GU announces basketball slate

College basketball: The Gonzaga men’s basketball team faces another demanding non-conference slate, including matchups with 2009 NCAA tournament runner-up Michigan State, Memphis, Oklahoma, Illinois and ACC powers Duke and Wake Forest.

The schedule was announced Thursday.

The Bulldogs will play three games, beginning with Colorado, at the Maui Invitational. They will face Davidson in the Battle in Seattle and Oklahoma in the Ronald McDonald House Charities Classic at the Spokane Arena.

Gonzaga will entertain Washington State on Dec. 2 and Eastern Washington on Dec. 28. The Bulldogs are on the road for their first three West Coast Conference games. (Portland, Saint Mary’s and San Diego).

Every GU game will be televised, including 14 on ESPN’s family of stations, two on CBS and 13 as part of the KHQ/FSN package.

The complete schedule is in Scoreboard, page B7.

Jim Meehan

Longtime area sports figure dies

High schools: Walt Thorp, a much-honored educator, coach, administrator and State B basketball tournament fixture, died Saturday at age 82 while taking part in a local run.

Thorp was inducted into the Washington Interscholastic Activities Association Hall of Fame in 2008, one of the many accolades for his 30 years of school involvement.

“He was one of the best principals I’ve ever had,” Odessa English teacher Duane Pitts said. “He was supportive of staff, students and parents.”

Following military service, then college at Central Washington University, Thorp began his career at Wilson Creek in 1953 as teacher, coach and principal. From 1969-83 he was principal and athletic director at Odessa.

He was WIAA District 7 secretary for 24 years, was named to the Washington Secondary School Athletic Administrators Board and elected its president. He was named District 7 administrator of the year for 1982-83. In 1991, Thorp was elected to the Washington State Athletic Directors Hall of Fame.

For nine years Thorp was assistant boys tournament director at the State B basketball tournament and for five years was girls tournament director.

Thorp was awarded an Inland Empire Sportswriters and Broadcasters/Greater Spokane Sports Association 25-Year Award in 1994.

He is survived by his wife, Lorraine, and two daughters. A celebration of his life will be Monday at the Lincoln Center, 1316 N. Lincoln.

Mike Vlahovich