Vandals at SandpointHigh School

 

It was a hot afternoon to be running around doing basketball drills inside a gym, but the heat did not slow down the enthusiasm and excitement as aspiring local basketball players met the Vandals. 

This year's Big Sky Men's champions and NCAA March Madness competitors (first time since 1990) came to Sandpoint for some team-building experiences and, of course some fun.

As part of the Sandpoint experience, the Vandal team and their coaches put on a clinic yesterday afternoon for local round ballers from 2nd through 8th grade. 

Clinicians and participants had fun, as did everyone else who attended. 

I hope they do this again because Bill and I really enjoyed ourselves watching the action and meeting the players. 

I asked Dylynn Grove to sign my ZAGS hat.  

That was a bit hard for him to do because after graduating from Gonzaga Prep in Spokane, he's a loyal Vandal. 

As soon as he said his last name, I remembered the Grove brothers, Tanner and Jacob, who played for Eastern Washington in the NCAA tournament a few years ago.  

They were amazing and outstanding enough that they transferred to Oklahoma. Later, Jacob transferred to Virginia where he played for the Cavaliers.  Both moved on to playing professional basketball overseas. 

Unfortunately, Dylynn injured his knee so he's out for the upcoming season, but he figures that once he's back playing he can measure up to the reputation his brothers earned and maybe even pass them up. 

Nice young man and neat to meet Dylynn.  I'll be keeping track of him over the next few years.

And, the fact that Dylynn's autograph on my hat is right next to Gonzaga standout Graham Ike's could be a nice incentive for him. 

 

Idaho Vandals Head Coach Alex Pribble with Bill. 

Coach Pribble, a Cal graduate and player,  assumed the U of I head coaching position in 2023 after serving as associate head coach at Seattle University. 

"Pribble emphasizes character, discipline, and team-first play. He has built a program culture focused on 'doing it the right way,' with high GPA and community service standards alongside athletic success. Coeur d'Alene Press  

His leadership style reflects his own walk-on playing days — unselfish, tough, and committed to fundamentals. Sports Illustrated. 

Idaho Vandal players Diego Trejo-Delgato from Camargo, Mexico, and Ryan Lafferty from Spokane, Wash. 

The Vandal team members were as nice and gracious as anyone you'd ever meet.  

They made an effort to personally thank everyone individually who attended yesterday, and, of course, they thrilled the young basketball clinic participants with autographs galore. 

Sandpoint High women's basketball head coach Madi Schoening and her assistant Joe Fata. 

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Kase Wynott from Lapwai, Idaho

Idaho High School Gatorade 2024 Player of the Year and all-time high school scoring record holder with nearly 3,000 career points.  Wynott once scored 68 points in one game. 

He recently transferred from Washington State to the University of Idaho.  

Vandal player Ryan Carney from Spokane, Wash., with a young player. 

Vandal T.J. Wal from Edmonton, Alberta. 

Sandpoint High boys basketball Coach Will Love and a young player talk about strategy. 

Vandal coaches with SHS Bulldog coaches. 

Thank you, Coach Pribble and the U of I Vandals, for a fun, friendly and inspiring visit to Sandpoint High School. 

Great to meet you all. You created some wonderful memories for young and old. 

GO, VANDALS!!!

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Feeling the Heat; TBT

I guess it's okay to be hot at this time of July.  

The nice part is that the real heat came when we're nearing the end of the month and usually the heat lasts for only a couple of weeks in August. 

The good part of this more intense heat was quite visible this morning when I was watering the garden. 

I spotted two cucumbers well on their way to be ready for picking. 

That was a surprise, but tomatoes ripening in July is a little early too. 

I've already picked four tomatoes, and Bill has eaten two.  

It's hard to grow those tomatoes and to not eat them, but gut experts say that tomatoes and cucumbers with their seeds and skin are not good for colitis. 

I have, on one occasion removed the skin and seeds in each.  That's a lot of tedious work, though, so Bill will probably enjoy most of the 'maters and cukes. 

The heat does a number on human productivity, at least on this human's. I did pick blueberries out in the hot afternoon sun yesterday but decided that was enough heat and sun exposure. 

So, I pretty much took it easy and stayed indoors for the rest of the afternoon. 

Hopefully, the predicted dip in temps, beginning Saturday will make a difference.

In other news, our paved road received a layer of chip seal Tuesday and some finish work early yesterday morning.  

The crews told me that this addition helps keep the road in good condition for a longer period of time. 

It's been almost two years since the county first started on the paving project, and we have had no regrets. 

The event below is today, and if you'd like to watch the Vandals practice, free of charge, you can do so at 4 p.m. at Sandpoint High's Les Rogers Gym. 

It should be fun. 

The other night, I met my good friend and classmate Gary Johnson's daughter Dawn and her hubby  at a neighborhood anniversary party. 

After visiting with Gary's wife Diane Johnson and meeting her son-in-law Darren Sweeney, I asked if his wife was at the party.  

He told me to look for a beautiful lady in a black dress. 

I had no trouble tracking her down at another table and found her delightful and a definite good sport for putting up with my teasing and cryptic comments.

During our conversation she told me that she and Darren, a former fire fighter, had moved back to Sandpoint and had started their own handyman business.  

Knowing that we would often like to find a handyman, I asked for more information and, of course, don't mind sharing.  

From Dawn Sweeney:  we are wanting to head more towards a “caring for your home while you’re away” type of service but, for now, this is what people want.  

It’s our first ever venture into starting our own business…we’re learning a lot!

 The business is called Swinney Services, and his number is 775-342-7761.  Darren and Dawn Swinney

I wish Darren and Dawn the best of luck in this endeavor and can guarantee they have strong roots in the area. So, give them a call when you need a handyman.

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Thursday Throwbacks:  Fun photos of events, places and people from the past.  Hope you enjoy.