Cougars Help Pac-10 Beat Japan

Washington State players made key contributions as the Pacific-10 Conference men’s basketball team came from behind to defeat the Japanese National Team 79-77 on Monday in Fukuoka, Japan.

WSU senior Isaac Fontaine had 15 points, a team-high five assists and four rebounds. Junior Carlos Daniel had a team-high 10 rebounds, eight points and blocked two shots.

The Pac-10 team, coached by WSU’s Kevin Eastman, fell behind 43-32 at halftime largely because of a 31.6-percent shooting effort, but charged back in the second half by shooting 51.4 percent.

Arizona forward Michael Dickerson led the Pac-10 with 17 points, nailing 5 of 8 3-pointers.

The Pac-10 women’s team was beaten 87-85 in overtime by the Japanese National Team. Stanford center Naomi Mulitauaopele had 23 points and 11 rebounds. WSU’s Kristen Erickson had no points, one rebound and one assist.

The Pac-10 teams play again Wednesday in Hiroshima.

Eastman has filled the assistant coaching vacancy on his WSU men’s staff by hiring Alvin Williamson, a four-year letterwinner at Tulsa (1992-95).

Williamson, 22, replaces Larry Harris, who left to accept a similar position at North Carolina State.

Williamson, who is on tour with the Eastman-led Pac-10 team in Japan, played one season in the Continental Basketball Association at Oklahoma City after winding up his career at Tulsa. He appeared in six NCAA Tournament games, committing just three turnovers while averaging 38 minutes a game.

Football

Idaho backup quarterback Brian Brennan is scheduled for a shoulder operation today and will probably miss the remainder of fall practices, Vandals coach Chris Tormey said.

Brennan, who played in pain last season, had shoulder surgery last December. He underwent a shoulder manipulation procedure in April when his shoulder didn’t respond adequately in rehabilitation.

After the April procedure, he showed immediate progress, but then his recovery stalled again, apparently forcing today’s operation. Brennan last month said he was uncertain if he’d be able to play again, let alone this year.

Golf

Dan Koesters had the home-course advantage. It wasn’t enough to get him the undisputed lead in the Athletic Round Table Pro-Am at the University of Idaho course in Moscow, however.

Craig Schuh of Deer Park had a steady round of 33-34 for a 5-underpar 67 that gave him a share of the lead with Koesters, the University of Idaho pro, who came in with a 35 after going out in 32.

A stroke back were Les Blakley of Spokane Country Club and Dan Porter of Downriver.

Sean Clements of Wandermere was the leading amateur by a stroke with a 3-under 69.

Amateur net leaders were Jerry Curtis, U of Idaho, 0-8 handicaps, 65; Stan Wippert, Wandermere, 9-13, 62; and John Sanders, Lewiston Country Club, 14-30, 65.

A.R.T. Pro-Am officials announced a schedule change. The Pro-Senior, originally scheduled for Aug. 26 at Avondale, has been rescheduled for Sept. 9 at Deer Park. The Pro-Am originally scheduled for Deer Park is cancelled. Pro-Senior tee times assigned for Avondale will be used at Deer Park.

The change was necessitated because of course construction at Avondale.

Michael Rorholm of Manito shot a 72, six shots off the pace, in the first round of the 1996 Pacific Northwest Section of the PGA’s Assistant’s Championship at Corvallis, Ore.

Defending champion Todd O’Neal of Royal Oaks has a one shot lead off a 6-under-par 66.

Three other Spokane assistants shot 75s - Alan Jenkins, Esmeralda; David Christenson and Thomas Colon, both Indian Canyon.

Joshua Sicilia of Spokane shot a 2-over-par 74, two strokes off the pace, to lead Inland Empire qualifiers in the 42nd Pacific Northwest Golf Association Junior Boys Amateur Tournament in Portland.

Patrick Weeks of Vancouver, British Columbia, was the only one in the field of 144 to match par of 72 and led by a stroke. The low 32 begin match play today.

That group includes Corey Prugh (76), Reid Hatley (77) and Kyle Schwahn (77) of Spokane and Danny Potter of Coeur d’Alene (76).

, DataTimes