Release Season at Spirit Lake

The U.S. Forest Service has rejected a request to allow limited catch-and-release trout fishing at Spirit Lake on the north side of Mount St. Helens. The Clark-Skamania Flyfishers, a Vancouver-based angling and conservation club, made the request in early January to Cliff Ligons, manager of the the Mount St. Helens National Volcanic Monument.

Reservations Taken Monday for Lewis River Parks

Campground reservations for Cresap Bay and Cougar parks along the North Fork of the Lewis River will be accepted beginning Monday. To reserve a site, call PacifiCorp's recreation line at 503-813- 6666 on weekdays between 9 a.m. and 4 p.m.

Nhl Report: Pens' Winless Streak Ends After 18 Games

The Pittsburgh Penguins snapped an 18-game winless streak when Ric Jackman scored with 3:12 left in overtime for a 4-3 victory over Phoenix at Glendale, Ariz. The Penguins rallied from a two-goal deficit in the Coyotes' first game since making a coaching change. Ryan Malone and Aleksey Morozov scored second-period goals, the latter coming with 26 seconds left in the period, and the Penguins came back from a 3-1 deficit for their first win since Jan. 12 at Philadelphia.

Baseball Report: Bonds Chastises Wendell for Comment

Barry Bonds chastised Colorado reliever Turk Wendell on Wednesday for accusing him of using steroids. A day after Wendell said it was "clear just seeing his body" that Bonds was taking steroids, the San Francisco Giants slugger said the remark should have been made directly to him not a reporter.

Spotlight: What If Agassi Pitched?

Andre Agassi on the baseball mound? Marion Jones as a gymnast? It all makes perfect sense in Nike's new ad campaign, "What if?"

High-Flying Husky

SEATTLE -- Never tell Nate Robinson he's too small to succeed on the basketball floor. Generously listed at 5-foot-9, the Washington Huskies guard has compiled an impressive list of electric dunks in his sophomore season, including one in Sunday's narrow loss at North Carolina State.

Jamal Lewis Indicted On Federal Drug Charges

ATLANTA -- Baltimore Ravens running back Jamal Lewis, who had the second-highest rushing total in NFL history last season, was indicted Wednesday on federal drug charges. The Atlanta native is accused of trying to help a childhood friend buy cocaine in the summer of 2000 just before he signed a six-year, $35.3 million contract with the Ravens.

Boxing Hopeful Still Swinging in Court for Chance at Olympics

CLEVELAND -- U.S. Olympic boxing hopeful Juan McPherson hasn't been counted out yet. The 19-year-old welterweight won another round Wednesday in a court fight that could determine if he gets a chance to compete in the Athens Games.

Tiger Survives a Scare in Match Play First Round

CARLSBAD, Calif. -- Surprised to even be playing in the Match Play Championship, John Rollins was two holes away from taking down Tiger Woods. He had a 1-up lead and was safely on the 17th green.

Golf Notes: Daly Hits Tucson On His Comeback Trail

John Daly is pleased to be playing well this year and especially happy because the galleries are enjoying it. "It's a great feeling," Daly said Wednesday after he was cheered throughout the Chrysler Classic of Tucson pro-am. "What's even better is that I'm playing good for them, for the fans. You know, the ones that have been coming out, watching me all these years."

Bailey-Portis Deal Almost Done; Williams Enters Draft

The Champ Bailey for Clinton Portis deal is almost done, barring a breakdown in contract talks between Bailey and the Denver Broncos. Still, the proposed Washington-Denver trade that has been discussed all week shared top billing Wednesday with Mike Williams' decision to leave national champion Southern California and enter the NFL draft.

Jazz Follow Up Win, Beat Sonics Again

SEATTLE -- Andrei Kirilenko scored seven of Utah's nine points in overtime with three critical baskets and the Jazz beat the Seattle SuperSonics for the second time in two nights, 93-92 Wednesday. The first-time All-Star from Russia hit a 3-pointer from the corner to put the Jazz ahead 91-89 with 1:28 to go, then got an offensive rebound after a miss by Tom Gugliotta and scored with nine seconds on the clock.

Roundup: T-Wolves Hand Nets First Loss Under Interim Coach

Troy Hudson filled the shoes of Sam Cassell just fine, helping end the New Jersey Nets' winning streak at 14 games. Hudson, making his first start of the season in place of the injured Cassell, scored a season-high 29 points as Minnesota beat New Jersey 81-68 on Wednesday night in Minneapolis, handing Nets coach Lawrence Frank his first loss.